1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara Problems and Recalls (105 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara is Fuel system (22% of 105 owner reports). There are 5 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Fuel system — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 105 complaints · 5 recalls

What problems show up on the 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara?

23 of 105 filings named Fuel system (22% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Engine (17 reports).

There are 5 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Fuel system, Cruise / speed control, and Brakes. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The previous year is not published here. Use the year list to jump around.

What to check before you buy a 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 5 campaigns on file below.
  2. Fuel system. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly.
  3. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  4. Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Fuel system. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Fuel system 23 complaints · 21.9% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 14
  • Fires 2
  • Injuries 11
  • Deaths 0
All Suzuki Grand Vitara years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) appears in 23 of 105 owner complaints (21.9%) in this vehicle snapshot. Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 23 complaints, 21.9% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 crash reports 23 · 21.9% Engine (ENGINE): 17 complaints, 16.2% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 fire reports 17 · 16.2% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 13 complaints, 12.4% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 3 crash reports 13 · 12.4% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 9 complaints, 8.6% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 8 crash reports 9 · 8.6% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 8 complaints, 7.6% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 8 · 7.6% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 8 complaints, 7.6% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 crash reports 8 · 7.6% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 4 complaints, 3.8% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 4 · 3.8% Wheels (WHEELS): 4 complaints, 3.8% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 4 · 3.8% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 3 complaints, 2.9% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 fire reports 3 · 2.9% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 88 complaints, 83.8% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 11 crash reports 1 fire reports 88 · 83.8% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 23 21.9% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 17 16.2% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 13 12.4% 3 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 9 8.6% 8 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 8 7.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 8 7.6% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 4 3.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 4 3.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 3 2.9% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 88 83.8% 11 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 1999; the first recall shown was reported in Dec 2000. 1999-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2000-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2000-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2001-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2001-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2001-Q3: 21 owner reports 21 2001-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2002-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2002-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2002-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2003-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2004-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2004-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2005-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 1999 Jul 2017 Recall campaign 00E080000 ◆ Recall campaign 00E080000 Recall campaign 01V146000 ◆ Recall campaign 01V146000 Recall campaign 03V512000 ◆ Recall campaign 03V512000 Recall campaign 04V427000 ◆ Recall campaign 04V427000 Recall campaign 05V452000 ◆ Recall campaign 05V452000
  • Campaign 01V146000 was reported 8 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 03V512000 was reported 126 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 05V452000 was reported 2,067 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1999-Q4 Owner reports 1
2000-Q1 Owner reports 6
2000-Q2 Owner reports 1
2000-Q3 Owner reports 5
2000-Q4 Owner reports 2
2001-Q1 Owner reports 7
2001-Q2 Owner reports 6
2001-Q3 Owner reports 21
2001-Q4 Owner reports 8
2002-Q1 Owner reports 3
2002-Q2 Owner reports 4
2002-Q3 Owner reports 1
2002-Q4 Owner reports 1
2003-Q1 Owner reports 1
2003-Q2 Owner reports 2
2003-Q3 Owner reports 5
2003-Q4 Owner reports 2
2004-Q1 Owner reports 9
2004-Q2 Owner reports 4
2004-Q4 Owner reports 3
2005-Q1 Owner reports 1
2005-Q2 Owner reports 1
2005-Q4 Owner reports 2
2006-Q1 Owner reports 1
2006-Q2 Owner reports 1
2008-Q1 Owner reports 2
2010-Q2 Owner reports 1
2011-Q1 Owner reports 1
2013-Q1 Owner reports 1
2015-Q3 Owner reports 1
2017-Q3 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 00E080000
Recall campaign 1 01V146000
Recall campaign 1 03V512000
Recall campaign 1 04V427000
Recall campaign 1 05V452000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (5)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Fuel system, Cruise / speed control, and Brakes.

  1. Recall campaign 00E080000

    Safety recall 00E080000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    THIS CONDITION CAN LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE WHEEL, GRADUAL LOSS OF AIR IN THE TIRE, AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WERE NOTIFIED TO REMOVE ANY OF THESE AFFECTED WHEELS FROM THE STOCK INVENTORY AND RETURN TO AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR COMPANY. SUZUKI WILL NOTIFY ANY END USERS WHICH PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT WHEELS OF THE DEFECT AND TO RETURN THEIR WHEELS TO SUZUKI FOR A FREE REPLACEMENT.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 01V146000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    FUEL LOSS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED INTAKE MANIFOLD VACUUM UNION AND A NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 4, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 03V512000

    Cruise / speed control

    Report date
    Component:
    Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
    Consequence:
    IF THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE BECOMES FRAYED, IT CAN STICK DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IN THE CASE WHERE AN ACCELERATOR CABLE STICKS, THE DRIVER COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING VEHICLE SPEED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, WHICH INCLUDES THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 04V427000

    Safety recall 04V427000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    FUEL LOSS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, THE FUEL DELIVER HOSE AND REPLACE THE HOSE CLAMP WITH AN IMPROVED CLAMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 05V452000

    Brakes

    Report date
    Component:
    Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
    Consequence:
    THE FRONT BRAKES MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE VEHICLE MAY PULL TO ONE SIDE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS ON THESE VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2005. THESE VEHICLES ARE LOCATED ON ST. THOMAS ISLAND (VIRGIN ISLANDS). OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI DEL CARIBE AT 787-622-0600.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 105 complaints · page 1 of 5
2017-09-29Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11030588
CrashFireInjuryDeath
BRAKE LINE ROTTED AWAY ALL BRAKES AND FLUID LOST
2015-09-17Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 10764563
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, A FUEL ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 01V146000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 04V427000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED TO DUE THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.
2013-02-04Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 10496399
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FROM 45 TO 55 MILES PER HOUR WILL LOSE COMPLETE POWER DROPPING FROM 45 OR 55 TO 10 OR 15 MPH VERY RAPIDLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OF ACCELERATION OR VEHICLE TILL IT REACHES THE 10 TO 15 MPH RANGE LEAVING YOU IN A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION IF YOU ARE NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO PULL OFF LEAVING YOU THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING IN A COLLISION WITH FASTER APPROACHING VEHICLES FROM THE REAR THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD RESULT IN DEATH FROM A REAR END COLLISION AND APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS AND THE DEALERS HAVE NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS FAILURE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM FROM JULY OF 2012 TO THE CURRENT DATE OF 2/4/2013. *TR
2011-02-14STEERING
NHTSA ODI 10382635
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, SHE WOULD HEAR A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. ALSO WHEN SHE MADE TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS, THE NOISE GETS LOUDER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
2010-06-07Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10334873
CrashFireInjuryDeath
CONSUMER EXPRESSES DISCONTENT REGARDING RECALL FROM SUZUKI CORPORATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER STATING IT WAS THE SECOND NOTICE, BUT HE NEVER RECEIVED THE FIRST NOTICE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE REPAIRS WOULD NEED TO BE PERFORMED BY TRAINED MECHANIC WHICH WAS 80 MILES AWAY.
2008-01-31Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)Unclassified NHTSA leftoverWheels (WHEELS)
NHTSA ODI 10216603
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND THE BRAKE ADJUSTMENT PIN IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS LOOSE. THE SPRING THAT HELD THE WHEEL IN PLACE FAILED, WHICH ALLOWED IT TO MOVE FREELY INSIDE THE BRAKE DRUM. THE SPRING FLIPPED UP AND CAUSED THE BRAKE SHOE, DRUM, AND BRAKING KIT TO FAIL. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, AAMCO INSPECTED THE REAR AND FRONT BRAKES AND STATED THAT THEY WERE 50% WORN. THE CONTACT PLACED THE WHEEL BACK ON THE VEHICLE AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY SIX BLOCKS WHEN HE HEARD THE NOISE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO AAMCO BECAUSE THE GRINDING NOISE BECAME VERY LOUD. AAMCO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE INSPECTION. THE CONTACT CALLED SUZUKI'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE TO FIND OUT IF THE FAILURE WAS COMMON. SUZUKI STATED THAT NO ONE COULD TALK TO THEIR TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT UNLESS THEY WERE A DEALER. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE SUZUKI DEALER SO THAT THEY COULD CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 31,734.
2008-01-14Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10214831
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHEN I BRAKE MY CAR PULLS TO ONE SIDE AND LOSES CONTROL. IT IS LIKE IT IS ON ICE AND ONE TIME IT SPUN AROUND, EVEN THOUGHT I WAS GOING SLOW. MY CAR IS REGULARLY MAINTAINED. *TR
2006-06-06Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 10159127
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM MODULE TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 06/19/06. *JB
2006-01-05Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10146941
CrashFireInjuryDeath
VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY LOSES COMPLETE ENGINE POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND VEHICLE SPEED RAPIDLY DROPS TO UNDER 10 MPH. ENGINE RUNS VERY ROUGH AND THERE IS NO RESPONSE WHEN DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL. MUST IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER (IF POSSIBLE) AS VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL MINUTES, ENGINE OPERATION RETURNS TO NORMAL BUT POWER LOSS WILL USUALLY REOCCUR ANYTIME AS QUICKLY AS WITHIN THE NEXT SEVERAL MINUTES OR AS LONG AS A DAY OR TWO. ENGINE POWER LOSS MAY LAST AS LITTLE AS A MINUTE OR TWO OR FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. *JB
2005-11-30Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10145321
CrashFireInjuryDeath
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING THERE NO LONGER BEING A SUZUKI DEALER IN HIS AREA AND CAN NOT GET RECALL WORK DONE. *TS *THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT SUZUKI COULD MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE 120 MILES IN ORDER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. *SC

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara?

Owners named Fuel system most often — 23 of 105 reports (22%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara?

NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Fuel system, Cruise / speed control, and Brakes. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources