2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara Problems and Recalls (83 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara is Fuel system (29% of 83 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 83 complaints · 5 recalls

What problems show up on the 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara?

24 of 83 filings named Fuel system (29% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Cruise / speed control (10 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 1999 has 105 reports on file; this year has 83. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2000 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. Cruise / speed control. Test cruise control and ask about unintended-acceleration reports on this year.
  4. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  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 24 complaints · 28.9% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 8
  • Fires 2
  • Injuries 4
  • Deaths 0
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 24 of 83 owner complaints (28.9%) in this vehicle snapshot. Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 24 complaints, 28.9% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 crash reports 24 · 28.9% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 10 complaints, 12.1% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 fire reports 10 · 12.1% Engine (ENGINE): 7 complaints, 8.4% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 fire reports 7 · 8.4% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 6 complaints, 7.2% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 crash reports 6 · 7.2% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 5 complaints, 6.0% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 5 · 6.0% Wheels (WHEELS): 5 complaints, 6.0% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 5 · 6.0% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 4 complaints, 4.8% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 3 crash reports 4 · 4.8% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 4 complaints, 4.8% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 4 · 4.8% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 4 complaints, 4.8% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 4 · 4.8% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 66 complaints, 79.5% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 6 crash reports 2 fire reports 66 · 79.5% 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) 24 28.9% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 10 12.1% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 7 8.4% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 6 7.2% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 5 6.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 5 6.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 4 4.8% 3 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 4 4.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 4 4.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 66 79.5% 6 crashes · 2 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 Jan 2000; the first recall shown was reported in Dec 2000. 2000-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2001-Q3: 16 owner reports 16 2001-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2002-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2002-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2002-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2003-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2003-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2004-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2004-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2005-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 2000 Oct 2018 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 03V512000 was reported 900 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 05V452000 was reported 1,450 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2000-Q1 Owner reports 1
2000-Q3 Owner reports 1
2001-Q1 Owner reports 1
2001-Q2 Owner reports 6
2001-Q3 Owner reports 16
2001-Q4 Owner reports 11
2002-Q1 Owner reports 3
2002-Q2 Owner reports 4
2002-Q3 Owner reports 6
2003-Q1 Owner reports 5
2003-Q2 Owner reports 1
2003-Q3 Owner reports 1
2003-Q4 Owner reports 2
2004-Q1 Owner reports 9
2004-Q2 Owner reports 3
2004-Q3 Owner reports 1
2004-Q4 Owner reports 3
2005-Q1 Owner reports 1
2005-Q2 Owner reports 1
2005-Q4 Owner reports 1
2006-Q1 Owner reports 1
2006-Q4 Owner reports 1
2008-Q1 Owner reports 1
2008-Q2 Owner reports 1
2010-Q3 Owner reports 1
2018-Q4 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 7 of 83 complaints · page 1 of 4
2018-11-20Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11152925
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TAKATA RECALL WHEN I TRY TO PUT IN DRIVE I HAVE TO PUT IT IN DRIVE TWO FOR IT TO GO ON DRIVE WHEN I GO TO PUT IT IN PARK IT WILL NOT I HAVE TO MESS WITH IT FOR IT TO GO ON PARK IT EITHER STAYS ON DRIVE OR REVERSE
2010-08-25STRUCTUREUnclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10351649
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE S FRAME OF MY 2000 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA JLS STARTED VIBRATING AND I TOOK IT TO MIKE ALBERT LEASING AND WHEN THEY PUT IT UP ON THE LIFT THE S FRAME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE WHEEL WAS DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THEY CALLED SUZUKI AND THEY SAID THAT THE CORROSION WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED THE END OF FEBRUARY 2010 SO THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT OTHER VEHICLES POSSIBLY HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND OTHER PEOPLE NOT BEING AWARE. THE MECHANICS SAID THAT THIS PART COULD NOT HAVE BEEN TREATED WITH ANY ANTI-CORROSION WHEN THE PART WAS FIRST PUT ON THE VEHICLE. IF I HAD DRIVEN THIS ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN KILLED OR KILLED SOMEONE ELSE. I THINK THIS IS A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THIS PART WAS AND IS COMPLETELY INTACT. I HAVE THE PART AND IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT IT RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. *TR
2008-04-30STRUCTUREUnclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10226144
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SWAY BAR FAILED AND THE CROSS MEMBER WAS EXCESSIVELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FROM A LACK OF RUST RESISTANCE MATERIAL ON THE VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE DUE TO THE COST. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
2008-01-04Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10213719
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT HAS HAD HER VEHICLE REPAIRED TWICE FOR TWO RECALLS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 01V146000 AND 04V427000); HOWEVER, THE DEFECT STILL OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED. THE CONTACT FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE THE FIRST TWO TIMES TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED, THE DEALER DID NOT RE-ROUTE THE FUEL DELIVERY HOSE WITH THE IMPROVED CLAMP. THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE FAILED WAS ON DECEMBER 31, 2007. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VACUUM HOSE WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY AND THE PSI RELIEF WAS EXTREMELY HIGH. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FLOODED. THE MECHANIC PROPERLY REPAIRED THE DEFECT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED DURING THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MECHANIC HAS RECORDS AND DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED FUEL HOSE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN THE FIRST TWO TIMES FOR THE RECALL REPAIR, IT WAS RECOGNIZED THAT THE FUEL HOSE HAD NOT FAILED AT THAT TIME; HOWEVER,THE RECALL STATED THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY FAIL. SHE RECEIVED THE FIRST RECALL NOTICE IN DECEMBER OF 2001 AND THE SECOND NOTICE IN OCTOBER OF 2004. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART DURING THE SECOND VISIT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS NO LONGER THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,170 (AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST NOTICE) AND 25,325 (AT THE TIME OF THE SECOND NOTICE). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,643.
2006-12-20Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 10176709
CrashFireInjuryDeath
NOISE COMING FROM TIMING COVER. DEALER INDICATED IT WAS TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. DEALER STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. TOTAL COST TO REMEDY THE SITUATION WAS APPROX $1600. THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE PULLED FROM VEHICLE, OIL PAN, TIMING COVER REMOVED AND THREE CHAINS, AND RELATED TENSIONERS REPLACED (12.5HRS LABOR). THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED EITHER IN TOTAL OR PARTIAL BY MANUFACTURER. *NM
2006-03-20Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10153175
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE KICK DOWN CABLE OF THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO A HIGH SPEED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS MANIPULATED UNTIL THE CABLE LOOSENED. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY REPLACED THE CABLE AND THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. UPDATED 4/6/2006 - *NM
2005-12-20Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10145742
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE VEHICLE HAD CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEMS. WHEN DRIVING ON A STEEP HILL THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY MADE SEVERAL REPAIRS TO THE CRUISE CONTROL. *AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara?

Owners named Fuel system most often — 24 of 83 reports (29%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2000 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 2000 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