2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara Problems: Cruise / speed control (8 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara is Cruise / speed control (38% of 8 owner reports). There are 2 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Cruise / speed control — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 8 complaints · 2 recalls

What problems show up on the 2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara?

3 of 8 filings named Cruise / speed control (38% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Airbags (1 reports).

There are 2 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about 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 2003 has 28 reports on file; this year has 8. 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 2004 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 2 campaigns on file below.
  2. Cruise / speed control. Test cruise control and ask about unintended-acceleration reports on this year.
  3. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  4. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Cruise / speed control. 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: Cruise / speed control 3 complaints · 37.5% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 2
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 1
  • 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 Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) appears in 3 of 8 owner complaints (37.5%) in this vehicle snapshot. Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 3 complaints, 37.5% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 crash reports 3 · 37.5% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 1 complaints, 12.5% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 · 12.5% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 1 complaints, 12.5% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 · 12.5% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 1 complaints, 12.5% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 crash reports 1 · 12.5% Wheels (WHEELS): 1 complaints, 12.5% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 1 · 12.5% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 6 complaints, 75.0% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 2 crash reports 6 · 75.0% 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)
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 3 37.5% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 12.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 12.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 12.5% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 1 12.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 6 75.0% 2 crashes · 0 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 Apr 2004; the first recall shown was reported in Dec 2003. 2004-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Dec 2003 Jan 2017 Recall campaign 03V512000 ◆ Recall campaign 03V512000 Recall campaign 05V452000 ◆ Recall campaign 05V452000
  • Campaign 05V452000 was reported 112 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2004-Q2 Owner reports 1
2005-Q1 Owner reports 1
2005-Q2 Owner reports 1
2007-Q2 Owner reports 1
2007-Q4 Owner reports 1
2009-Q3 Owner reports 1
2015-Q4 Owner reports 1
2017-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 03V512000
Recall campaign 1 05V452000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (2)

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

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

  1. 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 →

  2. 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 8 complaints · page 1 of 1
2017-02-27Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
NHTSA ODI 10957304
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I WAS PARKED IN PARKING LOT OF USPS READY TO LEAVE. I HAD GOTTEN THERE ABOUT 20 MINS BEFORE. CAR GAVE ME NO INDICATION OF ANY MALFUNCTION ON WAY THERE. I TURNED CAR ON AND SHIFTED TO REVERSE;LET GO OF EMERGENCY BREAK WHEN CAR JOLTED IN REVERSE ACROSS TO OTHER SIDE OF PARKING . IT JUMPED THE CEMENT MOLDING ON FLOOR BANGED AGAINST IRON RAILING KNOCKING IT DOWN. AS SOON AS I FELT THE JOLT I PULLED BACK ON THE EMERGENCY BREAK AND NOTHING HAPPENED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. I SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE BUT I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. DO I HAVE ANY RIGHTS ON THIS MATTER?
2015-12-12Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10809846
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY PERFORMING IN VERY ODD MANNERS SUCH AS STALLING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS (LIGHTS, STEREO, ETC) TURNING OFF AND ON RANDOMLY, REDUCING SPEED IGNORING ACCELERATOR POSITION AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS. SEVERAL VISITS TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS FOUND NO ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. WHILE SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT ONE POINT WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER FLOOR WAS SOAKING WET AND WE HAD NOT HAD RAIN FOR MANY DAYS. AFTER DOING MY OWN INVESTIGATING I FOUND THAT THE DRAIN PAN FOR THE A/C CONDENSER IS LOCATED INSIDE THE CAR BEHIND THE STEREO JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE GLOVE BOX. THE DRAIN PAN HAS A HOSE THAT ROUTES THROUGH THE FIREWALL AND DRAINS ONTO THE GROUND FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THIS DRAIN HOSE BECAME CLOGGED AND AS A RESULT ALL OF THE WATER FROM THE A/C CONDENSATION WAS OVERFLOWING AND DRAINING DIRECTLY ONTO THE ECU AND THEN ONTO THE PASSENGER FLOOR. THIS WATER WAS CAUSING THE ECU TO MISBEHAVE WHICH WAS CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION BUT BY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC THE WATER HAD DRIED AND THE CAR WAS BEHAVING PROPERLY. ONCE THE DRAIN HOSE WAS CLEARED THERE WERE NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. AFTER CHECKING ON SOME SUZUKI FORUMS I FOUND A COUPLE OTHERS THAT HAD THE SAME SITUATION ARISE. IT'S A FIX THAT TAKES LESS THAN A HALF HOUR AND REQUIRES NO PARTS BUT NOT ONE THAT MECHANICS KNOW ABOUT AND CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE COMPUTER ACTING UNPREDICTABLY AND FREQUENTLY CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY.
2009-09-08Wheels (WHEELS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10283299
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS MISSING A LUG NUT ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND INSPECTED WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LUG NUT SHEERED OFF OF BOLT AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT NO COST. ONE YEAR LATER THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LEFT REAR TIRE LUG NUT SHEERED OFF OF THE TIRE; HOWEVER, A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LUG NUT HAD NOT SHEERED OFF OF THE BOLT AND BILLED THE CONTACT $60.00 TO REPAIR THE TIRE . THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,594.
2007-11-07Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10208365
CrashFireInjuryDeath
2004 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA WITH REPLACEMENT OF MULTIPLE SAFETY CONCERNS. CONSUMER STATES THAT A SEAL ON THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, THE SHIFT CABLES AND NUMEROUS SEALS. SHE STATED THEY FINALLY HAD TO PUT IN A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION. *KB AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, THE CONSUMER BEGAN HEARING A ROAR FROM THE TRANSMISSION AFTER REACHING 50 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED ANOTHER SHIFT CABLE. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED,THE AC COMPRESSOR WOULD COME ON EVERY FEW SECONDS AND THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS A HORRIBLE WHISTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 12-15 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
2007-04-09Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10187370
CrashFireInjuryDeath
MY 2004 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR GETTING STUCK DOWN. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE THIS YEAR (07). I WAS LUCKY BOTH TIMES AS IT HAPPENED BEFORE I HAD GOTTEN ONTO THE HIGHWAY. AND NO ONE WAS HURT EITHER TIME.I LOOKED UP SUZUKI RECALLS ONLINE AND FOUND A RECALL FOR MY MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED SUZUKI AND A LOCAL SUZUKI DEALER, I WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT ON THEIR RECALL LISTS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE MAY HAVE DIED SINCE 2004 FROM ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THEIR ACCELERATOR STICKING? HOW MANY DEATHS OR PERMANENT INJURIES WILL IT TAKE TO CONVINCE SUZUKI THAT THIS PROBLEM IS FAR MORE WIDESPREAD THAN THEY THOUGHT???
2005-06-15Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10125380
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DT: CONSUMER NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES AT ABOUT 6,000 MILES. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER WOULD NOT FIX THEM UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER SAID THAT BRAKES WENT FROM TEN MILLIMETERS TO FOUR MILLIMETERS. ACCUSED CONSUMER OF RIDING BRAKES. CONSUMER SAID SHE DIDN'T RIDE THE BRAKES. SHE GOT VEHICLE WITH 325 MILES ON IT, AND VEHICLE DID NOT SEEM TO ACCELERATE AT THE RATE IT SHOULD. CONSUMER BELIEVED BRAKES WERE SOMEHOW ENGAGED AND HOLD IT BACK. C VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON DEC. 6, 2004. THIS HURT THE WARRANTY. BROOME CADILAC IN MISSOURI STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BRAKE PROBLEM.*AK
2005-01-05Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 10109550
CrashFireInjuryDeath
VEHICLE LOST POWER COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE WHILE DRIVING, FRONTAL COLLISION NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *BF THE VEHICLE HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH A TREE. THIS WAS A RECURRENT PROBLEM. *SC

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara?

Owners named Cruise / speed control most often — 3 of 8 reports (38%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara?

NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about 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 2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Test cruise control and ask about unintended-acceleration reports on this year. 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