NHTSA vehicle safety data

2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 14 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Suzuki dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara owner complaints

Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara, describing incidents dated December 2, 2009 to November 16, 2019.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 3 complaints
Electrical System 3 complaints
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 3 complaints
Exterior Lighting 3 complaints
Unknown or Other 3 complaints
Engine 2 complaints

Newest complaints

ODI #11280765 · Filed November 18, 2019
THE POWER STEERING PUMP DRIVE-BELT TENSION ADJUSTABLE PULLEY- HAS BEEN COMPROMISED ... AND EFFECTS MY AC. WHILE RESEARCHING I FOUND THE 2006 - 2012 MODELS WERE EFFECTED AS WELL, CAUSING A RECALL..VEHICLE WAS IN PARK- AND WOULD NOT START.. TURNED OFF AC AND SHE FINALLY TURNED OVER.. AFTER I LET HER…
ODI #11269259 · Filed October 17, 2019
NO WORD ABS AND ESP,
ODI #11203901 · Filed April 26, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. WHILE DRIVING, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED TO PROVIDE ACCURATE READINGS, AND THE ENGINE, ABS, ASP, AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS FAILED AND…

Read all 14 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE13-021: Occupant Classification System Failure
Closed September 30, 2013
- Recall 13V-405

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Passenger Seat Occupant Detection System may Fail

NHTSA #19V187000 · Seats · NHTSA notice

Reported March 7, 2019 · Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 31,302 vehicles

Repair completion: 18.31% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Suzuki campaign 4011, 4012 · Owners notified February 21, 2020 · Vehicles built June 2, 2008 – January 30, 2009 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kizashi and 2006-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles. The front passenger leather seat may shrink due to high humidity and high temperature. As a result, the occupant classification system (OCS) sensor mat may not accurately detect if an adult or child is occupying the seat.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, an incorrect classification may result in the passenger frontal air bag deploying even if there is a child in the front passenger seat, increasing their risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat bottom cushion, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2019. All second letters notifying owners of the remedy were mailed by April 10, 2020. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's numbers for this recall are 4011 and 4012.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Gear Shift Rear Shaft may Break

NHTSA #17V085000 · Power Train — Manual Transmission · NHTSA notice

Reported February 9, 2017 · Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 791 vehicles

Repair completion: 31.61% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Suzuki campaign VZ · Owners notified March 3, 2017 · Vehicles built June 3, 2008 – October 26, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The gear shift rear shaft on these vehicles may break, preventing the gears from being able to be changed.

Safety consequence

If the transmission cannot be shifted, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the gear shift rear shaft, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is VZ.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor mat

NHTSA #13V405000 · Air Bags · NHTSA notice

Reported September 6, 2013 · Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 189,901 vehicles

Repair completion: 32.57% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Suzuki campaign VD · Owners notified May 23, 2014 · Vehicles built June 2, 2008 – January 30, 2009 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Grand Vitara and 2007-2011 SX4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, over time, the OCS sensor mat installed in the front passenger seat may fail due to repeated flexing of the mat from use of the seat. As a result, during a crash necessitating deployment, the air bag will deploy regardless of whether the front seat occupant is an adult or a child.

Safety consequence

Air bag deployment with a child in the front passenger side seat increases the risk of injury to that child.

Manufacturer remedy

Suzuki will notify owners and dealers will replace the front passenger seat cushion assembly (which includes the OCS sensor mat) free of charge. Sufficient quantities of parts are not currently available to fix all of the affected vehicles. Owners will be notified of the recall in October 2013 and will receive a second notification when parts are available to have their vehicle repaired. The recall began on May 23, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's recall campaign number is VD.

Notes

Note: Vehicles which previously had a countermeasure occupant classification system (OCS) sensor mat installed under the special coverage campaign conducted by Suzuki distributors in the United States are not affected by this recall.Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY

NHTSA #11V055000 · Electrical System — Alternator/Generator/Regulator · NHTSA notice

Reported January 27, 2011 · AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP.

Potentially affected: 32,291 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign SM · Owners notified February 16, 2011

Defect description

SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES; MODEL YEAR 2011 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES PRODUCED PRIOR TO OCTOBER 17, 2010; MODEL YEAR 2010 SUZUKI SX4 PASSENGER VEHICLES; AND 2011 SUZUKI SX4 PASSENGER VEHICLES PRODUCED PRIOR TO OCTOBER 14, 2010. THE TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY FOR THE DRIVE BELT THAT OPERATES THE ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP, AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR AND POWER STEERING PUMP, HAS AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED INTERNAL SPRING THAT CAN BREAK DUE TO REPEATED STRESS. IF THE SPRING BREAKS, THE DRIVE BELT WILL NOT BE ADJUSTED PROPERLY AND CAN SLIP, CAUSING A SQUEAKING NOISE. OR THE DRIVE BELT COULD COME OFF CAUSING THE DRIVER TO INCREASE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THIS CAN ALSO CAUSE THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE INDICATION TO RISE, WHICH CAN LEAD TO THE ENGINE OVERHEATING, OR CAN CAUSE THE CHARGING LIGHT TO COME ON, WHICH CAN LEAD TO BATTERY DISCHARGE AND ENGINE STALL.

Safety consequence

IF THE DRIVE BELT COMES OFF, REQUIRING THE DRIVER TO USE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT, OR THE ENGINE STALLS, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY WITH AN IMPROVED PART. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 16, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-887-697-8985 OR VISIT SUZUKI'S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SUZUKIAUTO.COM.

Notes

SUZUKI SAFETY RECALL NO. SM.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

19% rollover risk

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

1 investigation

14 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara.

Steering; Unknown or Other

ODI #11280765

Incident: November 16, 2019 · Filed: November 18, 2019

THE POWER STEERING PUMP DRIVE-BELT TENSION ADJUSTABLE PULLEY- HAS BEEN COMPROMISED ... AND EFFECTS MY AC. WHILE RESEARCHING I FOUND THE 2006 - 2012 MODELS WERE EFFECTED AS WELL, CAUSING A RECALL..VEHICLE WAS IN PARK- AND WOULD NOT START.. TURNED OFF AC AND SHE FINALLY TURNED OVER.. AFTER I LET HER SIT FOR 2 HOURS PLEASE ADVISE THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

Air Bags; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #11269259

Incident: December 14, 2012 · Filed: October 17, 2019

NO WORD ABS AND ESP,

Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Electrical System

ODI #11203901

Incident: April 24, 2019 · Filed: April 26, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. WHILE DRIVING, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED TO PROVIDE ACCURATE READINGS, AND THE ENGINE, ABS, ASP, AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11195430

Incident: February 5, 2019 · Filed: April 10, 2019

THE UNIT HAVE BEEN CONSUMING COOLANT IN EXCESS.AFTER A PROFESIONAL INSPECTION WAS DETECTED A CRACK IN THE ENGINE BLOCK.THIS IS EXACTLY THE SITUATION COVER IN THE SUZUKI EXTENSIONS OF THE WARRANTY BY THE MANUFACTURER.YOUR RECALL BULLETIN EXACTLY DESCRIBE MY SITUATION.PLEASE CLARIFY THE SUZUKI REPRESENTATIVE IN PUERTO RICO THAT THE WARRANTY EXTENSIONS IS VALID FOR PR UNITS.THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

Engine

ODI #11022575

Incident: July 16, 2017 · Filed: September 11, 2017

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED AIR CONDITIONING WOULD BE COOL THEN HOT FOR ABOUT 3-5 MINUTES AND COOL AGAIN THEN HOT AGAIN AND REPEAT. TURNED OFF THE AC WHEN I NOTICED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE INDICATOR GETTING HOTTER. TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC. HE PERFORMED PRESSURE TEST ON COOLING SYSTEM AND FOUND ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED AND LEAKING COOLANT, LEFT SIDE UNDER EXHAUST MANIFOLD. VEHICLE OVERHEATS AND WILL CAUSE ME TO BE STRANDED. COULD BE SIMILAR TO NHTSA ID #10054717.

Air Bags; Unknown or Other; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #11003864

Incident: June 5, 2017 · Filed: July 9, 2017

TAKATA RECALL? AIR BAG AND PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHTS STAY ON. ONLY HAVE 70,000 MILES ON CAR. ABS/ESP LIGHT STAYS ON

Electrical System; Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Engine

ODI #10950047

Incident: January 20, 2017 · Filed: February 7, 2017

WHEN CAR WAS INITIALLY STARTED, AFTER FEW MINUTES OF WARM UP TIME, HEAT WAS ACTIVATED AND NO HEAT WAS DISPERSED. BEGAN DRIVING, DESPITE NO HEAT. WITHIN 1 MILE TRAVELING LESS THAT 15 MPH, THE TEMPARATURE GAGE INCREASED TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL, STILL WITHOUT HEAT IN CAR. (PICTURE 1) AS SPEED INCREASED, TEMPERATURE GAGE RAPIDLY FLUCTUATED AND ESP WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON DASH. (PICTURE 2) PULLED OFF HIGHWAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING WARNING LIGHTS, ENGINE FOUND TO BE SMOKING. DIAGNOSED WITH ENGINE CRACK., CRACK SEALED FOR TEMPORARY FUNCTION, WITHIN DAYS OF SEAL, SAME SYMPTOMS AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, BUT TOTAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN FOLLOWING ESP WARNING LIGHTS. ACCELERATION HALTED, POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND BRAKES DIFFICULT TO WORK. AFTER SITTING OFF, CAR UNABLE TO START.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10845720

Incident: March 9, 2016 · Filed: March 9, 2016

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY HEADLIGHT BULBS SO MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I HAVE LOST COUNT. NOW I AM BEING TOLD EVEN THOUGH MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE BULB AGAIN, THAT I SHOULD REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES AT A COST OF $240 EACH TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT HEADLIGHT BULBS FOR MANY MODEL YEAR GRAND VITARAS. I THINK SUZUKI SHOULD RECALL THE 2007-2011 GRAND VITARA HEADLIGHTS FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND OVERALL CUSTOMER GOODWILL.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10706498

Incident: December 26, 2014 · Filed: April 19, 2015

BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10467212

Incident: April 15, 2012 · Filed: July 24, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT AND THE ESP OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND INSPECTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WAS FOUND DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,900. UPDATED 8/24/12 *CN

Other Suzuki Grand Vitara model years

Check your 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Suzuki Grand Vitara at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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