Reliability & cost of ownership
Suzuki Sidekick Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Suzuki Sidekick? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars — then open the year you're shopping for a full reliability and repair-cost forecast.
Suzuki Sidekick problems by model year
3 recall entries and 149 owner complaints on file across 5 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Sidekick | 0 | 1 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 1998 Sidekick | 0 | 27 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 1997 Sidekick | 1 | 36 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 1996 Sidekick | 2 | 59 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 1995 Sidekick | 0 | 26 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Suzuki Sidekick, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- power train29 complaints
- suspension29 complaints
- engine and engine cooling26 complaints
- air bags16 complaints
- service brakes14 complaints
- hydraulic14 complaints
- structure8 complaints
- visibility8 complaints