Recalls: Suzuki JT Grand Vitara
Overview
Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the number of recalls should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.
Recalls: Suzuki JT Grand Vitara
Suzuki Grand Vitara: loss of steering assistance
In February 2011, a recall was issued for Suzuki JT Grand Vitara vehicles due to the engine drive belt tension adjuster pulley – which maintained tension of the engine drive belt – potentially having an incorrectly manufactured internal spring. As a result, reduced tension in the belt could result in the dashboard warning lights illuminating; at worst, the belt may dislodge from the power steering pulley and increased effort would be required to steer the vehicle (PRA 2011/12354). The recalled vehicles had VINs in the following ranges:
- JSAJTAA4V00100033 to JSAJTAA4V00211614; and,
- JSAJTDA4V00100075 to JSAJTDA4V00218489.
2008-13 Suzuki Grand Vitara: cannot change gears
In February 2017, a recall was issued for Suzuki Grand Vitara vehicles that were available for sale in Australia from 1 May 2008 to 30 June 2013. Due to insufficient strength of the gear shift rear shaft, the gear shift shaft may fail such that the driver cannot change gears. For the VINs of the recalled Suzuki Grand Vitara vehicles, please see PRA 2017/15904.
Problems and faults: Suzuki JT Grand Vitara
Overview
This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.
To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.
2008-09 Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4i: cracked cylinder head
In December 2013, Suzuki issued Technical Service Bulletin TS 35 12103 for Suzuki Grand Vitara vehicles that had 2.4-litre J24B petrol engines and were manufactured prior to 1 July 2009. In these vehicles, a crack may occur between the cylinder head bolts and casting plugs. According to Southside Cylinder Heads, the crack occurs from one of the three casting bungs that screw into the top of the head (under the rocker cover, between the camshafts), and the crack will normally run to the nearest head bolt hole.
Symptoms of a cracked cylinder head included:
- Coolant leaking from the cooling jacket into the camshaft housing of the cylinder head;
- Engine overheating; and,
- Contamination of engine oil with coolant (i.e. a milky residue in the engine oil).
Please note external coolant leaks were not to be expected from a cracked cylinder head.
In the USA, the warranty for cylinder head cracks between the cylinder head bolts and casting plugs in Suzuki Grand Vitara vehicles was extended to seven (7) years or 102,000 miles (whichever came first).
2008-09 Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4i: cracked cylinder block
For Suzuki Grand Vitara vehicles that have 2.4-litre petrol engines manufactured prior to July 2009, there have been reports of cracked cylinder blocks. Specifically, the cylinder block may crack on the passenger side, above the oil filter and forward half a cylinder. It has been suggested that later engines have thicker bracing in this area, though AustralianCar.Reviews has not been able to verify this. The main symptom of a cracked cylinder block is a loss of coolant; if this occurs, the engine may overheat.
2005-11 Suzuki Grand Vitara: airbag warning stays on illuminates and DTC B1312
In 2012, Suzuki issued Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) TS 06 05212R1 for 2005-11 Suzuki Grand Vitara vehicles. In these vehicles, repeated flexing could cause an electric circuit disconnection (i.e. an open circuit) in the Front Passenger Sensing System (FPSS) circuit within the sensor-mat that was in the passenger seat bottom cushion assembly.
The primary symptom of this problem was that the ‘airbag’ warning light in the instrument cluster would illuminate, while diagnostic trouble code (DTC) B1312 would also be stored in the vehicle’s on-board system. Furthermore, the ‘passenger air bag off’ indicator light would remain off because the front passenger airbag would remain active during this malfunction even when a child or infant was sitting in the front seat. Other than the FPSS, the airbag system would continue to operate as designed.
To fix, the passenger seat bottom cushion assembly was to be replaced. As part of a service campaign, Suzuki USA extended its coverage for passenger seat sensor mat failures for the B1312 DTC condition to 10 years or 120,000 miles (193,121 kilometres).
