2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara Steering Problems

RECORD ACCIDENT

THE VEHICLE WAS SHIPPED TO A SUZUKI DEALER IN PUERTO RICO AND THEN SHIPPED BACK TO THE USA. ONCE SHIPPED TO PUERTO RICO, SUZUKI PROVIDES A SPECIFIC VIN AS VEHICLES EXPORTED OUT OF THE USA. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIPPED BACK TO USA IN 2009 AND EVER SINCE I HAVE RECEIVED THREE SAFETY RECALL NOTIFICATIONS TO HAVE DONE BY LOCAL SUZUKI DEALER. WE CONTACTED THE LOCAL SUZUKI DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VIN DOES NOT APPEAR IN THEIR SYSTEM AT ALL. I BEEN TOLD THEY WILL NOT SERVICE MY VEHICLE BEING THAT IT WAS SHIP FROM PUERTO RICO AND THE ONLY PLACE THEY WOULD FIX THE RECALL WOULD BE THERE. I HAVE CONTACTED CORPORATE SUZUKI MULTIPLE TIMES AND BEEN TOLD THEY CAN'T DO MUCH TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE DEALER AGAIN WHICH HAS REFUSED TO DO THE SERVICE. I HAVE BEEN MANY HOURS EXPLAINING MY SITUATION TO DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS FROM DEALER AND SUZUKI AND NEVER COME TO A SOLUTION AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS. I'M TOLD THAT VEHICLES SHIPPED TO PUERTO RICO (US TERRITORY) AND BACK TO US ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THESE SAFETY RECALLS DESPITE I AM RECEIVING THE NOTIFICATION TO MY OHIO ADDRESS. ITS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS WE BEEN TRYING TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE AND ALWAYS GET THE RUN AROUND. ONE OF THE RECALL IS RELATED TO AIR BAGS AND DIFFERENTIAL TRAIN LOCKING DUE TO FAULTY SEAL. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN BY MY DAUGHTER FOR SCHOOL AND WE'VE NOW HAVE RESTRICTED HER FROM DRIVING THE VEHICLE CONCERNED FOR THESE ISSUES. WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY SUPPORT OR ASSISTANCE YOU MAY PROVIDE TO SOLVING THIS ISSUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE YEARS AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. 10V250000 (STEERING), THE STEERING PULLEY BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO HAVE THE PULLEY REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE STEERING PULLEY AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO CALL A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOSE AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,493.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V250000 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: PUMP) AND CONTACTED THE DEALER TO HAVE THE TENSION PULLEY REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PART WAS NOT READILY AVAILABLE AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED TIME OF DELIVERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LATER BECAME INOPERABLE AS A RESULT OF THE DEFECTIVE PART. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE ENGAGING AND AT TIMES THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET THE BRAKES CHECKED, THE PADS WERE FINE, BUT ONE OF THE CALIPERS WAS MISALIGNED. WHEN I TOOK THE SUZUKI GRAND VITARA IN TO GET THE RECALLED POWER STEERING TENSIONER PULLEY REPLACED, AND FOR SERVICING, THEY LOANED ME A VEHICLE. I ALMOST WENT THOUGH THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE FUNCTIONAL BRAKES OF THE LOANER, ACTUALLY ANY BRAKES ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE I DRIVE. IT ALMOST FEELS AS IF THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I HAVE HAD TO USE MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEARS TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. BRAKE SHOES, PADS WHATEVER THEY ARE CALLED ARE FINE. THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T THINK THAT SAFETY IS A CONCERN. ALSO, I MIGHT ADD THAT THE REPLACED POWER STEERING TENSIONER PULLEY NOW CREATES A SEVERE KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE (THAT DID NOT EXIST PRIOR TO THE REPLACEMENT). I HAVE RETURNED TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES TO REPAIR ... APPARENTLY, SUZUKI HAS ALSO ISSUED ANOTHER TECHNICAL BULLETIN TO DECREASE THE KNOCKING, BUT IT IS STILL THERE! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V250000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP). AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE RECALLED PART WAS AVAILABLE. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHICH WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 28 MILES FROM HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT REPAIR IT SINCE THE PART WAS NOT IN STOCK. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE PART NOT BEING AVAILABLE AS WELL AS THE UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHEN IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE. HE EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THERE WERE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME. UPDATED 8/25/10 *CN UPDATED 08/27/10 UPDATED 08/30/10*JB

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE DATING BACK TO 07. IN 2010 RECALL FOR STEERING/ TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS SERIOUS RECALL, THE AIR BAGS IN 2014 I HEARD ABOUT THE AIR BAGS BUT NEVER WAS NOTIFIED AS TO WHO HAD THE PARTS TO REPLACE IT. ARE THEY WAITING FOR A CASUALTY? I STILL HAVE PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR AND IT IS NOT WORTH JUNK PRICE!

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FREQUENTLY BURN OUT AIRBAG SEAT SENSOR TWICE CHANGED, NOW IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON FREQUENTLY. AC BLOWS HOT AIR SUDDENLY. POWER STEERING PLASTIC TENSIONER MAY BREAK OUT. REAR WHEEL COVER IMPACT WIIL DENT BACKDOOR. *TR

GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY I EXPERIENCED A MAJOR LOSS OF POWER STEERING ON MY 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO "MUSCLE" IT TO MY OFFICE A FEW BLOCKS AWAY. IN SEARCHING THE WEB, I DISCOVERED THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE BELT TENSIONER WHERE A MOLDED PLASTIC OUTER RING IS PRONE TO FAILURE. WHEN THIS BREAKS, THE BELT BECOMES LOOSE AND LOOSES ITS GRIP ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP. SURE ENOUGH, PARTS OF THE BROKEN OUTER RING WERE FOUND IN THE PAN UNDER THE ENGINE. SUZUKI HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON NEWER CARS WITH AN ALL METAL PULLEY AND IT'S AN EASY REPLACEMENT. I WAS LUCKY, HAD THE FAILURE OCCURRED GOING AROUND A CURVE OR TURNING IN AN INTERSECTION IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. SUZUKI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL AND WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART IF THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 2.7L SUV -TURNING THROUGH A MAJOR INTERSECTION WHEN THE POWER STEERING BELT TENSIONER PULLEY LOST IT'S OUTER RING WITHOUT WARNING. THE LOSS OF THIS RING CAUSED THE BELT TO SLIP, RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING, NOT JUST POWER STEERING, BUT OF STEERING ALTOGETHER BECAUSE THE BELT SLIPPAGE WAS CAUSING INTERMITTENT PUMPING OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP, CAUSING FLUID CAVITATION AND MAKING THE WHEEL IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. BY SHEER LUCK I MANAGED TO GET MY VEHICLE TO TURN BY ALMOST HITTING A CAR HEAD -ON. SUZUKI KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH THE 2006 AND 2007 GRAND VITARA POWER STEERING PUMP TENSIONER PULLEYS AND HAS EVEN RELEASED A REVISED PART THAT USES A METAL OUTER RING ON THE PULLEY INSTEAD OF THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC ONE. HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY SINCE I HAD 41,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THIS FAILURE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED. AFTER DISCUSSING MY CONCERN WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER I CALLED THE 800# FOR SUZUKI AND COMPLAINED AND THE LOCAL DISTRICT MANAGER CALLED MY DEALER SERVICE MANAGER AND DECIDED TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT AFTER I TOLD THEM ABOUT WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET ABOUT SO MANY OTHERS HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THAT I WAS GOING TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. *TR

POWER STEERING PULLEY BROKE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. FAILURE : LOST POWER STEERING. HAD TO TOW THE SUV TO THE DEALERSHIP (SINCE IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING). DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PULLEY. I HAVE THE OLD PULLEY. *TR

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ON 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. *TR

THERE IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE 2006, 2007 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE POWER STEERING TENSIONER, DUE TO ITS DEFECTIVE DESIGN, CAN FALL APART AT ANYTIME. THAT PARTICULAR PART HAS SINCE BEEN REDESIGNED, DUE TO MANY FAILURES, AND THE NEW PART SUBSEQUENTLY UTILIZED IN THE LATER MODELS OF THAT VEHICLE. HOWEVER, NO ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE BY SUZUKI TO RECALL THE VEHICLE OR INFORM IT'S OWNERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE POWER STEERING TENSIONER BREAKS APART, THE POWER STEERING IS IMMEDIATELY DISABLED AND THE DRIVER IS FACED WITH A VERY SUDDEN, SEVERE INCREASE IN EFFORT, REQUIRED TO STEER THE VEHICLE. MANY PEOPLE WOULD PANIC IN THAT SITUATION AND COULD VERY LIKELY HAVE A COLLISION. AS SOON AS I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, HE IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND HAD ME BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS. THE REPAIR MANAGER MENTIONED TO ME THAT HE HAD AT LEAST 20 FAILURES OF THAT COMPONENT OCCUR WITHIN THE PAST TWO YEARS. I CALLED SUZUKI, BUT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR COST NOR EVEN GIVE THE SLIGHTEST HINT OF WANTING TO RECALL THAT MODEL & YEAR VEHICLE. FYI, THE ORIGINAL TENSIONER CONSISTED OF A METAL PULLEY WHEEL WHICH HAD A PLASTIC ?U? SHAPED RIM MOLDED ONTO THE OUTSIDE OF THE PULLEY. THE FUNCTION OF THE PLASTIC RIM IS TO HOLD THE POWER STEERING BELT IN PLACE. THE FAILURES THAT HAVE OCCURRED ARE DUE TO THE PLASTIC RIM FALLING OFF OF THE PULLEY (DUE TO DETERIORATION OR FATIGUE), LOOSENING THE BELT AND THUS NO LONGER TURNING THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE NEW COMPONENT IS NOW DESIGNED AS ONE PIECE AND IS ALL METAL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 2.7L SUV ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING BELT TENSIONER PULLEY LOST IT'S OUTER RING WITHOUT WARNING. THE LOSS OF THIS RING CAUSED THE BELT TO SLIP, RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING, NOT JUST POWER STEERING, BUT OF STEERING ALTOGETHER BECAUSE THE BELT SLIPPAGE WAS CAUSING INTERMITTENT PUMPING OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP, CAUSING FLUID CAVITATION AND MAKING THE WHEEL IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. BY SHEER LUCK I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OFF OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT CRASHING. SUZUKI KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH THE 2006 AND 2007 GRAND VITARA POWER STEERING PUMP TENSIONER PULLEYS AND HAS EVEN RELEASED A REVISED PART THAT USES A METAL OUTER RING ON THE PULLEY INSTEAD OF THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC ONE. THE PART WAS $180 AFTER TAX, AND TOOK AN HOUR OF LABOR TO INSTALL. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILS DUE TO LOSS OF TENSION ON BELTS BECAUSE PLASTIC OR NYLON TENSION BAR BRAKES OR FALLS OFF. APPARENTLY HAPPENS ALL THE TIME ON THE SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH AT SUPER HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

MY 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA HAS A BROKEN POWER STEERING TENSIONER PULLEY. THE REASON IS THAT THE MANY 2006 MODELS OF THE GRAND VITARA USED A METAL PULLEY WRAPPED WITH A PIECE OF PLASTIC AROUND IT. THE PLASTIC HAS CRACKED, AND ACCORDING TO SUZUKI, IT IS NOT FREE TO REPLACE IT. SINCE 2007, SUZUKI HAS STARTED USING A ALL-SOLID METAL TENSIONER PULLEY AFTER REALIZING THAT PLASTIC TENDS TO BREAK MORE OFTEN. ACCORDING TO SUZUKI, A BROKEN TENSIONER PULLEY WILL LEAD TO IMMEDIATE AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THIS COULD CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENTS WHEN POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. HAVING REALIZED THIS DESIGN FLAW, SUZUKI IS STILL NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC-COVERED TENSIONER PULLEY FOR FREE, ASKING ME FOR $200 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN WHERE I AM NOT AT FAULT. I SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE TECHNICIAN IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD'VE DONE TO PREVENT IT, AND HE SAID NO. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES IF LEFT IN IT'S CURRENT STATE. I FEEL LIKE THIS TYPE OF DESIGN FLAW SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SUZUKI TO CORRECT, AND NOT THE CONSUMER. *TR

STARTED MY CAR AND THERE WAS A LOUD ODD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AFTER A LITTLE INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING TENSIONER (WHICH ON EARLY 06 MODELS SUCH AS MINE WAS MADE FROM PLASTIC) HAD CRACKED CAUSING A LOUD NOISE AS WELL AS AN END TO MY POWER STEERING. THE CAR IS WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO FIX IT AS IT DOESN'T FALL UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THIS SAME ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO MULTIPLE EARLY MODEL 06 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA OWNERS. SUZUKI FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH LATER 06 MODELS AND ON NEWER MODELS BY CHANGING THE TENSION PULLEY FROM PLASTIC TO STEEL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS SHIFTING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE STEERING BOLTS. TWO MONTHS LATER WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING COLUMN FELL ON THE FLOOR CAUSING HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE. A FORMAL COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF PAIN IN HER NECK AND BACK. UPDATED

2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 6,500 MILES STEERING COLUMN. BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR STEERING COLUMN BEING LOOSE. TOLD US THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY IT GOT LOOSE BUT THEY TIGHTENED UP. THOUGHT PROBLEM WAS FIXED. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING STEERING COLUMN COLLAPSED ONTO LAP CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF CAR. *TR