2007 Suzuki SX4 Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI SX4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER CRASHING INTO A DEER, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

THIS ISSUE DEALS WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IN MY 2007 SUZUKI SX-4. THE SENSOR FIRST STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO BILL SIEDLE'S SUZUKI WHERE THEY RESET THE LIGHT. I WENT ONLINE AND BEGAN READING THRU THE BLOGS AND NOTICED THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM THAT MANY SUZUKI SX-4S ARE HAVING. RECENTLY I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SOME WARRANTY WORK REGARDING CONCERNING THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I GOT MY CAR BACK THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN. I MENTIONED IT TO THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WHO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS A DEFECT WITH A SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF ITS BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE EXPENSES MYSELF. THE SENSOR BY ITSELF COST AN AMAZING $2400. I CONTACTED SUZUKI IN CALIFORNIA TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE. THEY HAD ME CONTACT SOMEONE AT BILL SIEDLE'S SUZUKI AND REQUEST A GOODWILL SERVICE. THEY DENIED THE GOOD WILL SERVICE. COINCIDENTLY, I DROVE A 2009 SUZUKI SX-4 WHILE VACATIONING IN PUERTO RICO AND IT ALSO HAPPENED TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. IT'S EVIDENT THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS SENSOR AND SUZUKI REFUSES TO CORRECT IT. I'VE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES RELATING TO MY SUZUKI RANGING FROM COSMETICS TO MECHANICAL ISSUES, EVEN THE SENSORS IN THE TIRES WHICH MONITOR TIRE PRESSURE ARE BROKEN AND NOW MY TPMS LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY LIT ON MY DASHBOARD. I DO HAVE 90,000 MILES ON MY CAR BUT I KEEP IT IN PRISTINE CONDITION AND ANY OF THE MECHANICS WHO HAVE WORKED ON THE CAR CAN TESTIFY TO THIS. HOWEVER, MY PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT DON'T APPEAR UNIQUE BASED ON THE ENDLESS FORUMS THAT I'VE READ AND 90,000 FREEWAY MILES DON'T WEAR OUT AN AIRBAG SENSOR IN 3 YEARS. ADDITIONALLY, IT DEALS WITH THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THAT AIRBAG WITH REACT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. WHATEVER THE ISSUE IS, IT ALSO GIVES AN INDICATION THAT THE PASSENGER SEATBELT IS NOT ON. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI SX4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS RESET AND A SENSOR REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI SX4. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT HE COULD NOT CONFIRM THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD OPERATE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

FAILURE OF AIRBAG SYSTEM DUE TO FAILURE OF THE OCCUPANCY CONTROL MODULE. THIS SHUTS DOWN THE ENTIRE PASSENGER RESTRAIN SYSTEM FOR ALL AIRBAGS. A QUICK REVIEW OF THE INTERNET REVEALS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. WWW.SX4CLUB.COM/FORUMS. PLEASE SEARCH SX4 AIRBAG LIGHT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI SX4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, AS HE CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES DID NOT OPERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP FAST. HE PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING FASTER. HE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND AFTER FIVE WEEKS THE DEALER CALLED HIM ON MARCH 19TH, AND TOLD HIM TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 21,000. UPDATED 07/19/10 *BF UPDATED 07/21/10.*JB

1. DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED IN HILLY TERRAIN. 2. WHEN DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, IN HILLY TERRAIN, IF THE HILL IS STEEP ENOUGH THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS TWICE, UPON REACHING THE CREST OF THE HILL OR OTHERWISE LEVELING OUT, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT RETURN THE CAR TO THE SET SPEED, BUT WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE THE CAR TO FOUR MILE PER HOUR OR MORE OVER SET SPEED. AS I HAVE NOT YET LET THE VEHICLE GO COMPLETELY THROUGH IT MAXIMUM OVER-ACCELERATION, FOUR MILE OVER IS ALL I CAN REPORT. HAVE NOT HAD THAT MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE THIS, SINCE DON'T DRIVE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS VERY OFTEN. IT IS CONSISTENT IN ITS OCCURRENCE. THE OVER-ACCELERATION CAN BE VERY DISCONCERTING, AND, SINCE IT OCCURS IN HILLY TERRAIN, CAN, IF IT IS NOT A KNOWN ISSUE TO THE DRIVER, COULD PUT THEM IN DANGER OF LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE OVER-ACCELERATION ALSO OCCURS WHEN THERE IS A SINGLE DOWN-SHIFT OF THE TRANSMISSION, BUT IS NOT AS SEVERE, BEING ONLY IN THE RANGE OF TWO MILES PER HOUR. STILL, I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE ANY OVER-ACCELERATION OF ANY MAGNITUDE. 3. TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, AND HE INDICATED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT THERE WERE NO PLANS FOR ANY REPAIRS. UPSETTING, BUT, SINCE I KNOW THIS WILL HAPPEN, I CAN HANDLE IT. GIVEN THE TOYOTA ISSUE, THOUGH, I FEEL OBLIGED TO REPORT THAT THIS OCCURS, IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO THE MANUFACTURER, AND THAT THERE ARE NO PLANS FOR A FIX. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI SX4. THE ABS AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE IN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. THE AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE WHILE PASSENGER WAS IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 5/9/11 *CN UPDATED 05/16/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI SX4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALL BAGS WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THERE WAS NO WAY OF KNOWING WHETHER THE AIR BAG WOULD DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN DEALING WITH THE FAILURE FOR FOUR YEARS AND HAD NOT BEEN OFFERED AN ADEQUATE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A GOOD FAITH EXTENSION LETTER TO THE CONTACT THAT STATED THAT THE SENSOR COULD BE REPAIRED FOR UP 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 08/03/12 *LJ UPDATED 08/06/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI SX4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE TO RESET THE WARNING MESSAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, AND THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE AIR BAG CONNECTOR MODULE FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

CONDENSATION IS BUILDING UP INSIDE THE AC UNIT THAT IS LOCATED BEHIND THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE INTERIOR. WHEN THE A/C IS OPERATING, IT DRIPS AND WHEN IT IS BEING DRIVEN, IT FLOWS A STEADY STREAM OF WATER, WHICH CONTINUES AFTER THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES. *TR

VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW ON 10/30/2007, AND SERVICED REGULARLY AT LOCAL DEALER. INITIAL REPORTS OF "PASSENGER AIR BAG" LIGHT IGNORED REPEATEDLY BY DEALER. ON 3/23/2008 WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING IT WAS BACKED INTO BY A TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CAMRY HAD MINIMAL DAMAGE, BUT THE SUZUKI SUSTAINED MORE THAN $4700 IN DAMAGE. NUMEROUS CALLS TO POLICE ENSUE AND FINALLY AFTER 2 HOURS, A FLORIDA HWY. PATROL OFFICER RESPONDS. HE REFUSED TO MAKE/TAKE A REPORT AS HIS SHIFT IS ABOUT TO END. HE HAD A VERY DEMEANING ATTITUDE AND WAS QUITE AGITATED. WHILE INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, NO ONE KNEW THE EXTENT OF THEM AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. NONE OF THE 7 AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. THE CAR ITSELF WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND ALMOST TIPPED COMPLETELY OVER ONTO ITS ROOF. THE PASSENGER LATER LEARNED THAT THE REASON FOR HER SEVERE PAIN AND INABILITY TO WALK 3 WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO A SEVERED HIP JOINT. OF COURSE THE CAMRY DRIVER'S GEICO INSURANCE HANDLED THE INITIAL CLAIM AND REPAIRED THE SUZUKI. THEY BALKED AT THE INJURIES, BUT AFTER RETAINING COUNSEL FINALLY PAID OUT A SMALL PORTION ON THE MEDICAL; THE PASSENGER HAS PERMANENT LIFE LONG PROBLEMS AS A RESULT, LOST HER JOB AND HAS A LARGE PARTIALLY UNPAID MEDICAL BILL. THE VEHICLE WAS "OKAY" AFTER THE REPAIR AND THEN AT 51310 MILES THE "AIR BAG" LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. REPORTS TO NHTSA AND SUZUKI WENT COMPLETELY IGNORED SINCE THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH SUZUKI'S SOLD. SUZUKI ADVISED OWNER TO CONTINUE MAKING CAR PAYMENTS, INSURANCE PREMIUMS ETC., BUT DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AS THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR INJURIES NOW THAT THEY WERE AWARE. WHAT A COMPLETE JOKE! OWNER HAD TO SELL CAR AS TRANSPORTATION WAS NEEDED; WHY MAKE PAYMENTS ON SOMETHING YOU CAN'T DRIVE. GM OWNED THE SUZUKI DIVISION AT THE TIME AND HAVE SINCE CLOSED THE SUZUKI DIVISION. THEY AGAIN GOT OFF WHILE OTHERS SUFFER FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES! *TR

I BOUGHT MY SX4 2007 SUZUKI NOV 2007. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH GAS FUMES INSIDE CAR, TOOK IT TO SERVICE SAID THERE WERE NO LEAKS. STILL SMELLS ON OCCASIONS. TOOK CAR TO SERVICE 3 TIMES THE HAD IT FOR 7 DAYS AND COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. IT IS THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER HAD FOR POOR GAS MILEAGE. AND ALSO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON CONSTANTLY. WAS TOLD PASSENGER MUST NOT BE SITTING IN SEAT RIGHT, GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!. I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THIS CAR. *TR

MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN SX4. *TR

MY SUZUKI SX4 IS NOW 4 MONTHS AND 2500 MILES OLD. THE AIRBAG OFF LIGHT WILL COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BY PLACING A 240LB TECHNICIAN IN THE PARKED CAR. THE DEALER ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS OCCURS ON MANY SUZUKI VEHICLES. A CALL TO SUZUKI AMERICA RESULTED IN NO ACTION, SIMPLY BEING TOLD THAT IS THE WAY IT IS DESIGNED. SOUNDS TO ME LIKE IT IS DESIGNED TO KILL SOMEONE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI SX4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR ACTIVATED SPORADICALLY WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE SEAT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THEY STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SENSOR AIR BAG WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,800.

THE FRONT PASSENGER WEIGHT SENSOR FOR THE SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM HAD BEEN INTERMITTENTLY GOING ON AND OFF WITH SOMEONE IN THE SEAT AND OUT OF THE SEAT. THIS BEGAN WITHIN 100 MILES OF OWNERSHIP, AND OCCURRED VERY FREQUENTLY. THE DEALER COULD NEVER REPLICATE THIS. THEY STATED THE SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED TO WORK THAT WAY EVEN WHEN A 300 LB. TECH WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND THE LIGHT CAME ON SHOWING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM OFF. THE SENSOR IS NOW COMPLETELY OUT, AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON ALONG WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT INDICATOR BOTH STAY LIT CONTINUALLY. NOW THAT THE SENSOR IS COMPLETELY OUT I AM OUTSIDE OF MY 36,000 MILE WARRANTY AND AM NOW IN MY EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED AT THE TIME I BOUGHT THE SX4. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER A NEW SENSOR WHICH HAS BEEN QUOTED TO ME AT $2,600.00. THEY ARE SNEAKING THROUGH A LOOP HOLE THAT EXCLUDES THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AFTER AN ACCIDENT. IN WHICH THEY WON'T PAY IF THE AIRBAG HAS BEEN DEPLOYED. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A CAR THAT HAS AIRBAGS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY AT ANYTIME. I WAS TOLD CHANCES ARE IN AN ACCIDENT THEY WILL NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I HOPE TO NEVER HAVE AN ACCIDENT, BUT IF YOU HAVE A SAFETY SYSTEM YOU WANT IT TO WORK. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE SUZUKI SX4'S. VERY FEW SX4'S DO NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE. AND GIVEN LONG ENOUGH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL SHUT DOWN IF THE SENSOR IS NOT REPLACED, AND IF THIS HAPPENS OUTSIDE OF THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY YOUR STUCK DRIVING A TICKING TIME BOMB. I SIMPLY HOPE I'M NOT DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ONE DAY AND THE AIRBAG SYSTEM SUDDENLY DECIDES IT'S TIME TO DEPLOY. I LOVE THE CAR I JUST WISH SUZUKI WOULD FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEIR SENSOR FIX IT AND REPLACE IT FOR ALL OF US OWNERS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT FROM A LACK OF SAFETY RESTRAINTS. *TR

THE PAINT ON THIS CARE IS OF VERY POOR QUALITY AND CHIPS DOWN TO THE BARE METAL QUITE EASILY CAUSING RAPID OXIDATION TO THE EXPOSED AREAS. *TR

AT RANDOM TIMES, MY PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON WHILE SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE PERSON WILL THEN HAVE TO MOVE AROUND IN THE SEAT TO GET THE LIGHT TO TURN OFF. SOMETIMES IT TAKES MORE THAN TEN MINUTES. I HAVE BROUGHT THE COMPLAINT TO A SUZUKI DEALERSHIP, AND THEY CLAIM THAT THE PROBLEM IS NORMAL. I DON'T FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE RIGHT, AS IF AT THE TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON, AND THERE WERE TO BE A ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY, POSSIBLY CAUSING GREAT HARM TO THE PASSENGER I WOULD HAVE IN THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI SX4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND INDICATES THAT THE AIR BAG IS OFF. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE REMAINS. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKES EXTEND TO THE FLOOR WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES HAVE TO BE PUMPED IN ORDER TO STOP. THIS FAILURE OCCURS AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15.

PURCHASED VEHICLE 11/24/06 NOT 1 WEEK OLD AND TPMS LIGHT ON 12/6/06 THEY RESET IT ON 12/11/06 LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN PER SERVICE TECH WHEEL SENSOR NOT COMMUNICATING THEREFORE REPLACED SENSOR, HOOKED UP TO SCANNER AND CLEARED CODES ROAD TESTED OK, 12/13/06 LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN PER SERVICE TECH THEY SPOKE WITH SUZUKI TECH LINE AND THE COMPUTER DID NOT REGISTER THE SENSORS, REGISTERED THE SENSORS CALIBRATED THEM AS WELL AND ROAD TESTED SO FAR SO GOOD. 2ND PROBLEM, ON 2/1/07 MY ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON THEY REPROGRAMMED ECM FOR THIS CODE AS PER TBS TS0111286R (NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANT BUT THE LIGHT WENT OFF). ALSO WHILE ON YOUR SITE I SAW A COMPLAINT IN REFERENCE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT GOING ON AND OFF. I TOO HAVE SEEN THIS LIGHT GO ON A COUPLE OF TIMES AND WILL CONTACT MY DEALER ONCE AGAIN TOMORROW. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI SX4 ,AND STATED THAT WHEN SHE PULLED OPEN THE DOOR IT ALMOST KNOCKED HER OUT COLD, THE TOP POINT OF THE DOOR DUG INTO HER FOREHEAD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400 MILES, THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,800 .*AK UPDATE 4/23/07*TR

1) NORMAL DRIVING WITH SEATED ADULT PASSENGER 2) PASS AIR BAG OFF LIGHT CAME ON. NUMEROUS TIMES BETWEEN OCTOBER 7 2006 AND CONTINUING UNTIL YESTERDAY ( JANUARY 14, 2007). 2A) CONTRAST TO POOR TO SEE ABOVE MENTIONED LIGHT IN SUNLIGHT. 3) NOTHING AFTER THREE TRIPS TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND SEVERAL OTHER REQUESTS FOR THE DEALER AND AMERICAN SUZUKI TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *JB