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Body and structurePart report

2000 Suzuki Esteem Body and structure Problems

Complaints
9about this part
Share
35%of 26 total for the year
Median mileage
96,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the body and structure of the 2000 Suzuki Esteem, 35% of the 26 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 96,000 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was a licensed mechanic for many years with a lot of expertise. I bought my daughter a 2000 Suzuki Esteem two years ago. We live in michigan and I bought this particular car because it was from virginia and was immaculate not like the cars from the rust belt here in michgan. She was driving the car and it all of a sudden, violently and without warning pulled very hard. She called me I told her to stop the car and let me inspect it. She got it to a safe area and also told me the passenger side wheel was bent in . …”

NHTSA complaint #10293783, filed 2009-11, 96,000 miles

“I was driving my 2000 Suzuki Esteem home from uptown with my sister and 8-year-old daughter in the car when a noise which was faint over the last couple of weeks grew quickly louder and all of a sudden my car jerked to the right, practically out of my hands. I grasped the steering wheel as hard as I could just to keep the vehicle on the road. I was only traveling about 20-25 MPH. I fought the difficult steering long enough at a very slow speed to get the car to my sister's house. I parked the car there and called my husband at work to explain what had happened and to come pick me up. …”

NHTSA complaint #10197287, filed 2007-07, 80,000 miles

“2000 Suzuki Esteem wagon. Subframe and front passenger side axel rusted through and collapsed while coming to a stop.. This caused the front passenger side wheel to be pushed back into the wheel well. The car needed to be towed and is being repaired for a cost of $1000. Fortunately no one was hurt as the vehicle was slowing down, but if these parts had failed at highway speeds, it is quite likely a fatal accident would have occurred. I have searched on line and found that other Suzuki owners have reported this same problem. …”

NHTSA complaint #10346277, filed 2010-07, 90,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2000 Suzuki Esteem. The contact stated that while having the vehicle inspected, she was notified that the sub frame was corroded. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who stated that the sub frame needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 125,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10457516, filed 2012-05, 125,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2000 Suzuki Esteem. While driving at approximately 15 MPH, the contact observed a loud grinding noise. While moving off the roadway and onto the shoulder, the grinding noise became more severe. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed the front k frame was severely rotted and the left lower control arm had ripped through the main frame. The vehicle was not serviced. The failure and current mileages were 96,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10335859, filed 2010-06, 96,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Body and structure: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2002240%
20011048%
2000935%
1999420%
1998729%
1997229%
199518%

Other parts of the 2000 Suzuki Esteem

Suspension
8 complaints
Engine cooling
4 complaints
Other or unknown
3 complaints
Air bags
2 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
2 complaints
Seat belts
2 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
2 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaints
Brakes
1 complaints
Exterior lighting
1 complaints
Steering
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2000 Suzuki Esteem

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology