2007 Suzuki Forenza Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Forenza most often report problems with the automatic transmission, especially a faulty transmission range sensor associated with harsh shifting, gear indicator faults and the car dropping into neutral. Electrical glitches such as warning lights, dash display errors and switch failures are also common, along with airbag warning lights and interior door handles that break.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission range sensor / car slips into neutral

   • 150 complaints (59%)
   • median 58,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (131 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $400 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2017

   Owners describe harsh or delayed shifts, clunking when engaging reverse or drive, a flashing or scrambled gear indicator on the dash, and the check engine light coming on. In some cases the car slips out of drive into neutral at speed or loses power intermittently. Dealers and independent mechanics commonly diagnosed a failed transmission range sensor; several owners report replacing it repeatedly because the problem returned. Reported from low mileage up to about 130,000 miles, often in the 40,000-80,000 range.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the transmission range sensor has been replaced and how recently, and test drive at highway speed to feel for slipping, delayed engagement or a gear indicator fault.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2007 Suzuki Forenza and the check engine light just came on. I took it to auto zone and they put it on the tester and it came up with a trans range sensor.this is a dealer part and the car only has about 75,000 miles on it. From what I can see online is that alot of people have had this issue. I have replaced 3 of the 4 door handles as well.”

   NHTSA complaint #10397422, filed 2011-04, 94,743 miles

   “I keep having to stick a key in my shift lock just to get the car out of park and has been occurring for a while now. The part you put the seat belt into when you put it on keeps sticking down so you can't wear a seat belt sometimes and I have had to replace my transmission range sensor about every 3 months since I have had the car which is ridiculous.”

   NHTSA complaint #10648902, filed 2014-10, 60,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light stays on / passenger sensor

   • 37 complaints (14%)
   • median 41,200 mi at 3.7 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2021

   Complaints describe the airbag warning light staying lit, most often when someone is sitting in the front passenger seat, and some owners report the light returning after repeated dealer repairs to the seat or wiring. A few describe airbag deployment without a crash or no deployment in a crash. Reported at low mileage, from a few thousand miles to around 40,000.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: With the ignition on, check whether the airbag warning light goes out after the bulb check, and sit in the passenger seat to confirm the occupancy indicator behaves correctly; ask for any warranty-extension or airbag-related repairs on record.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought 2007 Suzuki Forenza with only 50 miles on it. I have had nothing but problems with it and now it poses a safety risk since the dealership can't find anything about it. It suddenly stops while I am driving. I lose control and need to move it all the way across the highway. I have come several times close to being hit. All lights on the dashboard are showing even though it might not be the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10884163, filed 2016-07, 95,000 miles

   “2007 Suzuki Forenza...air bag warning light stays on, had it fixed four times and its back on again. This is a very intriguing situation as well as very dangerous. My warranty is expired as of april 13, 2010....my dealership is eighty miles away from my house. Service contract was voided after original dealership energy country Suzuki folded and I had already purchased vehicle. They still have Suzuki experience but refuse to work my car and honor the service contract they offered with the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10328166, filed 2010-04, 13,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Dashboard/electrical faults, warning lights and burning

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe multiple dashboard warning lights showing at once, the gear display scrambling, erratic power window or central-lock cycling, and a burning smell or smoke from the dash or fuse box. Some owners report the battery draining and the alternator being replaced. In several cases the dealer could not identify a fault. Spread from about 30,000 to 95,000 miles, with several reports in the 34,000-70,000 range.

   Recall 14V2620002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that all warning lights clear after startup, inspect the headlamp switch and daytime running light module for signs of heat or melting, and confirm the headlamp recall repair was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving down the expressway and I was doing 65 MPH and my car started stalling as I pressed the gas then I floored the gas because my car was starting to reverse down the expressway all of a sudden my car froze and my computer on my dash had all the letters scrambled for drive, reverse, park etc and had a line through it I was soooo scared I had a big truck behind me.”

   NHTSA complaint #10458847, filed 2012-05, 44,000 miles

   “The power windows actuators continue to actuate on their own, sounding as though the car is locking or unlocking several times in a row while driving or parked. The lock itself doesn't move during this commotion. Another issue was when I had pressed the brake, my car made a thunk and revved as though it was in neutral. When I tried to go again, the car took a few minutes to even go above second gear and the check engine light came on and stayed on. Now, my car will sound as though it isn't in gear at speeds of 55-60 MPH! This scares me! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10441179, filed 2011-12, 55,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Hesitation, stalling and loss of power while driving

   • 68 complaints (27%)
   • median 59,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (64 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2017

   Owners report hesitation between roughly 30 and 50 mph, the car failing to gain speed, occasional stalling and the engine light staying or flashing. Dealers reportedly replaced the wiring harness, accelerator and sensors and reprogrammed the computer, sometimes with only temporary improvement, and other complaints link the symptoms to sensor or throttle-related codes. Reported from just a few thousand miles through about 40,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at steady highway speed and note any hesitation or surging; ask whether throttle body, pedal sensor or wiring repairs have been done and whether any stored codes were cleared.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I just bought a 2007 Suzuki Forenza on march 10th, I drove it from the dealer ship to my home, around 40 miles, drove it at 55 and 45 and 35 all good until the last mile of my journey. I was going a steady 35 and I could tell my car was slowing down without me letting my foot off the gas at all. I let off and reapplied gas and it acted normal for 1/16 of a mile and did it again but when I let off and reapplied it accelerated a little and then slowed down again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10846264, filed 2016-03, 122,500 miles

   “2007 Suzuki Forenza accelerates extremely slowly when hot. Car shudders and will not gain rpms. Often will not accelerate out of stop lights. Engine light flashes during such episodes. Engine light stays on at all times. Will lose speed randomly while in traffic. After time, it will suddenly regain power, resulting in an abrupt lunge if accelerator is depressed. Vehicle code said problem was with the catalytic converter. Replaced cat, but it made no impact on the vehicle's performance. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10475319, filed 2012-09, 40,000 miles
5. 5
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Interior door handles breaking

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report interior door handles cracking or breaking off in the hand when opening the door, sometimes repeatedly on the same door, and in some cases the door can only be opened from another position. Complaints note some handles were replaced under warranty and later failures were quoted at the owner's expense. Mostly reported under 35,000 miles, often on vehicles a few years old.

   What to check: Open and close each door from inside to feel whether the handle flexes or feels loose, and ask whether any interior handles have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1.left front inside door handle broke off 1,055mi. Replaced aug 6.2007 2.passenger side air bag light stays illuminated when passenger is in seat,does not engage airbag. Removed passenger front seat and retorqued mounting belts evenly. Fixed on oct. 2 2007. 3,333mi. 3. Left front inside door handle breaks again. Replaced dec. 14th 2007. 5932 mi. 4. Passenger side air bag light still staying on while passenger in seat. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10237761, filed 2008-08, 3,333 miles

   “This Suzuki needs to be recalled altogether! No one should still be driving these. Not only can the headlights or brake light sensor switches go bad and just stop working, they overheat, drain the battery, overwork the alternator, which then needs to be replaced, the fall displays every gear all at once even while in drive and displaying a speed the vehicle is traveling. The door handles brake off, so you can not escape the death trap. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10678714, filed 2015-01, 80,000 miles

Buying note. A 2007 Forenza is worth a careful pre-purchase check: drive it at highway speed to look for transmission slip or neutral drop, confirm the airbag and warning lights behave, and ask for service records on the transmission range sensor and any recall work. A mechanic's inspection of the throttle body, wiring and cooling system would also help before committing.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.