2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara most often describe the airbag warning light and the front passenger seat sensor, which can stay lit or switch the passenger airbag off. Low beam headlight bulb failures come next, and early tire wear, especially on the rear tires, appears in a smaller group of complaints. Where mileage is given, the airbag complaints span from a few hundred to over 120,000 miles, while many headlight complaints fall between 50,000 and 90,000 miles.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Passenger seat sensor and airbag warning light

   • 11 complaints (19%)
   • median 45,500 mi at 5.0 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2008–2019

   Owners describe the airbag warning light staying on or coming on intermittently, sometimes with the passenger airbag shown as off even when an adult is seated. Some also report the seat belt warning light staying lit while someone sits in the front passenger seat. According to complaints, the dealer said the passenger seat or its sensor needed replacement, at a cost owners described as high and outside warranty, and in some cases the light returned after a sensor replacement or the part was not available. Mileage in these complaints ranges from a few hundred to about 129,000 miles, with many between 30,000 and 90,000.

   Recall 19V187000Recall 13V4050003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask the dealer to check the front passenger seat sensor and the airbag warning light with an adult seated, and ask whether the seat sensor mat recall work was completed. Ask for repair records, since complaints describe the light returning after a sensor replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Started car and air bag light first blinked like it was suppose to and went off. Went to put car in gear and notice the light was on again and this time it did not go out. Then a few minutes later I notice the passenger side seat belt light was on also and no one was present in that seat. On research on the internet I have learned this is a major problems with Suzuki owners of different models. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10468641, filed 2012-07, 129,234 miles

   “Air bags on the front passengers side will not deploy as per the indicator light on the dash board when my wife uses a medically-required seat cushion. The local dealership and american Suzuki have refused to alter the settings on the seat sensor to make the activated at all times. No one other than myself and my wife sit in this seat; no children have ever or will ever be seated in the front passenger seat.”

   NHTSA complaint #10217021, filed 2008-02, 200 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Low beam headlight bulbs failing repeatedly

   • 25 complaints (43%)
   • median 67,112 mi at 5.6 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • filed 2008–2022

   Owners describe low beam headlights that burn out or stop working again and again, in some cases every few months, and some report flickering or lights switching off while driving. Some describe overheated or melted headlight connectors, a burning or rubber smell, and a high beam that would not engage from its normal position. According to complaints, some dealers said the condition was normal or could not be fixed, and some owners replaced bulbs or entire headlight assemblies without a lasting fix while others were told the electrical work would be at their cost. Where mileage is given, complaints run from about 3,500 to 125,000 miles, with most between 50,000 and 90,000, and several do not list mileage.

   What to check: Ask whether the headlight wiring, connectors and any adapters were inspected, and test both low beams, high beams and daytime running lights with the engine running. Look for melted plastic or discoloration at the headlight connectors, and ask for service records showing bulb or assembly replacements.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The low beam headlights in our Suzuki Grand Vitara went out completely. I have had problems before with a single bulb burning out which I replaced. They are burning out much more rapidly now and becoming a constant problem of having to replace the low beam headlights. Now, both low beam headlights stopped working the other day as we were driving back at night which forced me to use my high beam headlights to get home safely. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10543916, filed 2013-09, 77,000 miles

   “I see that you have recalls on some vehicles for the daytime headlights over heating. It is also happening on the 07 Suzuki Grand Vitara. I have to replace my headlights at least once a year from the over heating issue and it also has a rubber burning smell. If my vehicle is recalled how do I go about getting it fixed if I havent even got called for even the past recalls on my vehicle like the airbag reccall... Please inform me on how to do so.”

   NHTSA complaint #10627722, filed 2014-08, 50,000 miles
3. 3
   Tires

   Early tire wear, including rear tires

   • 9 complaints (16%)
   • median 23,900 mi at 2.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2008–2016

   Owners say the tires, often the rear pair, wear unevenly or wear out early, and some describe needing replacement at fairly low mileage. Some link the wear to an alignment that could not be brought within specification, while the dealer told some owners the reason was missed tire rotation or over-inflation. In a complaint about tread damage, exposed wires led to all four tires being replaced, and some owners said a tire warranty claim was refused. Reported mileage ranges from about 13,000 to 35,000 miles, and several complaints describe the rear tires wearing first.

   What to check: Check tread depth and wear pattern on all four tires, especially the rear pair, and ask whether alignment and rotation records are on file. If a tire is still under warranty, keep the purchase and service records, since complaints describe disputes over why the tires wore.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2007 Grand Vitara, it had yokohama geolander g92 255/70 r16 tires. The back tires wore out by 13000 miles. I went to the dealer and they stated I was over inflating the tires. The problems is that the tsp light kept coming on so I would put air in them and it would go off. I had a warranty on these tires but no one would honor it because I was told I put to much air in my tires. I argued with them stating that the tsp light kept coming on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10242510, filed 2008-09, 13,000 miles

   “Hello,, I have a problem with my tires,I bought a brand new 2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara in 2007,I have only 26,000 miles on it, I bought it to the dealer to get a oil change.they told me I am going to need new tires in the next 3,000 miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10515008, filed 2013-06, 26,000 miles

Buying note. A buyer considering a 2007 Grand Vitara could ask the dealer to check the airbag and passenger seat sensor warning lights, and whether the seat sensor mat recall work was completed. Also inspect the headlights and rear tire wear during a pre-purchase check, since these are the themes owners describe most often.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 56 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.