2007 Suzuki Reno Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Suzuki Reno most often report a transmission range sensor problem, with symptoms such as neutral drops, clunks, check engine lights and lost acceleration. Airbag warning lights that stay on, and airbags that deploy when the car is parked or the ignition is turned on, are the next most common themes. Mileage is recorded for most reports and spans a wide range, while lighting switch and sudden power-loss complaints appear less often.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission range sensor: neutral drops and lost power

   • 27 complaints (49%)
   • median 59,500 mi at 5.0 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2016

   Owners describe a transmission range sensor fault, or a transmission that drops into neutral, slams into gear or refuses to shift into drive or reverse. Common symptoms include a loud clunk when shifting, hesitation or jerking, a check engine light, and lost acceleration that can happen at highway speed. According to complaints, the range sensor was often replaced, sometimes more than once, and the symptoms returned. Some owners say a recall has not been issued for the problem. Most reports with recorded mileage fall between about 30,000 and 90,000 miles, and the full range runs from about 20,000 to 142,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask the dealer to check the transmission range sensor and any stored range sensor codes, and whether the sensor has been replaced before. On a test drive, shift through park, reverse and drive and watch for clunks, unexpected neutral and the check engine light.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2007 Suzuki RENO only have around 56000 miles and it started to shake while putting it on reverse gear. Don't move sometime after putting it on drive and make loud noise as I try to accelerate, engine light is on since july 2nd and these issues started from that time. I took it to a local o'reilly to check engine light code and they said its a transmission related code.”

   NHTSA complaint #10885507, filed 2016-07, 56,200 miles

   “I own 2007 Suzuki RENO since this year. Car was running good now its has 85600 miles on it approximately . I haven't had any issue but since last six month, my transmission range sensor causing lots of problem I already spent $350 for repair but now I replaced it second time. When I search online and go to Suzuki forum I see lots of owner of Suzuki having same issue that I am having. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10537162, filed 2013-08, 85,465 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light comes on and stays on

   • 8 complaints (15%)
   • median 44,250 mi at 4.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2009–2017

   Owners describe the airbag warning light coming on, sometimes intermittently, and staying on after a dealer visit or a reset. Some say the light returned after the dealer had cleared it or repaired a connection, and some say the dealer would not re-examine the car without a diagnostic fee. An owner describes a seat wiring harness stretched too tight, with a connector later moved and secured to the floor. Some owners say the car had no accident, and some were told there was no recall or service bulletin for the light. Reports with recorded mileage run from about 20,000 to 83,000 miles, and some owners say the light came on without any accident or damage.

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag warning light has stored codes and whether any warranty or service campaign applies to the airbag system for this VIN. Check the wiring under the driver seat for stretching or pinching, and confirm the light turns off after startup and does not return during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Airbag lights come on without incident, they have been turned off at the Suzuki dealer in the rivergate area of nashville in 2010. Since then, they have come on twice and have been able to turn them off. They came on again december of 2011, have not been able to turn them off. Car has not had any damage, wreck, water or storm. I have read online Suzuki is aware of this problem, please contact me if you can be of any help.”

   NHTSA complaint #10443864, filed 2012-01, 44,250 miles

   “After going and having the wiring checked at pugmire Suzuki, for my airbag recall , in november 2017, and having no problems seen, I am now in feburary 2017, experiencing my airbag warning/idiot light on my car's dash. Pugmire Suzuki refuses to rexamine the car, without me paying $100.00 to have it diagnosed. The car has not been in accident, and the airbag is unused.”

   NHTSA complaint #10957156, filed 2017-02
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag deploys with no crash, often when turning on

   • 7 complaints (13%)
   • median 98,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2019

   Owners describe a side or seat airbag going off while the car was parked or when the ignition was turned on, with no collision or damage to the vehicle. Some describe a loud deployment with bruising or minor injuries, and a seat was described as torn and broken. Some owners say the dealer could not help, and some were advised to contact the manufacturer's corporate office. Some refer to a Takata airbag recall. Each of these reports lists mileage, from about 52,000 to 138,000 miles, and all describe a deployment with no crash.

   What to check: Ask whether a Takata airbag or seat airbag campaign applies to this VIN and whether the dealer has checked for it. Ask the dealer to inspect the seat and airbag wiring and any stored codes, since these complaints describe deployments while the car was parked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I got in my car, turn ignition switch on and boom! My side air bag deployed. This vehicle has never been in an accident or fender bender and no work has been performed in a very long time except for my oil change about 45 days ago. There was no warning or anything. It just blew up.”

   NHTSA complaint #10408604, filed 2011-06, 90,974 miles

   “Luckily I was parked. Turned on my car to roll up the windows and suddenly the drivers side seat exploded,with what looked like an airbag inside the seat. It hit my arm causing a bruise. The seat is now torn and busted.”

   NHTSA complaint #11282629, filed 2019-11, 138,080 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden loss of power or pedal response while driving

   • 10 complaints (18%)
   • median 62,500 mi at 6.2 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2008–2015

   Owners describe sudden loss of acceleration while driving, sometimes with the accelerator pedal not responding until it is pressed repeatedly or the car has coasted. Some describe the speed dropping sharply on the highway, and at a stop light the car moved only slowly when the pedal was pressed. According to complaints, dealers replaced parts or called the problem a sensor glitch, but the symptom returned. An owner describes the problem as worse in warmer temperatures or on hills, and as a safety concern when merging into traffic. Reports with recorded mileage range from very low mileage to about 98,000 miles, and some describe the problem happening at highway speeds.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the counter-measure procedure for accelerator pedal position code P2138 has been performed, and whether any engine light codes are stored. On a test drive, press the accelerator from a stop and at highway speed to check for hesitation, delayed response or sudden speed drops.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving at 60 miles per hr and the car s speed will drop down to 20 miles and the engine light will come on (check engine)also I will be stopped at a red light when it is time to proceed and while pressing on gas pedal it will only go up to 5-8 miles it occurs every two to three days. The Suzuki dealership has looked at it 5 times for the same thing they check the computer chip and tell me the gas cap was not on tight they replaced the gas pedal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10234739, filed 2008-07, 22,134 miles

   “Issue noted: a hesitation/loss of power while driving resulting in rapid deceleration and no response from the acceleration pedal/throttle. Several pumps of the pedal were required and after some coasting, the vehicle accelerator would respond again. Issue noted as being worse in warmer temperatures and also when driving on hills/inclines. Issue creates a major safety concern when pulling into or across lanes with traffic as the issue may reoccur at any time. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10732839, filed 2015-07, 26,083 miles
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Daytime running lights or headlights stay on or cycle

   • 9 complaints (16%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 7.9 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2015

   Owners describe daytime running lights that do not turn off after the key is removed, and low beam headlights that switch on and off while driving. An owner describes removing the DRL module to stop the lights from staying on, and the problem continued after recall letters were received. A complaint describes smoke and flames from the front driver side of the vehicle, and it cites recall 14V262000, which concerns heat in the headlamp switch or DRL module. Some say dealers gave negative responses. Reports with recorded mileage run from about 50,000 to 180,000 miles.

   Recall 14V262000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 14V262000 has been completed on this VIN and whether the headlamp switch and DRL module were replaced. On a test drive, switch the lights on and off and confirm the daytime lights turn off after the key is removed, and check for a burnt smell or discoloration near the switch.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 07/21/2014 I arrived at work turned off my 2007 Suzuki RENO. Later that day a coworker advised me my RENO lights were still on. I immediately called my husband and he told me to try turning the vehicle on than off again but to no avail. He instructed me to get home as soon as I can so he could remove the drl and go on-line to look into this matter further. The following week we received a recall notice from Suzuki motor of america. I have called several dealers in our area with negative response. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10626122, filed 2014-08, 50,154 miles

   “On 07/21/2014 vehicle daytime running lights would not turn off after turning off vehicle and removing key from the ignition. Five (5) months later and two (2) recall letters from Suzuki, the issue has not been resolved.”

   NHTSA complaint #10668566, filed 2014-12, 50,154 miles

Buying note. Buyers considering this model year may want to ask whether the transmission range sensor has been replaced before, and check for neutral drops, clunks and warning lights on a test drive. Owners also describe airbag warning lights and airbag deployments with no crash, so a pre-purchase check of the airbag system and the lighting switch is a practical step.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 54 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.