1999 Suzuki Vitara Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe vibration or shaking at road speeds, followed by transmission shifting problems and engine stalls or sudden shutdowns. Shifting complaints are linked in some reports to the period soon after purchase, while stalls and cruise control or pedal problems are often described as sudden events. Steering failures also appear, and where mileage is listed the reports range from very low to over 200,000 miles.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Vibration or shaking at road speeds

   • 15 complaints (30%)
   • median 6 mi at 5.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2004

   Owners describe shaking, vibration or shimmy at road speeds, often around 45 to 65 mph, and some say it feels as if the vehicle may lose control. According to complaints, a technician was unable to duplicate the problem, and tire balancing did not always end the vibration. Some owners say the vibration continued after repairs. Speeds described range from about 35 to 65 mph, and where mileage is listed it is very low.

   What to check: On a highway test drive at about 50 to 65 mph, check for shaking through the steering wheel or seat, and ask for records showing the cause was diagnosed rather than only tire balancing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When driving over 50 MPH vehicle starts to rattle and shake. It seems as if car is going to lose control. Have been complaing since I purchased vehicle but no resolution as of yet. Do not want to drive and car loose control. Would like for an investigation to see if problem would cause crash. I have not had a response from Suzuki as of yet.”

   NHTSA complaint #748426, filed 2001-07

   “Driving at highway speeds (60 MPH or more) intense vibration is felt. It makes me feel as if I am out of control. I test drove another one that did the same thing and foolishly thought it was just that one. I am returning the vehicle to be looked at. The service person told me others have been coming back with the same problem. When I asked what the problem turned out to be she wouldn't tell me ! Something fishy going on here.”

   NHTSA complaint #705763, filed 1999-04
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Hard shifting or gears that will not engage

   • 6 complaints (12%)
   • typically at 1.1 yrs old
   • filed 1999–2003

   Owners describe hard or grinding shifts, gears that will not engage, and a shifter that sticks or jams between gears, sometimes needing excessive force. Some report that the car would not go into fifth or third gear, particularly on the highway. According to complaints, transmission replacement by the dealer was reported as not solving the problem, and a replacement part was described as delayed. Mileage is not listed in these reports, and the complaint text links some shifting problems to the period soon after purchase.

   What to check: On a test drive, check for harsh shifts from a stop and on downshifts, and confirm each gear engages cleanly, including fifth and third. Ask for repair records for any transmission work and whether any fault codes were logged.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Bumpy/vibration felt at 35+ MPH, smooths out to some degree above 45 until you reach 60+. Vibration above 60 feels as if you may not have steering control. A/c control lever does not open/close completely. A/c froze under dash on passenger side, would not cool, water discharged into floor board. Does not adequately cool interior in direct sun with tempts. Above 85. Gear shifter sometimes (sporadic) jams - problem appears to deal with 2nd gear (sometimes 1st to 2nd or 3rd to 2nd). …”

   NHTSA complaint #710817, filed 1999-09

   “The transmission did not easily go into 3rd gear. There was a horrible vibration and noise when driving down the road and a feeling of loss of control of the vehicle when traveling on the highway.”

   NHTSA complaint #10020833, filed 2003-06
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Stalling, engine lock-up or sudden shutdown

   • 5 complaints (10%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2004

   Owners describe the engine stalling when started, when the clutch is pressed, or while driving, sometimes with the engine check light on. In some reports the engine locked up or shut down completely while driving. According to complaints, the dealer could not identify or duplicate the cause in some reports. Some reports describe stalling when the clutch is pressed or when the car is started, and where mileage is listed it is about 100,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask the seller whether any stored engine fault codes have been read and whether the engine check light has been diagnosed. On a test drive, press the clutch at a stop and restart the engine to confirm it does not stall.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving 35 mp engine locked up. Consumer managed to pull over, and had the vehicle towed. Dealership repaired the problem once, but it was not resolved. ....”

   NHTSA complaint #10103801, filed 2004-12, 100,000 miles

   “When the clutch is pressed the engine will die. This has happened 10+ times since 2/2000. It happens sporadically and despite 6 returns to the dealer, the problem continues. When this happens approaching a stop light or leaving the highway, the steering locks and the brakes get very hard to depress. I have gone through at least one red light out of control as a result. The dealer cannot duplicate the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #744004, filed 2001-04
4. 4
   Suspension

   Steering that locks, pulls or breaks

   • 7 complaints (14%)
   • median 138,000 mi at 9.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2008

   Owners describe steering that is very hard to turn or stays fixed in position, a spindle that snapped during a slow turn, a steering lock reported while approaching a stop light, and a vehicle that drifts right or swerves at any speed. According to complaints, a column failure resembled a recall for a cracked steering coupling, but the dealer said that vehicle was not covered. Where mileage is listed, it is about 138,000 miles, and some reports describe it happening at low speeds, such as in a curve or approaching a stop.

   Recall 98V324002

   What to check: Ask whether the steering column coupling has been inspected and whether the vehicle is covered by the steering recall using its VIN. On a test drive, check that the steering turns smoothly, returns to center, and does not pull or drift.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving motorcycle would drift right like its steering by itself. Would hit bumps or rough patch in road & lose control. Will be taking vehicle to dealer to check.”

   NHTSA complaint #848841, filed 2000-01

   “Vehicle swerves at any speed, it's difficult to control vehicle, alignments have been done and tires were replaced, however did not remedy the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #8010003, filed 2002-05
5. 5
   Vehicle speed control

   Accelerator or cruise control sticking

   Mentioned in 4 of 40 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the accelerator pedal not returning when the brake is applied, and in some reports the car kept accelerating. Some describe cruise control that stuck at highway speed and could not be disengaged, or that acted erratically after a downshift. According to complaints, owners had to pull the pedal up by hand in some reports, and the brakes did not engage in a crash-related report. Where mileage is listed, it is about 42,000 miles, and the speeds described range from about 40 to 75 mph.

   What to check: On a test drive, check that the accelerator returns fully when released and that pressing the brake disengages the cruise control. Ask whether the cruise control module has been replaced, and request the service records for any such repair.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving at 75 MPH with the cruise control on, the vehicle became stuck in cruise mode. When trying to disengage the cruise control, the consumer was unable to do so. The consumer struggled to apply the brakes, finally getting the vehicle to slow down enough to shut the ignition off. The vehicle was restarted, and the cruise control was still active. The consumer had to physically pull the gas pedal from the floor of the vehicle. The dealer and manufacturer had not been notified.”

   NHTSA complaint #10042021, filed 2003-10, 42,214 miles

   “When applying the brakes accelerator pedal did not come up, causing the vehicle to continue to accelerate, had to manually pull the pedal up to gain control. Please give any further details.”

   NHTSA complaint #850883, filed 1999-10

Buying note. Buyers considering this model year may want to test for vibration at highway speeds and smooth shifting, and ask for service records. Checking whether the steering recall applies to the specific vehicle is also a practical step.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 40 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.