AI Damage1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara filed 108 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 108
- involving a crash
- 16
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 20% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 19% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 15% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 11% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 9% of all complaints
- 7 Equipment 7% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 4% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 22 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 20 complaints (19% of all).
- Service brakes: 16 complaints (15% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 12 complaints (11% of all), 10 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 12 complaints (11% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speednamed in 1 complaints
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 108 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 16 | 4 | 0 |
| Air bags | 12 | 10 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Dt: drivers' side air bag did not deploy in the event of an accident while driving 35 mph.
While driving approximately 40 mph consumer lost control of vehicle. It then skidded and flipped over, hitting the front first. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy.
1999 suzuki grand vartara air bags failed to deploy after vehicle hitting a @36'' tree. The vehicle was traveling on a secondary road, posted speed 45mph, due to icey,and snowey conditions , driver traveled at @ 30 mph.
The check engine light came on & the dealer had a mechanic look at it and replaced the oxygen sensor. But it didn't seem to help the shifting problem. On december 11, 2003 around 4:00 am, I was returning from down state on a two-lane highway, it was raining and around 34 degrees.
Upon impact, airbags didn't deploy. Consumer sustained injuries. Dealership was contacted.
Something was causing intermittent severe vibration at highway speeds. I was traveling down the highway going 60mph at approx. 12:30am when this occured again and I attempted to pull over to the side of the highway when my foot was dislodged from the brake by vibration.
I felt a slight "thump" under the car, as if I'd run over a small stick or something similar. The car suddenly veered to the right, struck a snowbank, and then spun around, coming to rest with the left front against the guardrail. The steering knuckle had fractured.
When the vehicle was parked, the contact discovered fuel leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician stated that the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign numbers: 01v146000 (fuel system, gasoline) and 04v427000 (fuel system, gasoline), but was not diagnosed or repaired to due the…
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,391 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 9% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Grand Vitara has 43 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 108, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other years of this model
- Grand Vitara 200085 sources
- Grand Vitara 200138 sources
- Grand Vitara 200247 sources
- Grand Vitara 200329 sources
- Grand Vitara 20048 sources
- Grand Vitara 2006161 sources
- Grand Vitara 200758 sources
- Grand Vitara 200842 sources
- Grand Vitara 200914 sources
- Grand Vitara 201020 sources
- Grand Vitara 201111 sources
- Grand Vitara 201213 sources
- Grand Vitara 20134 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, engine and cooling, service brakes. Total complaints: 108. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (7%), airbags did not deploy (6%), A/C or heater (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1999 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.