AI Damage2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara: common problems
Owners of the 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara filed 47 complaints with NHTSA, most often about vehicle speed control and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 47
- involving a crash
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Vehicle speed control 34% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 21% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 11% of all complaints
- 4 Seat belts 11% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 9% of all complaints
- 6 Equipment 6% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 6% of all complaints
- Vehicle speed control: 16 complaints (34% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 10 complaints (21% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel system: 5 complaints (11% of all).
- Seat belts: 5 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 4 complaints (9% 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 cyl
- 2.7 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 47 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 16 | 3 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact could not gain control of the steering wheel and her body lunged forward onto the steering wheel as the seat belt did not retract. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. A police report was filed (number 19005490).
2002 suzuki vitara with transmission failure. Consumer states that the vehicle will go into reverse with no help from the driver and other times it will lock up and not go into reverse. She also states that it has caused damage to personal property.
My 2002 suzuki grand vitara (limited 4wd) was involved in a single car accident when the cruise control was engaged on the highway at 55 mph. It was a hilly stretch of highway near pittsville, mo and there was a light dusting of snow just starting to fall.
The dealership informed the consumer to call back in 5 days to make an appointment to have the accelerator cable casing cap recall 03v512000 performed, although the vehicle experienced a failure, which caused the consumer to hit a pole.
While driving 60 mph on a busy highway, a tire blew out with a loud pop. The driver was able to maneuver the vehicle off of the road to safety. The fender was damaged due to the tire and how it detached from the vehicle. The tire size was unknown. The failure and current mileages exceeded 200,000. Updated 01/14/09.
I am writing about the seat belts in my 2002 suzuki grand vitara. The passenger seat belt frequently locks up and doesn't allow the person wearing it to move. I find it very annoying and potentially unsafe as whoever is in that seat usually ends up unbuckling it and not putting it back on.
Dt: the consumer stated the front driver's side seat belt buckle assembly broke. The seat belt will not lock . Has not taken the vehicle to a dealer. Updated 12/07/05.
While driving consumer 2002 grand vitara air compressor failed. The consumer requested reimbursement.
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 5,507 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 15% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Grand Vitara has 43 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 47, about average.
What to check before buying
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Other years of this model
- Grand Vitara 1999108 sources
- Grand Vitara 200085 sources
- Grand Vitara 200138 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 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: vehicle speed control, service brakes, fuel system. Total complaints: 47. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (11%), knocking, grinding or other noise (6%), smoke, burning smell, fire (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2002 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 2002 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 2002 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 2026-11-06.