AI Damage2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara: common problems
Owners of the 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara filed 13 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and seats. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 13
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 54% of all complaints
- 2 Seats 15% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 8% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 8% of all complaints
- Air bags: 7 complaints (54% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Seats: 2 complaints (15% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (8% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (8% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speednamed in 1 complaints
Drive: RWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 13 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 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 vehicle was at a stanstill when a jeep late 90s model hit her full force on the drivers side door, luckily the fortification of the bar inside the door that goes across took the blunt of the impact and my wife only came out with minoir bruises and cuts from the drivers window.
My suzuki grand vitara 2012 has the airbag light on for about 3 months. I call for two times to the dealer that suzuki factory delegate the services, but they tell me that my vehicle vin number is not in the list.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 suzuki grand vitara. The contact stated that the steering wheel was loose when turned in either direction. The vehicle was not diagnosed by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was contacted later and informed of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
The manual transmission linkage broke while the vehicle was in motion. I was rounding a corner and preparing to downshift in order to negotiate a large hill on a main street.
I am having problems with front low beam headlights, have had to replace them four times in the last year and half. It also affects the interior light of the vehicle and the climate control panel making the heat/cool controls unable to work properly. And the fuel door release lever doesn't open the fuel door.
While driving approximately 40 mph, the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bag sensor was damaged and needed replacement. The extended warranty did not cover electrical failures. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.
Since 2012 I have purchased this suv its giving me trouble related to low beam light. I have replaced this light for at least 5 times. Many people on different website have registered the same problem and are having same kind of problem. Please help us to get a permanent solution to this issue.
Forty-nine days after purchasing the car it burst into flames from under the hood only moments after my wife had exited the car in her parking lot at a school. The car became a total loss as the fire reached the driver's compartment.
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 9,843 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 27% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Grand Vitara has 43 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 13, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
- Grand Vitara 1999108 sources
- 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 20134 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, seats, electrical system. Total complaints: 13. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbag warning light (23%), headlights and tail lights (15%), seat belts (15%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2012 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 2012 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 2012 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.