AI Damage2005 Suzuki Reno: common problems
Owners of the 2005 Suzuki Reno filed 32 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and exterior lighting. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 32
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 56% of all complaints
- 2 Exterior lighting 16% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 13% of all complaints
- 4 Tires 9% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 6% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 6% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 6% of all complaints
- Air bags: 18 complaints (56% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Exterior lighting: 5 complaints (16% of all).
- Powertrain: 4 complaints (13% of all).
- Tires: 3 complaints (9% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (6% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 32 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 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 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.
I do not understand why the airbags did not deploy to help protect the driver with an impact as significant as this one. The driver will probably need at the least a chin scar revision or possibly a chin restoration and 3 dental airbags.
Drivers side airbag light stays on. Not sure airbag would inflate if I was in a accident or if it might inflate on its own while I am driving and cause a accident. I also cannot find a suzuki dealership anymore that could do a recall repair if there is one.
The airbag warning light turned on without any readily identifiable cause. Several repair facilities cannot seem to find out why it remains on. I suspect this is related to the following tsbs: #ts0501158, #0312234, and #0512234. Why this isn't being treated as a safety issue is unclear to me.
Now at year 2014, the engine and transmission has been replaced, the engine belt snapped, the transmission is acting up, (in july of 2010), and the sensor has gone completely wild, ie, comes on and goes off steadily, had that repaired, and when I drive the engine light still comes on and goes off, off, and on, and now…
There is a fume that smells toxic. I have had a new valve cover gasket and a cabin filter put on this car but the fumes persist. I think they are bad for my health because the effects stays with me long after I'm out of the car, my breathing/chest just doesn't feel right. I just don't know what to do.
The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under nhtsa campaign id number: 07v452000 (exterior lighting) and since the repair, the headlights failed to function properly. The vehicle was not taken to a mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the issue.
While parked, the contact noticed that the headlights would not illuminate. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised that the vehicle was included in the recalls under nhtsa campaign id number: 12v397000 (exterior lighting:headlights) and nhtsa campaign id number: 07v452000 (exterior lighting).
When I turned up the side street I realized I had no headlights! I found out that my high beams still worked and I drove a short distance with the high beams. I had the car checked for fuses, relays, and bulbs by my mechanic. I was told it was in the wiring.
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 6,635 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 18% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Reno has 43 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 32, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Suzuki Reno?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, exterior lighting, powertrain. Total complaints: 32. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbag warning light (47%), warning lights, check engine (41%), headlights and tail lights (13%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2005 Suzuki Reno?
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 2005 Suzuki Reno 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 2005 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.