AI Damage1991 Suzuki Samurai: common problems
Owners of the 1991 Suzuki Samurai filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about seat belts and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Seat belts 33% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 33% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 33% of all complaints
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (33% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.3 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 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.
Coming off ramp vehicle stated swirling and skidding when reaching bottom of remp, vehicle flipped over.
When consumer applies brakes the pedal goes all the way to the floor.
Passenger rear right lap belts inoperative, male won't go into female portion to lock.
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 17,150 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Samurai has 5 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 3, below average.
What to check before buying
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1991 Suzuki Samurai?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: seat belts, service brakes, suspension. Total complaints: 3.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1991 Suzuki Samurai?
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 1991 Suzuki Samurai 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 1991 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.