AI Damage1990 Suzuki Sidekick: common problems
Owners of the 1990 Suzuki Sidekick filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about seat belts and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Seat belts 60% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 20% of all complaints
- Seat belts: 3 complaints (60% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Structure: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: AWD, RWD
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 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.
During impact, the driver side seat belt released from the belt buckle. Please describe.
Firewall cracked afte clutch was installed in vehicle. Consumer took it to dealer, and was told by mechaniic that there was a weak spot in firewall. Cost to have it repaired was $1700.oo. Consumer thinks this may or should be a recall.
The master cylinder is defective. The brakes drag intermitently, and the mechanic has told me that the "check valve" inside the master cylinder is failing to release when I take my foot off of the brake pedal.
Both front seat belts failed, one shattering and not functioning at all. Tt
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 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sidekick has 17 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 5, 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.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1990 Suzuki Sidekick?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: seat belts, service brakes, structure. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (60%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1990 Suzuki Sidekick?
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 1990 Suzuki Sidekick 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 1990 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.