AI Damage1998 Suzuki Sidekick: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Suzuki Sidekick filed 27 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 27
- involving a crash
- 9
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 33% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 22% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 15% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 11% of all complaints
- 6 Suspension 11% of all complaints
- 7 Electrical system 7% of all complaints
- 8 Equipment 4% of all complaints
- Air bags: 9 complaints (33% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 6 complaints (22% of all).
- Fuel system: 4 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (11% of all).
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (11% 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.
- 1.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 27 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 | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 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.
Was in a frontal accident. Front end of car pretty much totaled. Airbags did not deploy, and no problems with the codes or light before this.
Consume rwas traveling about 45mph on highway and was going up a hill. When reaching the top of the hill, rear end came forward, and vehicle was sideways on the ramp. Vehicle veered over into an enbankment, and then at the and then came out of enbankment. Vehicle was still running .
While drinving at about 65 another vehicle rammed into the back of consumer's vehicle on right hand side. Upon impact, driver's and passenger's seats totally callapsed. Also, gas tank bursted, and fuel splashed into consumers face.
Consumer was in an accident, and air bag did not deploy.
Smashed the front end completely, and the air bags did not deploy, as a result the driver dislocated shoulder.
3 years ago I bought a set of 4 goodyear warngler duratrac tires for my suzuki vitara. After aprox 1,5 years I go to tire service shop to repair air loss around the rim. With tire unmounted we found inner layer separation.
While driving 25 mph vehicle stalled. Towed to dealer, who found ignition coil was too close to engine block, and had shorted out. Dealer rewired ignition coil.
Possible engine failure caused the vehicle to catch on fire in the engine compartment one day after the vehicle was purchased (case # 01-250-843-501, report # 1023282). Nlm
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 7,189 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sidekick has 17 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 27, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Suzuki Sidekick?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, engine and cooling, fuel system. Total complaints: 27. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbags did not deploy (15%), smoke, burning smell, fire (11%), vibration (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 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 1998 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 1998 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.