2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Grand Vitara XL-7 years
- About as many complaints as other years 4th of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7. That ranks 4th out of 5 Grand Vitara XL-7 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (4 complaints, 31%), typically at around 14,925 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 1 injury. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 13owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4 | 31% | 14,925 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 31% | 17,550 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 23% | 200 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 8% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 8% | 97,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 8% | 11,206 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, under ambient temperatures below -25 degrees celsius, moisture can freeze in the fuel pressure regulator. As a result, fuel system pressure may increase at the time of engine start up, causing fuel loss at the fuel pipe/fuel hose connection.
Risk: Fuel loss in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pressure regulator, the fuel deliver hose and replace the hose clamp with an improved clamp. The recall began on september 29, 2004. Owners should contact suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.
Electrical system:ignition
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, the ignition system wiring harness is routed under the intake manifold. The harness can rub against the manifold during vehicle operation and abrasion damage to the harness can occur.
Risk: Damage to the wiring harness can cause a short in the ignition circuit, which can cause the ignition fuse to blow and the engine to stop running. This can result in a loss of control of the vehicle and could cause a crash.
Fix: Dealers will repair any wiring harness damage and will add additional insulation and a protector plate to prevent the wiring harness from becoming damaged. Owner notification began on december 16, 2003. Owners should contact suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.
Visibility:windshield
Problem: Certain passenger (111 my 2002 esteem, 777 my 2002 aerio, 2,368 my 2003 aerio) and sport utility (324 my 2002 grand vitara, 274 my 2003 grand vitara, 684 my 2002 grand vitara xl-7, and 781 my 2003 grand vitara xl-7) vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, 'windshield mounting." the windshield may not be properly secured to the vehicle body due to insufficient adhesion between the paint applied during the second-stage painting process and the paint applied during final-stage painting.
Risk: If the windshield is not properly secured, it may separate from the vehicle during a crash which could result in the ejection of unbelted occupants, increasing the risk of severe injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will inspect these vehicles. Vehicles that are found to have insufficient paint adhesion will either have the problem remedied by repainting, or will be replaced, or repurchased and destroyed. Owner notification began on july 8, 2003. Owners should contact suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The brake and gas pedal are at the proper elevation to press them simultaneously with one foot. Because it is rear wheel drive and anti-lock brakes, the car speeds up when that happens. This is a typical engineering flaw that happens with many vehicles ("he thought he was stepping on the brake when…
I had bought a used suzuki auto from enterprise rental cars. In mid-june 2005 i was returning to phila. On i-95 after taking my daughter to camp in massachusetts. Just outside darien, conn. All the power on the car just shut down completely. An 18-wheeler was barreling down on me in the center lane…
Gas door hinges rust and break causing the door to fall off. *tr
I was driving my car home from the park it was raining a little bit suddenly my steering wheel star going the left, i hit the brake and the left side of my car fall down and the car stop completely, i check the wheel and it was about to come out. *tr
Dt: the brakes are squeaking, and the technician cannot find the cause of the problem. The brake pads were replaced and were still squeaking. The front shocks were replaced, but the technician said the rear shocks not working well, and this was normal. Air conditioner (a/c) was not cooling. The…
Other Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 years
← 2002 Grand Vitara XL-7 · 2004 Grand Vitara XL-7 →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Grand Vitara XL-7 | 2 | 0 |
| 2004 Grand Vitara XL-7 | 17 | 1 |
| 2003 | 13 | 3 |
| 2002 Grand Vitara XL-7 | 26 | 2 |
| 2001 Grand Vitara XL-7 | 15 | 1 |
See all Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 problems by year, every Suzuki model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Suzuki models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7?
Owners most often report electrical system, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 4 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Grand Vitara XL-7 model years, the 2003 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.