2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Grand Vitara years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 11th of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara. That ranks 11th out of 15 Grand Vitara model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (7 complaints, 54%), typically at around 46,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 13owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 7 | 54% | 46,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 15% | 64,200 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 8% | 1,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 8% | 38,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 8% | 64,200 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 8% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification; seats
Problem: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kizashi and 2006-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles. The front passenger leather seat may shrink due to high humidity and high temperature. As a result, the occupant classification system (OCS) sensor mat may not accurately detect if an adult or child is occupying the seat.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, an incorrect classification may result in the passenger frontal air bag deploying even if there is a child in the front passenger seat, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat bottom cushion, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2019. All second letters notifying owners of the remedy were mailed by April 10, 2020. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's numbers for this recall are 4011 and 4012.
Power train:manual transmission
Problem: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The gear shift rear shaft on these vehicles may break, preventing the gears from being able to be changed.
Risk: If the transmission cannot be shifted, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the gear shift rear shaft, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is VZ.
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 airbag system defect light went on and stayed on. The diagnosis from an authorized former Suzuki dealer (Lincoln of Wayne, Wayne, New Jersey), charging approximately $270 for the diagnosis, was that the occupant sensing pad including the bottom seat on the passenger side had failed. This…
Takata recall. My suzuki grand vitara 2012 has the airbag light on for about 3 months. I call for two times to the dealer that suzuki factory delegate the services, but they tell me that my vehicle vin number is not in the list. I use that car to take my wife to her quimios and i and afraid that…
Seatbelt light stays on all the time.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 suzuki grand vitara. The contact stated that the steering wheel was loose when turned in either direction. The vehicle was not diagnosed by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was contacted later and informed of the failure. The failure mileage was not…
Trouble code b1312 ocm sensor mat fault. Air bag and passenger seat belt indicator light are on all the time.
Other Suzuki Grand Vitara years
← 2011 Grand Vitara · 2013 Grand Vitara →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 Grand Vitara | 4 | 2 |
| 2012 | 13 | 2 |
| 2011 Grand Vitara | 11 | 4 |
| 2010 Grand Vitara | 20 | 5 |
| 2009 Grand Vitara | 14 | 4 |
| 2008 Grand Vitara | 42 | 2 |
| 2007 Grand Vitara | 58 | 3 |
| 2006 Grand Vitara | 161 | 6 |
| 2005 Grand Vitara | 1 | 1 |
| 2004 Grand Vitara | 8 | 2 |
| 2003 Grand Vitara | 29 | 4 |
| 2002 Grand Vitara | 47 | 4 |
| 2001 Grand Vitara | 38 | 5 |
| 2000 Grand Vitara | 85 | 4 |
| 1999 Grand Vitara | 108 | 4 |
See all Suzuki Grand Vitara problems by year, every Suzuki model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Owners most often report air bags, seats, electrical system problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 7 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Grand Vitara model years, the 2012 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.