1996 Suzuki Sidekick Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sidekick years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Suzuki Sidekick. That is the most of any Sidekick model year in the database (5 years). The most reported problem area is suspension (15 complaints, 25%). Complaints mention 3 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 59owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Suzuki Sidekick 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 15 | 25% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 14 | 24% | 76,421 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 10 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 5% | 76,421 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Suzuki Sidekick recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Suspension
Problem: Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. Insufficient strength of the mounting base on the upper end of the front struts can lead to breakage of the mounting bolts that attach the upper end of the front struts to the vehicle body.
Risk: If the strut broke loose, a driver could lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will add a reinforcement, for both front struts, between the front strut mounting base and the vehicle body. In addition, the front strut mounting bases, mounting bolts and nuts, and strut bar stays will be replaced.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Problem: The fuel tank on these vehicles can become punctured by a fuel tank flange attachment reinforcement during rear-end collisions. This does not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 301, "fuel tank integrity."
Risk: Consequence of non-compliance: if an ignition source was present, fuel leakage resulting from this puncture could result in a post-crash fire.
Fix: Dealers will install two new shield gussets between the fuel tank and attachment brackets to prevent the reinforcement from puncturing the fuel tank wall.
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.
Clutch pedal separates from pivot shaft. Weld brakes, pedal detaches, vehicle disabled. Third occurrence. Oem pedal replacement reveals no-warranty, common occurrence failure mode. Pedal re-attached to shaft by professional welders on two previous occurrences. Have replaced clutch cable, clutch…
Tl*- the contact stated that while driving the 1996 suzuki sidekick sport on an icy afternoon he pulled into the driveway at 5 mph and hit the utility pole, and both airbags deployed. The passenger side airbag popped and burst into flames in the center of the bag. A neighbor saw what happened ,came…
Consumer states that her vehicle caught fire. She states that she got into her vehicle and inserted the key. She said that when she turned the key, it sounded as if the battery was dead. She states she turned the ignition off, waited and then turned the ignition on again, then she smelled and saw…
The vehicle experienced the same defect as nhtsa recall 96-v-121-002 related to the fuel tank. The consumers vehicle was not included in the recall due to vin. *nlm
Consumer states, the temperature gauge always indicated hot, due to the radiator cap which is defected, has been change three times. And reocurring the problem.. Please provide further information. Ts
Other Suzuki Sidekick years
← 1995 Sidekick · 1997 Sidekick →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Sidekick | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 Sidekick | 27 | 0 |
| 1997 Sidekick | 36 | 1 |
| 1996 | 59 | 2 |
| 1995 Sidekick | 26 | 0 |
See all Suzuki Sidekick 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 1996 Suzuki Sidekick?
Owners most often report suspension, power train, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, suspension, accounts for 15 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Suzuki Sidekick?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Suzuki Sidekick a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sidekick model years, the 1996 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.