1997 Suzuki Sidekick Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sidekick years
- More complaints than other years 2nd of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Suzuki Sidekick. That ranks 2nd out of 5 Sidekick model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (9 complaints, 25%). Complaints mention 5 crashes, 5 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 36owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 5complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 9 | 25% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 9 | 25% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 7 | 19% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Suzuki Sidekick recalls (1)
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.
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.
While driving and without warning front and rear passenger side tires separated. *cb *nlm
The clutch pedal attachment clip in the passenger compartment spot weld broke allowing the pedal to detach from the linkage. When the owner entered the truck the pedal was already detached. Please describe details ts
The vehicle struts broke while driving, the consumer never received recall notice 00v-008 relating to the strut rod. Nlm
While traveling on highway, there is a knocking noise underneath vehicle. Dealership is aware of problem.*ak consumer states front of car started to shake causing loose steering, causing an accident where two people were injured. *yd
Nhtsa id# 00v-008-000 manufacture id #w2 the dealership is refusing to service the recall because the computer reading shows that the front struts where already serviced on april 13, 2000. The consumer debates the print from the manufacturer. Nlm
Other Suzuki Sidekick years
← 1996 Sidekick · 1998 Sidekick →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Sidekick | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 Sidekick | 27 | 0 |
| 1997 | 36 | 1 |
| 1996 Sidekick | 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 1997 Suzuki Sidekick?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, suspension, power train problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 9 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Suzuki Sidekick?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 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 1997 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.