The Lemon Index
Suzuki Forenza reliability: problems and recalls.
Owners filed 907 complaints about the 2004 to 2008 Suzuki Forenza with the government, most about transmission & drivetrain.
No Lemon Index score yet: we don't have reliable sales numbers for this car, so here's what YouTube owners say, next to the raw complaint counts.
YouTube rank and complaints, by model year
YouTube rank: we read 198 YouTube videos about the Suzuki Forenza and ranked each year with 10 or more videos by how much they praise it vs. how much they talk about problems. It measures tone, not failure rates. Complaints are the raw number owners filed with NHTSA: popular years draw more partly because more were sold, and without usable sales figures we can't turn them into a per-car score.
What owners say on YouTube
2004–2008 Forenza · 200 most-watched videos
Owners praise
Owners complain about
Nothing stands out.
Before you buy, watch
Praise and complaints: the share of each generation's most-watched videos that mention a topic with a praise or trouble word next to it, in the title or what's said. YouTube rank: how positive owners and reviewers sound, compared with every car of the same model year. It measures tone, not failure rates. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
Complaints and recalls by model year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 63 | 5 |
| 2005 | 156 | 3 |
| 2006 | 280 | 4 |
| 2007 | 256 | 2 |
| 2008 | 152 | 1 |
Popular years draw more complaints partly because more were sold. We don't have usable sales for this model, so these are counts, not a score.
What owners complain about
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Transmission & drivetrain | 27% |
| Electrical | 14% |
| Airbags | 13% |
| Lights | 8% |
| Engine | 6% |
| Engine | 6% |
When problems show up
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 32,000 and 84,000 miles. The middle report was at 55,000 miles, from 748 complaints.
How serious
| Crashes | Fires | Injury reports | Death reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | 55 | 44 | 0 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
In owners' words
2006 Suzuki Forenza with engine light and gas tank problems. Consumer states that it took him 3 weeks to get a new gas cap. Customer has spent more than $330 and the problem is still not fixed.
2006 Suzuki Forenza owner · NHTSA complaint 10207153
Oxygen sensor was bad 3 months after buting car, both airbags in dash are defective. Sensors are lighting up and it says can deploy at any time get car serviced. My dealership acts like they don't want to help me.
2007 Suzuki Forenza owner · NHTSA complaint 10205707
The srs airbag system inoperative light stays on. This vehicle has been to shop at least 5 times during warranty period and has failed to be fixed.
2005 Suzuki Forenza owner · NHTSA complaint 10248717
Recalls 6
14V262000 May 2014 Exterior Lighting / Headlights
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module which could melt the headlamp switch or the DRL module.
Fix. Suzuki will replace the signal switch and add a jumper relay kit and will replace the DRL Module in teh instrument panel harness. Suzuki distributed to owners an interim letter on July 30, 2014. The recall began October 29, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is XA.
12V397000 Aug 2012 Electrical System / Wiring / Interior/Under Dash
Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connect the power circuit wires for the headlamps. This can result in intermittent or total loss of low/high beam headlamp function.
Fix. Suzuki will notify owners, and Suzuki dealers will reconnect the affected wires with two heat-shrink crimps, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 25, 2012. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.
07V452000 Sep 2007 Exterior Lighting
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) FUNCTION MAY BE INOPERATIVE DUE TO A MELTED SPLICE PACK ON THE WIRING HARNESS.
Fix. DEALERS WILL SPLICE THE POWER CIRCUIT WIRES FOR THE LOW-BEAM HEADLAMPS AND DRL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL WILL BE MAILED IN THREE PHASES, STARTING AT THE END OF OCTOBER 2007 AND CONCLUDING BY THE END OF JANUARY 2008;. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
07V315000 Jul 2007 Seat Belts / Front / Buckle Assembly
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT SEAT BELT TONGUE WILL NOT LATCH INTO THE BUCKLE AND, IN RARE CASES, EVEN THE LOCKED TONGUE WILL POP OUT BY LOW STRETCHING FORCE. IF THE BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH COMPLETELY, THE BUCKLE COULD RELEASE WITHOUT PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLES WITH THE IMPROVED PART FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
05V022000 Jan 2005 Exterior Lighting / Brake Lights / Switch
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY BECOME MISADJUSTED IF AN UPWARD/REARWARD FORCE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. IF THIS SHOULD OCCUR, THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS, INCLUDING THE HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP, TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY WITHOUT BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION, WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE ON OR OFF POSITION.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 16, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
03V426000 Oct 2003 Air Bags / Frontal
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS, THE DUAL STAGE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYS IN AN IMPROPER SEQUENCE.
Fix. DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADAPTING WIRING HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 30, 2003, TO VERONA VEHICLE OWNERS. ALL FORENZA VEHICLES WERE REPAIRED AT THE PORT OF ENTRY. THERE ARE NO OWNER NOTIFICATIONS NECESSARY FOR THE FORENZA MODEL VEHICLES. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check the exact car's VIN for open recalls.
Quick answers
What are the most common Suzuki Forenza problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the top areas are transmission & drivetrain, electrical, airbags.
How many recalls does the Suzuki Forenza have?
6 safety recalls on record for the 2004 to 2008 models.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, YouTube videos (titles and channels link to them). We don't give this model a Lemon Index because we don't have its sales by year yet. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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