Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Suzuki Aerio, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train11
- Wheels6
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Electrical system2
- Steering2
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Tires2
- Equipment1
- Engine1
- Visibility1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 6 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 6 2003 Aerio vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Suzuki Aerio failed the safety check 2.67% of the time — 27% more often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 113,925 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
89 2003 cars are on the New Zealand register; 99% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 10 variants: combined 9.1–10.3 L/100 km (about 23–26 mpg US), CO₂ 209–237 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerio Fastback · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 10.2 | 7.8 | 9.1 |
| Aerio · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.4 | 7.9 | 9.3 |
| Aerio Fastback SX · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 10.4 | 8.0 | 9.3 |
| Aerio SX · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.4 | 8.0 | 9.3 |
| Aerio · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.4 | 8.2 | 9.4 |
| Aerio Fastback · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 10.4 | 8.2 | 9.4 |
| Aerio Fastback SX · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 10.4 | 8.3 | 9.5 |
| Aerio SX · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.4 | 8.3 | 9.5 |
| Aerio Fastback AWD · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 11.2 | 9.0 | 10.2 |
| Aerio Fastback SX AWD · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 11.3 | 9.1 | 10.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2003 Suzuki Aerio.
| 2007233 12 Jul 2007 | Powertrain On certain vehicles, the retaining clip that secures the gear shift cable to the shift lever can contact the lever housing if excessive lateral force is applied… |
| 2003155 16 Jun 2003 | Other On certain vehicles, the windshield may not be properly secured to the vehicle body due to insufficient adhesion between paint applied during the second-stage p… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, DUE TO IMPROPER SHAPE OF THE CLIP, THE RETAINING CLIP THAT KEEPS THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE ATTACHED TO THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER CAN CONTACT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HOUSING IF EXCESSIVE LATERAL FORCE IS APPLIED WHEN SHIFTING TO FIRST GEAR.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Suzuki told its dealers about the 2003 Suzuki Aerio: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10216558 | Reminder of the importance to conduct safety inspections for rust damage to suspension and related parts that could be caused by road salt or other chemicals applied to the roadway. |
| 10152052 | This Service Bulletin was sent by Suzuki Motor Corporation to its authorized Suzuki automobile distributors in the U.S., explaining the importance of proper inspection and maintenance of suspension lower arm ball joints to prevent the ball stud from becoming separated from the suspension lower arm. |
| 10028704 | SUZUKI: PARTS LIST FOR REPAIRING MANUAL TRANSAXLE 5TH GEAR CONCERNS SUCH AS POPPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. WORN OR FAILED 5TH GEAR SYNCHRONIZER, 5TH GEAR, AND RELATED PARTS. *PE |
| 10018839 | IN EXTREME COLD CLIMATES, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP MAY BE ON WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED. THE DTC P2025 WILL BE STORED IN THE ECM. *TT |
| 10015941 | DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR LOOSE. SUZUKI AERIO (RH420/RH423) *SC |
| 10015909 | MODIFICATION OF MAIN BEARING OIL CLEARANCE AND THE BEARING SELECTION PROCEDURE. 2002-2005 SUZUKI AERO-RH420/RH423 *SC |
| 10008459 | ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 10007730 | INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BULB REPLACEMENT. ALSO INCLUDES 2004 MODEL. *MJ |
| 10007729 | AERIO FRONT BRAKE PAD. ALSO INCLUDES 2004 MODEL. *MJ |
| 10006730 | ADDITION OF A NOTE TO THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFTER ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS IN THE SERVICE MANUAL. *TT |
| 10006210 | SLOW AND/OR INCOMPLETE RETRACTION OF SEAT BELTS. *TT |
| 10002995 | WASHER FLUID LEAKING OUT OF NOZZLES WHEN NOT IN USE LEAVING WASHER FLUID MARKS ON THE HOOD. WINDSHIELD WASHER HOSE REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 10001716 | POPPING NOISE ON SLIGHT TURNS. *TT |
| 10001711 | WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS - SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)