Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Electrical system4
- Vehicle speed control3
- Suspension1
- Power train1
- Equipment1
- Visibility1
- Structure1
- Unknown or other1
- Service brakes1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In the Netherlands
22 first registered in 2003 are on Dutch roads; 5% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen15
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld9
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse8
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)7
- Band onvoldoende profiel7
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af6
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde6
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm6
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In Finland
7 of these cars first registered in 2003 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 259,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 14.0–14.2 L/100 km (about 17 mpg US), CO₂ 322–327 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Vitara XL-7 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 15.2 | 12.5 | 14.0 |
| Grand Vitara XL-7 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 15.4 | 12.8 | 14.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, UNDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW -25 DEGREES CELSIUS, MOISTURE CAN FREEZE IN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. AS A RESULT, FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE MAY INCREASE AT THE TIME OF ENGINE START UP, CAUSING FUEL LOSS AT THE FUEL PIPE/FUEL HOSE CONNECTION.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE IGNITION SYSTEM WIRING HARNESS IS ROUTED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE HARNESS CAN RUB AGAINST THE MANIFOLD DURING VEHICLE OPERATION AND ABRASION DAMAGE TO THE HARNESS CAN OCCUR.
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 Grand Vitara XL-7: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 613521 | INFORMATION REGARDING A PROBLEM WITH THE MECHANICAL PART OF THE WINDOW REGULATOR ON CL VEHICLES AFTER THE FOLLOWING VIN: 1998 3.0 CL, 19UYA2--WL004819, 1998 2.3 CL, 19UYA--WL005233 OR ANY 1999 CL. *MR |
| 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. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)