Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline21
- Engine and engine cooling20
- Service brakes, hydraulic15
- Air bags12
- Power train12
- Vehicle speed control10
- Equipment8
- Suspension4
- Visibility4
- Steering4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 12 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 1999 Grand Vitara vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 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 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara failed the safety check 2.98% of the time — 69% more often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 126,767 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (94 kW, 126 hp) and 2.5 petrol (106 kW, 142 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 94 kW 126 hp | 102 |
| 2.5 petrol | 106 kW 142 hp | 34 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
138 first registered in 1999 are on Dutch roads; 6% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde68
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen65
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af44
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld30
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt24
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij24
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast21
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk21
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
89 cars built in 1999 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 366 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 156 of these cars first registered in 1999 took their annual MOT test. 62% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1999 the figure was 63%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1999 |
|---|---|---|
| Body, chassis, structure | 17.9% | 9.3% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 16.0% | 16.6% |
| Suspension | 15.4% | 13.1% |
| Brakes | 8.3% | 12.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.8% | 7.3% |
| Visibility | 5.8% | 6.9% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
47 of these cars first registered in 1999 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 271,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
277 1999 cars are on the New Zealand register.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 12.8–13.2 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 294–304 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Vitara · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 13.8 | 11.4 | 12.8 |
| Grand Vitara · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 14.2 | 12.0 | 13.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara.
| 2004313 31 Aug 2004 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, under ambient temperatures below -25 degrees Celsius, moisture can freeze in the fuel pressure regulator. As a result, fuel system pressur… |
| 2003320 8 Dec 2003 | Other On certain vehicles, the accelerator cable casing cap that is attached to the firewall can crack due to extended exposure to forces from the accelerator cable a… |
| 2001032 19 Jan 2001 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, when ambient temperature is below -25 Celsius, fuel pressure may increase at the time of engine start up, resulting in fuel loss at the fue… |
| 2000190 15 Sept 2000 | Other Certain vehicles do not comply with Regulation 6 - Statement of Compliance. The abbreviation "GAWR" on the Compliance Label was recorded in error as "GVWR". C… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 16-INCH WHEELS, THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS MAY BREAK UNDER SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR IN CONDITIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON A REGULAR BASIS ON EXTREMELY STEEP PAVED DOWN-SLOPES WHILE CONTINUOUSLY APPLYING THE BRAKES.
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 ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FIREWALL CAN CRACK DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO FORCES FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND INSUFFICIENT LONG-TERM DURABILITY OF THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. IF THE CASING CAP BECOMES CRACKED, MOVEMENT OF THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE THROUGH THE CAP CAN CAUSE THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE TO BECOME FRAYED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. UNDER TEMPERATURES BELOW -25 DEGREES, MOISTURE CAN FREEZE IN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE COULD INCREASE AT THE TIME OF ENGINE START UP, CAUSING FUEL LOSS AT THE FUEL PIPE/FUEL HOSE CONNECTION.
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 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 610525 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE REVISED CLAIMS SUBMISSION PROCEDURES FOR REPLACEMENT BATTERIES UNDER WARRANTY. *TT |
| 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. |
| 10019614 | EXHAUST NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. *TT |
| 10017455 | MODIFICATION OF MAIN BEARING OIL CLEARANCE AND THE BEARING SELECTION PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 10015910 | MODIFICATION OF MAIN BEARING OIL CLEARANCE AND THE BEARING SELECTION PROCEDURE. 1999-2005 SUZUKI VITARA SQ420/SQ625L, GRAND VITARA SQ625W, AND XL-7 JA627 *SC |
| 10007522 | OIL LEAKING FROM LEFT FRONT OF ENGINE. *TT |
| 10001717 | LOUD CHAIN RATTLING NOISE FROM RIGHT FRONT OF ENGINE BEHIND THE TIMING COVER. *TT |
| 10001714 | REVISED REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR FREEZE-UP DURING USE. *TT |
| 10001707 | OIL WEEPAGE/SEEPAGE FROM LEFT FRONT OF ENGINE. *TT |
| 10001700 | DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE, B1026 FLOW TABLE. SERVICE MANUAL UDPATE CORRECTION. *TT |
| 10001699 | REVISED REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR FREEZE-UP DURING USE. *TT |
| 10001698 | OIL LEVEL READS AT LOW MARK ON OIL LEVEL DIP STICK. 1999 - 2003 VITARA/GRAND VITARA/XL-7. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)