Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Vehicle speed control9
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Air bags6
- Suspension4
- Visibility4
- Tires3
- Power train3
- Equipment3
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Service brakes2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 7 2001 Grand Vitara vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 4 people died inside them, and 3 of the vehicles rolled over. 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 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara failed the safety check 1.46% of the time — 27% less often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 143,271 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (94 kW, 126 hp), 1.6 petrol (69 kW, 93 hp) and 2.5 petrol (106 kW, 142 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 94 kW 126 hp | 138 |
| 1.6 petrol | 69 kW 93 hp | 93 |
| 2.5 petrol | 106 kW 142 hp | 35 |
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
270 first registered in 2001 are on Dutch roads; 6% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde155
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen123
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af96
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast58
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm53
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld50
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse43
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm43
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
338 cars built in 2001 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,206 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, 622 of these cars first registered in 2001 took their annual MOT test. 63% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2001 the figure was 59%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2001 |
|---|---|---|
| Body, chassis, structure | 15.6% | 9.7% |
| Suspension | 13.2% | 15.4% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 11.3% | 19.3% |
| Brakes | 11.1% | 13.4% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.2% | 6.8% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 6.6% | 3.3% |
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
21 of these cars first registered in 2001 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
In New Zealand
365 2001 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 12.8–13.6 L/100 km (about 17–18 mpg US), CO₂ 294–313 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Vitara 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 13.8 | 11.4 | 12.8 |
| Grand Vitara 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 14.5 | 12.5 | 13.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2001 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… |
| 2001066 16 Mar 2001 | Suspension Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 120 - Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars. The presentation of some o… |
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SOME SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS." THE PRESENTATION OF SOME OF THE INFORMATION ON THE TIRE INFORMATION LABEL DEVIATES FROM THE FORMAT SET FORTH IN THE STANDARD AND THE LABEL MAY NOT BE "PERMANENTLY AFFIXED" AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
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 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara: 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. |
| 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 |
| 10006242 | REVISED REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR REPLACEMENT. *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)