Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 2005 Grand Vitara vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them, and 2 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 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara failed the safety check 4.10% of the time — 78% more often than the average 2005 passenger car (2.30%). Median odometer at inspection: 122,212 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (94 kW, 126 hp), 2.0 petrol (103 kW, 138 hp) and 1.6 petrol (69 kW, 93 hp), out of 5 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 94 kW 126 hp | 170 |
| 2.0 petrol | 103 kW 138 hp | 159 |
| 1.6 petrol | 69 kW 93 hp | 56 |
| 1.6 petrol | 78 kW 105 hp | 42 |
| 2.5 petrol | 116 kW 156 hp | 30 |
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
458 first registered in 2005 are on Dutch roads; 5% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €20,683.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde319
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af140
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)128
- Band onvoldoende profiel126
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt126
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht111
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld97
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm94
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
1,751 cars built in 2005 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,400 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, 2,534 of these cars first registered in 2005 took their annual MOT test. 56% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2005 the figure was 56%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2005 |
|---|---|---|
| Body, chassis, structure | 17.5% | 8.9% |
| Suspension | 17.1% | 17.3% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 14.1% | 21.5% |
| Brakes | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 10.1% | 6.8% |
| Visibility | 6.3% | 7.5% |
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
87 of these cars first registered in 2005 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 264,000 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
220 2005 cars are on the New Zealand register; 2% arrived as used imports, 95% 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 2 variants: combined 13.0 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 299 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Vitara · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 14.3 | 11.5 | 13.0 |
| Grand Vitara · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 14.2 | 11.5 | 13.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · 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.
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 2005 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. |
| 10044041 | SUZUKI: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR 'AIR BAG' WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION. *JS UPDATED 7/25/12. *PE |
| 10022373 | SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE. DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER, DIFFERENTIAL COVER, AND DIFFERENTIAL BOLTS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED. *KB |
| 10021360 | TIRE PRESSURE SPECIFICATION CHANGE. *KB |
| 10019351 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON; DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0456 (EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM LEAK DETECTED). *TT |
| 10018528 | ECM REPROGRAMMING FOR POOR COLD START. *TT |
| 10017455 | MODIFICATION OF MAIN BEARING OIL CLEARANCE AND THE BEARING SELECTION PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 10016425 | SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE, A/C WIRING DIAGRAM CORRECTION GRAND VITARA SQ625W/XL-7 JA627 *SC |
| 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 |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)