Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 1988.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 4 | 0 |
| 1991 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990 | 2 | 1 |
| 1989 | 2 | 1 |
| 1988 Samurai | 20 | 1 |
| 1987 | 6 | 0 |
| 1986 | 5 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Seat belts15
- Suspension6
- Tires5
- Structure5
- Steering4
- Seats3
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Wheels1
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
In New Zealand
358 Samurai cars are on the New Zealand register; 1% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 1998 | 44 | 41 | 0 |
| 1997 | 42 | 38 | 0 |
| 1996 | 47 | 40 | 0 |
| 1995 | 23 | 20 | 0 |
| 1994 | 19 | 18 | 0 |
| 1993 | 29 | 27 | 1 |
| 1992 | 26 | 24 | 1 |
| 1991 | 43 | 40 | 0 |
| 1990 | 33 | 29 | 0 |
| 1989 | 35 | 32 | 0 |
| 1988 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
401 Samurai cars are on Dutch roads; 21% arrived later as imports. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 22 | — |
| 1993 | 43 | — |
| 1992 | 92 | — |
| 1991 | 91 | — |
| 1990 | 46 | — |
| 1989 | 41 | — |
| 1988 | 66 | — |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
141 Samurai cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 100% petrol, 0% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 28 | 50,000 km |
| 1997 | 10 | 57,000 km |
| 1992 | 9 | 53,000 km |
| 1991 | 11 | 62,000 km |
| 1990 | 23 | 57,000 km |
| 1989 | 34 | 48,000 km |
| 1988 | 26 | 44,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
In the United Kingdom
107 Samurai cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 | — |
| 2000 | 12 | 56 |
| 1998 | 1 | — |
| 1996 | 2 | 7 |
| 1995 | 19 | 122 |
| 1994 | 19 | 124 |
| 1993 | 16 | 120 |
| 1992 | 21 | 248 |
| 1991 | 3 | 10 |
| 1990 | 0 | 5 |
| 1989 | 5 | 44 |
| 1988 | 8 | 81 |
| 1985 | 0 | 1 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
New registrations in Europe
4 new Suzuki Samurai cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2018, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2018 the largest markets were Italy (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | — |
| 2012 | 1 | — |
| 2010 | 2 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Recalls
1 campaigns cover the Samurai.
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
NHTSA recalls