Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Suzuki Sidekick, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension15
- Power train14
- Engine and engine cooling10
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Air bags4
- Equipment3
- Structure3
- Seat belts2
- Electrical system2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 10.6–11.3 L/100 km (about 21–22 mpg US), CO₂ 244–260 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidekick 2-Door · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 11.5 | 9.6 | 10.6 |
| Sidekick 4-Door · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 11.5 | 9.7 | 10.7 |
| Sidekick 4-Door · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 9.7 | 10.9 |
| Sidekick 2-Door · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 10.5 | 11.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1996 Suzuki Sidekick.
| 2000086 17 Feb 2000 | Suspension On certain Sidekick Sport vehicles, insufficient strength of the mounting base on the upper end of the front struts can lead to breakage of the mounting bolts t… |
| 1996104 11 Jul 1996 | Fuel System Note: Four door vehicles only. Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 301 - Fuel System Integrity. The fuel tank on these vehicles may … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH OF THE MOUNTING BASE ON THE UPPER END OF THE FRONT STRUTS CAN LEAD TO BREAKAGE OF THE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE UPPER END OF THE FRONT STRUTS TO THE VEHICLE BODY.
THE FUEL TANK ON THESE VEHICLES CAN BECOME PUNCTURED BY A FUEL TANK FLANGE ATTACHMENT REINFORCEMENT DURING REAR-END COLLISIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL TANK INTEGRITY."
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 1996 Suzuki Sidekick: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 610525 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE REVISED CLAIMS SUBMISSION PROCEDURES FOR REPLACEMENT BATTERIES UNDER WARRANTY. *TT |
| 54391 | MODIFICATION OF POWER STEERING PUMP SERVICE PROCEDURES. *YC |
| 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. |
| 10014818 | CORRECT COOLANT USAGE. *EH |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)