Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Suzuki SX4, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train4
- Air bags3
- Electrical system3
- Exterior lighting2
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Structure1
- Equipment1
- Wheels1
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
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 5 2011 SX4 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them, and 1 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 2011 Suzuki SX4 failed the safety check 3.49% of the time — 40% more often than the average 2011 passenger car (2.49%). Median odometer at inspection: 115,331 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2011
28,973 new Suzuki SX4 cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2011; the largest markets were Germany (5,525), France (3,195), Italy (3,108).
- Average mass
- 1,286 kg
- Average power
- 87 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol 71% · Diesel 29%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Engines
The most common engines in 2011 Suzuki SX4 cars on Dutch roads are the 1.6 petrol (88 kW, 118 hp) and 1.5 petrol (82 kW, 110 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.6 petrol | 88 kW 118 hp | 1,120 |
| 1.5 petrol | 82 kW 110 hp | 50 |
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
1,176 first registered in 2011 are on Dutch roads; 22% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €19,539.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde650
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt470
- Veer gebroken of gescheurd425
- Band onvoldoende profiel423
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)409
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht327
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij236
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk212
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
2,084 cars built in 2011 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 116 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, 2,303 of these cars first registered in 2011 took their annual MOT test. 57% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2011 the figure was 63%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2011 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 24.0% | 14.1% |
| Brakes | 16.9% | 8.6% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 11.9% | 16.0% |
| Tyres | 6.3% | 7.3% |
| Visibility | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 3.1% | 4.4% |
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
416 of these cars first registered in 2011 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 170,000 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
561 2011 cars are on the New Zealand register; 8% arrived as used imports, 91% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 3 variants; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Suzuki SX4 4 DR FWD | — | 13.3 % |
| 2011 Suzuki SX4 SW AWD | — | 13.3 % |
| 2011 Suzuki SX4 SW FWD | — | 13.3 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- No
- Lane departure warning
- No
- Best overall rating
- —
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 9 variants: combined 8.4–9.4 L/100 km (about 25–28 mpg US), CO₂ 193–216 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| SX4 Sedan JA · Compact · Regular gasoline | 9.3 | 7.3 | 8.4 |
| SX4 JA · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 9.5 | 7.6 | 8.7 |
| SX4 Sedan JA · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.3 | 7.2 | 8.9 |
| SX4 JA · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 10.4 | 7.5 | 9.1 |
| SX4 Sedan Sport · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.4 | 7.4 | 9.1 |
| SX4 JX/JLX · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 10.1 | 8.0 | 9.2 |
| SX4 Sedan Sport · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.2 | 8.0 | 9.2 |
| SX4 AWD · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 10.3 | 8.0 | 9.3 |
| SX4 AWD · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 10.6 | 7.9 | 9.4 |
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 2011 Suzuki SX4.
| 2014578 18 Dec 2014 | Powertrain On certain vehicles, the detent pin within the shift lock structure may have been incorrectly positioned. An incorrectly positioned detent pin in combination w… |
| 2013305 17 Sept 2013 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the Occupant Classification System may malfunction, causing the airbag warning lamp to illuminate, and could fail to disable the passenger … |
| 2011041 27 Jan 2011 | Engine On certain vehicles, the tension adjuster pulley for the drive belt, which operates the alternator, water pump, air conditioner compressor and power steering pu… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 SX4 vehicles manufactured July 16, 2009, to November 1, 2012, and 2010-2013 Kizashi vehicles manufactured October 13, 2009, to October 31, 2012. The shift selector can be moved out of the "Park" position without depressing the brake pedal.
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Grand Vitara and 2007-2011 SX4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, over time, the OCS sensor mat installed in the front passenger seat may fail due to repeated flexing of the mat from use of the seat. As a result, during a crash necessitating deployment, the air bag will deploy regardless of whether the front seat occupant is an adult or a child.
SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES; MODEL YEAR 2011 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES PRODUCED PRIOR TO OCTOBER 17, 2010; MODEL YEAR 2010 SUZUKI SX4 PASSENGER VEHICLES; AND 2011 SUZUKI SX4 PASSENGER VEHICLES PRODUCED PRIOR TO OCTOBER 14, 2010. THE TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY FOR THE DRIVE BELT THAT OPERATES THE ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP, AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR AND POWER STEERING PUMP, HAS AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED INTERNAL SPRING THAT CAN BREAK DUE TO REPEATED STRESS. IF THE SPRING BREAKS, THE DRIVE BELT WILL NOT BE ADJUSTED PROPERLY AND CAN SLIP, CAUSING A SQUEAKING NOISE. OR THE DRIVE BELT COULD COME OFF CAUSING THE DRIVER TO INCREASE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THIS CAN ALSO CAUSE THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE INDICATION TO RISE, WHICH CAN LEAD TO THE ENGINE OVERHEATING, OR CAN CAUSE THE CHARGING LIGHT TO COME ON, WHICH CAN LEAD TO BATTERY DISCHARGE AND ENGINE STALL.
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 2011 Suzuki SX4: 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. |
| 10115290 | This bulletin describes corrective action needed to address complaints of reduction in engine power output due to activation of the continuously variable transmission (CVT) temperature protection control system due to deterioration of the CVT fluid or malfunction of the transmission control module. |
| 10087001 | THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES THE AVAILABILITY OF AN IMPROVED DRIVESHAFT FLANGE AND DIFFERENTIAL SIDE OIL SEAL FOR 4WD SX4 VEHICLES. THE IMPROVED PARTS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO IMPROVE PREVENTION OF CORROSION ON VEHICLES DRIVEN IN SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS. |
| 10044321 | SUZUKI: DUE TO REPEATED FLEXING, THE FRONT PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM CIRCUIT LOCATED WITHIN SEAT BOTTOM CUSHION ASSEMBLY, HAVE AN ELECTRIC DISCONNECTION. *PE UPDATED 04/10/2013 *JS |
| 10044319 | SUZUKI: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, WITHIN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM CUSHION, THE SENSING SENSOR MAT, AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT DISCONNECTION MAY HAVE DEVELOPED, DUE TO REPEATED FLEXING. *PE |
| 10044041 | SUZUKI: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR 'AIR BAG' WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION. *JS UPDATED 7/25/12. *PE |
| 10042157 | SUZUKI: ON CERTAIN MY 2012 VEHICLES (SX4/KIZASHI) EQUIPPED WITH CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION (CVT), A VOLUNTARY EMISSION CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN CONDUCTED FROM MANUFACTURER. *PE |
| 10042156 | SUZUKI: THE REPROGRAMMING OF THE CVT CONTROLLER (TCM) IS AN EMISSION SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR MODEL YEAR 2012. *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Occupant Classification System Failure
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation