Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Suzuki SX4, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Steering16
- Air bags14
- Power train5
- Seats3
- Vehicle speed control2
- Engine2
- Electrical system1
- Unknown or other1
- Service brakes1
- Tires1
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, 3 2012 SX4 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them. 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 2012 Suzuki SX4 failed the safety check 3.88% of the time — 54% more often than the average 2012 passenger car (2.52%). Median odometer at inspection: 109,939 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2012
25,158 new Suzuki SX4 cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2012; the largest markets were Germany (5,409), France (2,534), the United Kingdom (2,296).
- Average mass
- 1,289 kg
- Average power
- 90 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol 75% · Diesel 25%
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 2012 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 | 867 |
| 1.5 petrol | 82 kW 110 hp | 61 |
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
930 first registered in 2012 are on Dutch roads; 29% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €16,954.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde457
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt379
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)362
- Band onvoldoende profiel330
- Veer gebroken of gescheurd313
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht246
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld153
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij148
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
1,885 cars built in 2012 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 76 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, 1,996 of these cars first registered in 2012 took their annual MOT test. 57% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2012 the figure was 66%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2012 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 25.2% | 12.2% |
| Brakes | 14.6% | 7.7% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 11.2% | 14.3% |
| Tyres | 7.6% | 7.0% |
| Visibility | 5.6% | 5.0% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 2.5% | 3.8% |
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
430 of these cars first registered in 2012 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 156,000 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
646 2012 cars are on the New Zealand register; 6% arrived as used imports, 92% 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; 0 of 3 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 Suzuki Sx4 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | 13.3 % |
| 2012 Suzuki Sx4 5 HB AWD | ★★★★☆ | 13.3 % |
| 2012 Suzuki Sx4 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | 13.3 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- No
- Lane departure warning
- No
- Best overall rating
- 4 / 5
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 · Compact · Regular gasoline | 9.3 | 7.3 | 8.4 |
| SX4 JA · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 9.5 | 7.6 | 8.7 |
| SX4 Sedan · 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 · 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 2012 Suzuki SX4.
| 2018643 21 Nov 2018 | Steering On certain vehicles, a defect in the power steering pump could cause it to seize after a long period of vehicle non-operation (such as overnight parking) during… |
| 2015415 21 Sept 2015 | Steering On certain vehicles, a defect in the power steering pump could cause it to seize after a long period of vehicle non-operation (such as overnight parking) during… |
| 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… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Suzuki Motor America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Suzuki SX4 vehicles. The power steering pump may seize causing a loss of steering assist.
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2012-2103 Suzuki SX4 vehicles manufactured September 3, 2011, to April 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, insufficient clearance between the power steering pump body and the power steering fluid control valve may cause improper movement of the valve, and as a result, the power steering pump may seize.
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.
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 2012 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. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)