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.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 Vitara | 1 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 27 | 0 |
| 2000 Vitara | 35 | 0 |
| 1999 Vitara | 50 | 4 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Suspension27
- Engine and engine cooling26
- Power train18
- Structure9
- Service brakes, hydraulic9
- Air bags8
- Vehicle speed control6
- Unknown or other6
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 6 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 9.9–12.9 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Vitara · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 14.0 | 11.5 | 12.9 |
| 2003 | Vitara 4-Door 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 11.7 | 9.9 | 10.9 |
| 2002 | Vitara 2-Door 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 10.5 | 9.0 | 9.9 |
| 2001 | Vitara Convertible 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 10.5 | 9.0 | 9.9 |
| 2000 | Vitara Convertible 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 10.5 | 9.0 | 9.9 |
| 1999 | Vitara 2-Door · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 10.5 | 9.0 | 9.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
12,480 Vitara cars are on the New Zealand register; 1% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 140 | 140 | 0 |
| 2025 | 457 | 457 | 0 |
| 2024 | 425 | 424 | 0 |
| 2023 | 933 | 931 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1,297 | 1,292 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1,461 | 1,454 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1,241 | 1,229 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1,324 | 1,305 | 5 |
| 2018 | 1,131 | 1,112 | 8 |
| 2017 | 1,382 | 1,359 | 9 |
| 2016 | 1,414 | 1,388 | 12 |
| 2015 | 322 | 313 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2010 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 1998 | 86 | 81 | 1 |
| 1997 | 172 | 164 | 3 |
| 1996 | 168 | 155 | 4 |
| 1995 | 106 | 96 | 2 |
| 1994 | 140 | 133 | 3 |
| 1993 | 78 | 72 | 5 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
30,288 Vitara cars are on Dutch roads; 38% arrived later as imports, and 1,677 still have a recall open. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,164 | €34,633 |
| 2025 | 2,392 | €33,151 |
| 2024 | 2,552 | €32,494 |
| 2023 | 2,788 | €31,944 |
| 2022 | 2,680 | €29,547 |
| 2021 | 2,858 | €27,672 |
| 2020 | 1,954 | €26,293 |
| 2019 | 2,696 | €28,644 |
| 2018 | 2,037 | €27,058 |
| 2017 | 2,687 | €26,898 |
| 2016 | 3,544 | €25,699 |
| 2015 | 2,269 | €24,598 |
| 2000 | 26 | — |
| 1999 | 51 | — |
| 1998 | 101 | — |
| 1997 | 68 | — |
| 1996 | 52 | — |
| 1995 | 67 | — |
| 1994 | 48 | — |
| 1993 | 64 | — |
| 1992 | 73 | — |
| 1991 | 68 | — |
| 1990 | 27 | — |
| 1989 | 22 | — |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
6,853 Vitara cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 99% petrol, 0% diesel; 34% of all are hybrids. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 181 | — |
| 2025 | 364 | — |
| 2024 | 414 | 11,000 km |
| 2023 | 358 | 20,000 km |
| 2022 | 378 | 71,000 km |
| 2021 | 519 | 68,000 km |
| 2020 | 652 | 78,000 km |
| 2019 | 911 | 88,000 km |
| 2018 | 829 | 99,000 km |
| 2017 | 830 | 119,000 km |
| 2016 | 941 | 135,000 km |
| 2015 | 417 | 150,000 km |
| 1996 | 12 | 193,000 km |
| 1995 | 36 | 266,000 km |
| 1994 | 11 | 298,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Road collisions in Great Britain
From 2021 to 2025, 792 Vitara cars were involved in road collisions in Great Britain that injured someone and were reported to the police. 10 of those collisions were fatal and 164 caused serious injuries. As with any count, models with more cars on British roads appear more often.
| Year | Cars in injury collisions | Fatal | Serious |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 162 | 2 | 37 |
| 2024 | 137 | 4 | 34 |
| 2023 | 183 | 2 | 40 |
| 2022 | 168 | 1 | 25 |
| 2021 | 142 | 1 | 28 |
Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data 2021–2025 · Open Government Licence v3.0 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
82,151 Vitara cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,204 | 58 |
| 2024 | 3,694 | 18 |
| 2023 | 6,222 | 18 |
| 2022 | 5,448 | 23 |
| 2021 | 6,070 | 25 |
| 2020 | 5,040 | 35 |
| 2019 | 12,425 | 165 |
| 2018 | 11,864 | 78 |
| 2017 | 11,234 | 96 |
| 2016 | 10,794 | 110 |
| 2015 | 5,528 | 58 |
| 2004 | 0 | 2 |
| 2003 | 0 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 | 3 |
| 2001 | 4 | 25 |
| 2000 | 62 | 402 |
| 1999 | 141 | 630 |
| 1998 | 108 | 661 |
| 1997 | 61 | 554 |
| 1996 | 66 | 557 |
| 1995 | 74 | 600 |
| 1994 | 58 | 628 |
| 1993 | 26 | 451 |
| 1992 | 16 | 260 |
| 1991 | 10 | 120 |
| 1990 | 0 | 60 |
| 1989 | 1 | 50 |
| 1988 | 0 | 4 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
60,202 Vitara cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 86% passed first time, against 82% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 255 | 92% |
| 2020 | 5,406 | 93% |
| 2019 | 12,956 | 90% |
| 2018 | 12,189 | 86% |
| 2017 | 11,495 | 83% |
| 2016 | 11,076 | 84% |
| 2015 | 5,585 | 83% |
| 2004 | 115 | 55% |
| 2002 | 104 | 50% |
| 2000 | 137 | 55% |
| 1999 | 222 | 54% |
| 1998 | 195 | 61% |
| 1997 | 111 | 64% |
| 1996 | 115 | 62% |
| 1995 | 127 | 57% |
| 1994 | 114 | 60% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | Vitara | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5.2% | 4.9% |
| Tyres | 4.4% | 5.5% |
| Visibility | 3.5% | 3.6% |
| Brakes | 2.9% | 3.5% |
| Suspension | 0.7% | 2.9% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 0.6% | 1.0% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 0.3% | 0.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
New registrations in Europe
466,913 new Suzuki Vitara cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2022, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2022 the largest markets were Hungary (5,505), Italy (5,489), Germany (5,327).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 34,605 | 127 (WLTP) |
| 2021 | 49,895 | 132 (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 43,996 | 143 (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 81,423 | 156 (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 68,763 | 156 (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 71,495 | 123 (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 74,181 | — |
| 2015 | 42,541 | — |
| 2014 | 2 | — |
| 2012 | 1 | — |
| 2010 | 11 | — |
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
Real-world fuel consumption
22,514 Suzuki Vitara cars registered in Europe between 2021 and 2024 report their fuel use through the on-board meter. Petrol hybrid versions average 6.5 l/100 km on the road, against 5.6 l/100 km in the official WLTP test — 16% more.
| Fuel | Cars | On the road | WLTP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 690 | 6.6 | 5.8 | +14% |
| Petrol hybrid | 21,824 | 6.5 | 5.6 | +16% |
Litres per 100 km: total fuel used divided by total distance driven, from the car's own fuel consumption meter (OBFCM), collected in 2024 by the manufacturers, mostly remotely, and by national authorities. WLTP figures are the type-approval CO₂ values converted to litres. Hybrids, including mild hybrids, do not plug in; plug-in hybrid figures include the distance driven on electricity. European Environment Agency, Real-world CO₂ emissions from cars and vans · CC BY 4.0
What it costs in fuel
On real-world figures the petrol hybrid Suzuki Vitara uses 6.5 litres per 100 km, so 15,000 km a year takes about 970 litres: €1,721 at this week's average price in Hungary, its largest market in Europe.
| Country | Petrol hybrid | Petrol |
|---|---|---|
| Hungary | €1,721 | €1,764 |
| United Kingdom | £1,697 | £1,739 |
| Germany | €2,118 | €2,170 |
| Italy | €1,959 | €2,008 |
| France | €2,166 | €2,220 |
| United States | $1,100 | $1,127 |
Fuel for 15,000 km (9,300 miles) a year at real-world consumption. Pump prices with taxes, week of 19 October 2026: European Commission Weekly Oil Bulletin, UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, US Energy Information Administration. Non-euro EU prices are in euros as the Bulletin publishes them.
Work it out for your driving
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the Vitara in 6 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
Due to a defective Evaporative Emission Control System (EVAP) cannister, fuel vapor can escape from the vehicle and contaminate the environment. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their…
The left rear brake pipe may have been damaged during tightening process, which may lead to rust development and to the creation of a hole. This may cause brake fluid leaks, resulting in impaired braking performance and loss of driving stability, increasing th…
Due to the swelling of the valve in the vacuum pump, the negative pressure of the brake boosters can be temporarily blocked. Consequently, even if the braking system remains functional, the brake pedal must be pressed hard, increasing the risk of an accident. …
Irregularities were found in the emission behaviour of vehicles from Suzuki. Producing disproportionate NOX emissions will harm the environment and health of human beings. The product doesn't comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the appr…
The ambient temperature sensor may malfunction. If this occurs, the engine controller will not detect sensor failure and consequently the MIL (Malfunction Indicator Light) will not illuminate. These systems monitor the vehicle’s exhaust and pollution control d…
The abrasion coefficient modification coating may not been have been applied on the rear axle bolts during the manufacturing of the bolts. The bolts might consequently loosen, come off or break. If this happens, the vehicle could become impossible to drive.
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
5 campaigns cover the Vitara.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, UNDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW -25 DEGREES CELSIUS, MOISTURE CAN FREEZE IN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. AS A RESULT, FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE MAY INCREASE AT THE TIME OF ENGINE START UP, CAUSING FUEL LOSS AT THE FUEL PIPE/FUEL HOSE CONNECTION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH. IF THE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY BE INOPERATIVE. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE, A FAILURE IN THE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH MAY ALSO PREVENT SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 2-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PORT INSTALLATION OF REAR STEREO SPEAKERS, THE FRONT SEAT BELT LOWER ANCHOR BOLTS WERE REMOVED TO FACILITATE THE REAR SPEAKER INSTALLATION AND MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION AFTER INSTALLATION OF THE SPEAKERS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 2-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PORT INSTALLATION OF REAR STEREO SPEAKERS, THE VEHICLES WIRING HARNESS COULD HAVE BEEN PINCHED BETWEEN THE REAR STEREO SPEAKER AND SPEAKER RETAINING PLATE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE COUPLING THAT CONNECTS THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT TO THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS CRACKED. THIS COULD ALLOW THE STEERING SHAFTS TO SEPARATE.
NHTSA recalls