Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Suzuki Vitara, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension15
- Power train10
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Vehicle speed control4
- Unknown or other4
- Structure4
- Steering3
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Exterior lighting3
- Electrical system2
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
In the Netherlands
51 first registered in 1999 are on Dutch roads; 16% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen27
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde25
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld14
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm8
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af7
- Band onvoldoende profiel6
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast6
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij6
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
141 cars built in 1999 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 630 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, 222 of these cars first registered in 1999 took their annual MOT test. 54% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1999 the figure was 63%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1999 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 23.4% | 16.6% |
| Brakes | 22.1% | 12.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 21.2% | 9.3% |
| Visibility | 9.5% | 6.9% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.0% | 7.3% |
| Suspension | 6.3% | 13.1% |
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 New Zealand
4 1999 cars are on the New Zealand register; 25% arrived as used imports, 75% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 6 variants: combined 9.9–11.1 L/100 km (about 21–24 mpg US), CO₂ 228–255 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitara 2-Door · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 10.5 | 9.0 | 9.9 |
| Vitara 2-Door · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 11.0 | 9.3 | 10.2 |
| Vitara 4-Door · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 11.7 | 9.9 | 10.9 |
| Vitara 2-Door · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 11.7 | 10.1 | 11.0 |
| Vitara 4-Door · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 10.1 | 11.0 |
| Vitara 2-Door · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 10.2 | 11.1 |
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 1999 Suzuki Vitara.
| 2002208 14 Nov 2002 | Other CMVSS 115 requires that certain information be uniquely identified in the vehicle identification number (VIN). One such item is the engine type. This particul… |
| 2000007 16 Nov 1999 | Lights And Instruments Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. Vehicles may have an inoperative brake lamp-ac… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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 VEHICLES WIRING HARNESS COULD HAVE BEEN PINCHED BETWEEN THE REAR STEREO SPEAKER AND SPEAKER RETAINING PLATE.
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: 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.
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 1999 Suzuki Vitara: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 618430 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST ON CERTAIN MODELS WHERE THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING MAY LEAK FLUID FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OIL SEAL. *TT |
| 610525 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE REVISED CLAIMS SUBMISSION PROCEDURES FOR REPLACEMENT BATTERIES UNDER WARRANTY. *TT |
| 605111 | CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.0L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A CRANK BUT NO-START CONDITION IN 5 DEGREES F OR COLDER WEATHER CONDITIONS. *TT |
| 604545 | ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A CRANK BUT NO-START CONDITION IN COLD WEATER CONDITIONS. *TT |
| 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. |
| 10021699 | FRONT DIFFERENTIAL OIL SEAL REPLACEMENT. *KB |
| 10017455 | MODIFICATION OF MAIN BEARING OIL CLEARANCE AND THE BEARING SELECTION PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 10015910 | MODIFICATION OF MAIN BEARING OIL CLEARANCE AND THE BEARING SELECTION PROCEDURE. 1999-2005 SUZUKI VITARA SQ420/SQ625L, GRAND VITARA SQ625W, AND XL-7 JA627 *SC |
| 10014813 | CORRECT COOLANT USAGE. *EH |
| 10006515 | SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE FOR RESEALING FRONT TIMING CHAIN COVER. *MR |
| 10001700 | DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE, B1026 FLOW TABLE. SERVICE MANUAL UDPATE CORRECTION. *TT |
| 10001698 | OIL LEVEL READS AT LOW MARK ON OIL LEVEL DIP STICK. 1999 - 2003 VITARA/GRAND VITARA/XL-7. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)