- The problem
- Certain passenger (111 my 2002 esteem, 777 my 2002 aerio, 2,368 my 2003 aerio) and sport utility (324 my 2002 grand vitara, 274 my 2003 grand vitara, 684 my 2002 grand vitara xl-7, and 781 my 2003 grand vitara xl-7) vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, 'Windshield mounting." The windshield may not be properly secured to the vehicle body due to insufficient adhesion between the paint applied during the second-stage painting process and the paint applied during final-stage painting.
- The risk
- If the windshield is not properly secured, it may separate from the vehicle during a crash which could result in the ejection of unbelted occupants, increasing the risk of severe injury or death.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect these vehicles. Vehicles that are found to have insufficient paint adhesion will either have the problem remedied by repainting, or will be replaced, or repurchased and destroyed. Owner notification began on july 8, 2003. Owners should contact suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.
Vehicle safety record
2002 Suzuki Esteem Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 2002 Suzuki Esteem with NHTSA, most often about the fuel system (3) and the wheels & tires (3). Those complaints describe 1 crash and 1 fire. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in June 2003 for the windshield. For comparison, the 2001 has 21.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Esteem year, for its age
#229 most complained-about 2002 vehicle
- Complaints
- 11
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2002 Suzuki Esteem problems
Share of all 11 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2002 Suzuki Esteem recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
Be the first Esteem owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
11 complaints about the 2002 Suzuki Esteem
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 suzuki esteem. The contact occasionally heard a loud noise from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the shielding needed to be replaced around the muffler. The vehicle was repaired however,the failure recurred. The right axle shaft was broken on the subframe which was corroded with extensive rust in addition to the engine cradle cross member. The vehicle was inspected, diagnosed and repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no remedy. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.
Sole owner 2002 suzuki esteem wagon with rotted k-frame and rusted wheels. Suzuki will only cover k-frame part and dealer wants $390. For labor. Are there other suzuki vehicles with reported rotted k-frames?. I've owned this vehicle since april 2002. This vehicle will not pass state inspection due to rotted frame. *Tr
After several misdiagnoses for the same problem with my car going into gears the problem was resolved two months after the car went out of warranty. I was charged to fix the problem which was completely unfair. The first time I brought the car in the service manager said I wasn''t pushing hard enough on the brake. The second time he said it was do to the cold weather. The third time he said that until the car could never get back into gear he was unable to fix it under warranty. The fourth time he fixed a part...
Read the full complaint
and it still had the same problem. The fifth time I took it to another suzuki dealership where they proceeded to tell me that the other dealership did not install the part correctly. Then the sixth time they said it is a different part and fixed it and charged me because it is out of warranty. This problem took one year and one month to fix. The district manager said because it is out of warranty that he would not approve the cost of fixing it. Even thought the problem started after only two years of me owning the car and was clearly back when it was under warranty. The car to this date still doesn''t have 30,000 miles on it.
While driving consumer noticed that smoke was coming from underneath the motorcycle. Consumer pulled over, and motorcycle caught on fire. Consumer extinguished the fire, and had vehicle towed to the dealer. *Ak
The consumer turned the key to the "on" position and the bike's ignition engaged and caused sudden acceleration which resulted in a crash. The consumer indicated that turning the key to the "on" position is only suppose to give the vehicle power. The consumer normally has to hold the clutch lever in and press start button for the motorcycle to engage. The dealer advised that the entire wiring harness has to be replaced. The vehicle is a 2002 suzuki volusia vl800 bk2 motorcycle. *Nlm *tt
Consumer stated that while driving and without warning oil is leaking from the engine causing a distraction to the consumer. Dealer notified. Ts
Model dr200 sek2; the drive chain on the motorcycle came while traveling 3-4 mph. The cause is still unknown with the owner inspecting the chain to make sure the chain operated with manufactures' specification(s). Please describe details. Ts
From new through approximately 2000 miles (when the defective part was replaced), the vehicle would stall abruptly when the throttle was applied from a stand still. This happened six times and each was at an intersection where traffic behind me could have collided with the vehicle and caused serious injury as it is a motorcycle. The selling dealership was contacted and they initially had no service bulletins regarding the possible cause. Repeated attempts to get information from the manufacturer suzuki were...
Read the full complaint
unsuccessful. They logged the complaint with the declaration that they had no reports of such failures and suggested I contact the dealership which I had. The dealer finally got unofficial word that the throttle position sensor may be at fault. It was replaced under warranty and the problem solved. I have spoken with others with the same model motorcycle who experienced similar stalling and they were unsuccessful when they contacted the manufacturer as well. It is my concern that motorcycles are being sold that could stall unexpectedly and without warning causing a serious accident. Even though my bike is fixed, I would like to see the manufacturer take responsibility instead of remaining ignorant. A recent call to their customer service number by a friend revealed they still deny any knowledge of such a problem exists, despite several owners previously reporting directly to them! Dt
Check engine light has come on 6 times and there is no computer code. Gas gauge is inaccurate. *Jb *nlm *****dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis****768037 *ts
Original tire on suzuki, esteem 2002, p18560r14 dot elbodeh340. While traveling at 10 mph on slightlty wet pavement consumer was making a right turn when vehicle began to skid. Vehicle felt like it was going to tip over. Consumer feels there is a defect in tires. *Ak *jg
While traveling another vehicle crossed into consumer's vehicle's lane and hit it. Steering wheel had played into wheel, enabling him to steer.*Ak
Suzuki Esteem: every year compared
All Esteem years2002 Suzuki Esteem vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Suzuki Esteem | 11 | 1 | C | |
| 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 | 67 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara | 53 | 4 | D | Compare |
| 2002 Suzuki Aerio | 19 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 2002 Suzuki GSX1300 | 4 | 0 | D | Compare |
| 2002 Suzuki DL1000 | 3 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 2002 Suzuki DR-Z400S | 1 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2002 Suzuki GS500 | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 2002 Suzuki GSF1200 | 1 | 0 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2002 Suzuki Esteem
Does the 2002 Suzuki Esteem have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2002 Suzuki Esteem: windshield (June 2003). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Suzuki Esteem?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the fuel system (3), wheels & tires (3), engine & cooling (2).
How many complaints has the 2002 Suzuki Esteem had?
11 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on March 25, 2002 and the latest on May 20, 2014. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2002 Suzuki Esteem a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 57 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Suzuki Esteem year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Suzuki Esteem years have the most complaints?
2000 (26), 1998 (24), 2001 (21). See every Suzuki Esteem year compared.
What should I do if my 2002 Suzuki Esteem has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data