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Engine & cooling

Suzuki Forenza Engine problems by year

154 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Suzuki Forenza's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Engine complaints by model year

YearEngine complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
200829100
200744000
200642110
200525020
200414000

Latest Forenza engine complaints

2008 Suzuki ForenzaTransmission & drivetrainLightsEngine & cooling

I bought the car from a dealership mccann car lot in sparta nc mccann told me it was the best car on the lot he drove me through town telling me there was no problem with the car then let me drive it a short distance insured me the car was in perfect condition when I drove the car home after we went to get inspected which nothing was checked junior mccann told them nothing was wrong the driver side headlight melted the cover now can't drive the car because the heater smells so bad I got sick from inhaled the odor I...

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reported this to junior mccann his reply was I was smelling something he didn't smell my husband also smelled the odor and got bad headache he never once said there was a recall on this car

Filed Incident Power train · Exterior lighting · EngineNHTSA 11208565
2005 Suzuki ForenzaTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 suzuki forenza. When the contact parked the vehicle and removed the key from the ignition it is hot, the vehicle would slip out of park. The vehicle was taken to america's motor sports (930 8th ave s, nashville, tn 37203, (615) 834-8990) for repairs. After the repair, the key became hot whenever it was removed from the ignition. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but was not diagnosed due to the cost. The vehicle was not repaired again. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage and vin were unknown. *Tt*jb

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11204011
2008 Suzuki ForenzaEngine & cooling

"Takata recall" gear shift keeps slipping and maybe the cause of needing a new transmission. Had to turn car off in middle of traffic because gear slipped. When car was in drive a symbol popped up with a d with a line though it! Took it to o'reilly and put it on machine about 3weeks after the first time it happened and it read some codes about gear and transmission and an employee there said gear slipping could have been the cause of all the other problems!

Filed Incident Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11101843
2005 Suzuki ForenzaElectrical systemLightsEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 suzuki forenza. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a complete loss of power while driving through an intersection. The contact stated that the vehicle also experienced an issue with starting. The dealer (germain toyota of naples, 13315 tamiami trail n, naples, fl 34110) was contacted, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The manufacturer was notified. The contact noted that the vehicle operated as intended prior to being repaired per nhtsa campaign numbers: 14v262000 (exterior lighting) and 12v397000 (electrical system, exterior lighting). The failure mileage was approximately 33,000.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · EngineNHTSA 11084775
2007 Suzuki ForenzaEngine & coolingFire

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 suzuki forenza. While driving approximately 25 mph, the driver noticed smoke inside the vehicle without warning. The vehicle was pulled over and the driver called for assistance. The contact arrived at the scene, opened the hood, turned off the relay switch, and allowed the vehicle to cool down. There was no fire report filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (dwayne lane suzuki, 10415 evergreen way, everett, wa, 425-267-9000) where it was diagnosed that the relay switch (which...

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controlled the fan for the heater and the air conditioner) caught fire and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000. The vin was not provided.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11033057
2007 Suzuki ForenzaTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

While driving the car on the highway the light for the engine came on and the car died. After being towed it was determined that the head was blown. After replacing the engine the light remains on and now there is a problem with the transmission. There is supposed to be a defect in a sensor for the transmission that keeps these problems happening in this vehicle.

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11014609
2007 Suzuki ForenzaSteeringTransmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

Power steering replaced, many tires replaced constantly, transmission replaced, timing belt replaced, seat belts replaced, air bags are in recall and need to be replaced, handles replaced, bad paint clippings on outer handles, co2 sensor replaced, headlight switch recalled and replaced, range mod sensor replaced twice, head gasket broken.

Filed Incident Steering · Power train · EngineNHTSA 10991538
2007 Suzuki ForenzaEngine & cooling

My car keeps over heating and it been a problem since I bought the car now I got exhause coming outta the coolant tank.Now the car headers are blown are fried due to a defect in the vehical making I was in motion during the time of the incident when the car started actn up....

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10955568
2004 Suzuki ForenzaSteeringEngine & cooling

I own a 2004 suzuki forenza and this car is a constant problem. It over heats everyone I drive it which is daily. It starts only when the motor is somewhat cool. This cat has left me stranded many times. Like at the moment the car has over heated and I'm pulled off the side of hwy 26 heading to portland. I have taken this cat to my mechanic several times and upon its return within days the car is doing the same thing. The steering is a mess. The car is all over the road I've taken it to lesschwab 4 times gotten...

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two alignments within a 2 month period and still car doesn't drive right. I've replaced the head gasket,,starter,battery,tires, the list goes on and on. This is not ad dependable car. I'm 60 miles from home and wondering how I'm gonna get back home. Thank you suzuki

Filed Incident Steering · EngineNHTSA 10954448
2008 Suzuki ForenzaTransmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

The transmission range sensor on suzuki forenzas and other models has been shoddy at best. My car currently has 65000 miles on it and I have replaced the trs 3 times getting ready to be a 4th. This is not a sensor that should need replaced regularly. I have had the vehicle slip out of gear at speed due to this and can never accelerate when I need to. Im afraid that if I need to accelerate to avoid a collision I wont be able to. This is a safety hazard and nhtsa needs to investigate. They have more then enough complaints to see this is an issue and they need to act before someone gets killed.

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 10910877
2006 Suzuki ForenzaAcceleration & cruise controlEngine & coolingFuel system

Vehicle sporadically stalls while driving, not a stop light or sign but while the car is actively being driven and the accelerator is depressed. Most recently it has begun to rev up between 4,000 and 5,000 rpm. When this happens, I put the car in neutral to try to get it back to normal. 2 Days ago when this happened it caused me to hit a pot hole hard enough to break my driver side ball joint and lower control arm. I see recalls for other, same year model suzukis that experienced this same issue. I don't think I...

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should have to pay to repair a known mechanical defect. There is also an nhtsa id describing this issue as well. It is extremely scary to have the car reving that high and trying to control it. I am thankful that I only hit a pot hole and not another vehicle or worse.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10910619
2006 Suzuki ForenzaEngine & cooling

When putting the car in gear in either reverse or drive, there is a loud thunk and jumping feeling. There will also be an 'x' on the instrument panel next to the 'd' for drive on the shift selector. I have researched what the problem could be and it is the the range transmission sensor, it appears after researching this is a very chronic problem in the suzuki forenza.

Filed Incident Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 10903791
2008 Suzuki ForenzaElectrical systemWheels & tiresEngine & cooling

Car headlight shut of on me while driving down road along with air conditioning and windows they all shut off on me while driving windows would not go down and I had to pull over near the nearest store and cut car off thanks I turned it back on and they all srarted working accept the air that didnt start working again till about thirty mins later car also jumps when pulling out of park in to drive or reverse really hard jump the car headlights also flicker when pressing windows buttons to go down tire sensor light wont go out car also has a hard time accelerating going uphill u have press down all the way on gas for it to go

Filed Incident Electrical system · Wheels · EngineNHTSA 10893886
2005 Suzuki ForenzaTransmission & drivetrainAirbagsEngine & cooling

I bought a 2005 suzuki forenza. I had no idea that these cars are so hazardous. On the second day after my purchase, the car suddenly went into reverse on the highway in rush hour traffic. I was lucky enough to get it out of reverse and coast to the shoulder. I have since found out this is an ongoing defect that, and that there are many more. I also found out that suzuki has been made aware but sits back and does nothing about it. This car has the potential of being deadly and needs to be removed from the market...

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so that people like me aren't forced to drive something so unsafe. I can't afford the costly repairs and I can't sell this car. I am scared to death that in one of the many stalls some one is going to hit me. It should have never been on the market to start with. I am confident that if someone hasn't already been killed because of this defective car that they will be.

Filed Incident Power train · Air bags · EngineNHTSA 10888511

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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