RecallRadar

HomeSuzukiGrand Vitara → 2008

2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara Recalls & Complaints

2

open safety recalls on record

Serious

55 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.33 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious19V187000

Seats

In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, an incorrect classification may result in the passenger frontal air bag deploying even if there is a child in the front passenger seat, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy & full details

Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat bottom cushion, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2019. All second letters notifying owners of the remedy were mailed by April 10, 2020. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's numbers for this recall are 4011 and 4012.

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kizashi and 2006-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles. The front passenger leather seat may shrink due to high humidity and high temperature. As a result, the occupant classification system (OCS) sensor mat may not accurately detect if an adult or child is occupying the seat.

Serious13V405000

Air Bags

Air bag deployment with a child in the front passenger side seat raises the risk of injury to that child.

Remedy & full details

Suzuki will notify owners and dealers will replace the front passenger seat cushion assembly (which includes the OCS sensor mat) free of charge. Sufficient quantities of parts are not currently available to fix all of the affected vehicles. Owners will be notified of the recall in October 2013 and will receive a second notification when parts are available to have their vehicle repaired. The recall began on May 23, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's recall campaign number is VD.

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Grand Vitara and 2007-2011 SX4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, over time, the OCS sensor mat installed in the front passenger seat may fail due to repeated flexing of the mat from use of the seat. As a result, during a crash necessitating deployment, the air bag will deploy regardless of whether the front seat occupant is an adult or a child.

Complaint volume

55 this model-year 9 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

3Crashes
0Fires
3Injuries
0Deaths

Across 55 complaints. Severity Index 0.33.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Exterior Lighting18 · 33%Air Bags12 · 22%Electrical System10 · 18%Engine3 · 5%Suspension2 · 4%Exterior Lighting · Headl…2 · 4%Electronic Stability Cont…1Seat Belts1
  1. Exterior Lighting — 18 reports
  2. Air Bags — 12 reports
  3. Electrical System — 10 reports
  4. Engine — 3 reports
  5. Suspension — 2 reports
  6. Exterior Lighting:Headlights — 2 reports
  7. Electronic Stability Control (Esc) — 1 reports
  8. Seat Belts — 1 reports
  9. Service Brakes, Hydraulic — 1 reports
  10. Wheels — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1999 (5) · 2000 (5) · 2001 (6) · 2002 (4) · 2003 (4) · 2004 (2) · 2005 (1) · 2006 (6) · 2007 (3) · 2008 · 2009 (4) · 2010 (5) · 2011 (4) · 2012 (2) · 2013 (2)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.