NHTSA Complaint #10213719 — 2000 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT HAS HAD HER VEHICLE REPAIRED TWICE FOR TWO RECALLS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 01V146000 AND 04V427000); HOWEVER, THE DEFECT STILL OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED. THE CONTACT FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE THE FIRST TWO TIMES TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED, THE DEALER DID NOT RE-ROUTE THE FUEL DELIVERY HOSE WITH THE IMPROVED CLAMP. THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE FAILED WAS ON DECEMBER 31, 2007. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VACUUM HOSE WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY AND THE PSI RELIEF WAS EXTREMELY HIGH. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FLOODED. THE MECHANIC PROPERLY REPAIRED THE DEFECT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED DURING THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MECHANIC HAS RECORDS AND DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED FUEL HOSE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN THE FIRST TWO TIMES FOR THE RECALL REPAIR, IT WAS RECOGNIZED THAT THE FUEL HOSE HAD NOT FAILED AT THAT TIME; HOWEVER,THE RECALL STATED THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY FAIL. SHE RECEIVED THE FIRST RECALL NOTICE IN DECEMBER OF 2001 AND THE SECOND NOTICE IN OCTOBER OF 2004. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART DURING THE SECOND VISIT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS NO LONGER THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,170 (AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST NOTICE) AND 25,325 (AT THE TIME OF THE SECOND NOTICE). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,643.