NHTSA Complaint #10406896 — 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA

PURCHASED A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA ON 9/8/2008. ACCELERATION CONCERNS, A RINGING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR-BAG NOTIFICATION LIGHT WAS REPORTED 9/16/08. TOLD BY PHONE THE CAR WAS NEW AND WOULD NEED TO BE DRIVEN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO WARN UP. 9/16/08 RINGING NOISE WAS LOUDER HAD ACCELERATION CONCERNS, TIMING COVER HAD MELTED DUE TO FRICTION FROM THE BELTS SLIDING. INVOICE REFLECTS ELECTRICAL BODY WORK AS SUCH: ' SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT NOT ON TENSION ON WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR UNDER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGERS SEAT COULD CAUSE HIGH RESISTANCE - RELOCATE BOTH HARNESS AND SECURE THEM." 10/27/08 REPORTED TAPPING NOISE AT ENGINE WHEN STARTING CAR, ACCELERATION WAS DRAGGING AND AIR BAG LIGHT. INVOICE FINDINGS - NO PROBLEM FOUND - TOLD NOT TO EXPECT PERFORMANCE ON ACCELERATION. 1/17/09 (CAR RELEASED 1/23/09) SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATES IT IS OFF, CRUISE CONTROL DROPPING, TRANSMISSION NOT ACCELERATING, ENGINE RUNNING LOUD UNTIL WARMED UP: RESOLUTION - TIMING COVER REPLACED OTHER ISSUES FOUND TO BE WORKING TO FACTORY SPECS. 6/18/2009 -ACCELERATION IS SLOW, CAR DOWNSHIFTING AT HIGH SPEEDS, TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING WELL WHILE COASTING, MUST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO SWITCH INTO GEAR: RESOLUTION - SUZUKI HELPDESK TICKET 175996598 SUGGESTED TO RE-INITIALIZE TCM (TRANSMISSION SWITCH). 10/1/09 - SAME ISSUE AS 6/19/09 - REVVING HIGHER AND LOUD IN COLD AND DAMP WEATHER TOLD NO NEW INFO: ISSUE SEEMED TO SUBSIDE ' NO WORK DONE TO MY KNOWLEDGE. 12/30/09 SAME ISSUES AS 6/19 & 10/1 TIMING COVER ADJUSTED TOLD ACCELERATION WAS NORMAL. FIX FOR TIMING COVER JANUARY 5, 2010. 8/1/10 & 10/26/10 TAKEN IN FOR ACCELERATION & MAINT. AFTER NEAR ACCIDENTS AND PROBLEMS DRIVING BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 15 AND 60 MPH: NOTHING ADDRESSED. 1/4/11 - TRANSMISSION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY A DIFFERENT SUZUKI CENTER. TOLD TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE CAN GO OUT. ACCELERATION ISSUES HAVE RETURNED SIDE AIRBAG STILL SHOWS OFF WHEN OCCUPIED BY PERSON 120 PLUS POUNDS. *TR