1988 SUZUKI SAMURAI — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
21
Owner Complaints
1
Recall
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1988 SUZUKI SAMURAI
The 1988 SUZUKI SAMURAI has received a total of 21 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There has been 1 recall campaign affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. The most commonly reported problems involve the Seat Beltsfrontbuckle Assembly (5 complaints), Seat Beltsfrontretractor (5 complaints), and Tirestreadbelt (2 complaints).
Recalls for the 1988 SUZUKI SAMURAI
NHTSA has recorded 1 recall for the 1988 SUZUKI SAMURAI, potentially affecting up to 127,155 vehicles.
Recall 95V103008 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
| 127,155 vehicles affected
Defect: THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1988 SUZUKI SAMURAI
21 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1988 SUZUKI SAMURAI. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Beltsfrontbuckle Assembly | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat Beltsfrontretractor | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tirestreadbelt | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingengine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainautomatic Transmissiongear Position Indication Prndl | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Beltsfrontwebbing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seatsfront Assemblyrecliner | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebodydoor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structureframe And Members | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspensionfront | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
BRIDGESTONE, P205/70R15, DOT UNKNOWN, REPLACEMENT TIRE, MILAGE UNKNOWN ON A 1988, SUZUKI, SAMURAI. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HEARD A NOISE. THEN, VEHICLE STARTED TO FISHTAIL, SPUN AROUND 180 DEGREES AND HIT A TREE. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN. NO INJURIES. REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION, A 2 1/2 FEET LONG PIECE OF TREAD CAME OFF, TIRE WAS NOT FLAT. *AK TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE, CONVERTIBLE TOP AND REAR TIRE, DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK/NECK PAIN. NLM
TREAD SEPERATED (TIRESIZE: P205/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/75R15 )
THE POOR DESIGN OF THE DOOR HANDLES RESULTED IN THREE BROKEN HANDLES (TWO INSIDE AND ONE OUTSIDE).
TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT RETAINING BOLT SNAPPED OFF TWICE. *AK
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTOR WILL NOT RETRACT THE BELT, AND WILL NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER IN CASE OF A VEHICLE COLLISION. *AK
Safety Rating for the 1988 SUZUKI SAMURAI
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1988 SUZUKI SAMURAI in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1988 SUZUKI SAMURAI
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1988 SUZUKI SAMURAI
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the SUZUKI SAMURAI
- 1986 SUZUKI SAMURAI — 5 complaints
- 1987 SUZUKI SAMURAI — 6 complaints
- 1988 SUZUKI SAMURAI (current)
- 1989 SUZUKI SAMURAI — 2 complaints
- 1990 SUZUKI SAMURAI — 2 complaints
- 1991 SUZUKI SAMURAI — 3 complaints
- 1992 SUZUKI SAMURAI — 6 complaints
Other SUZUKI Models
- SUZUKI FORENZA — 1,360 total complaints
- SUZUKI GRAND VITARA — 878 total complaints
- SUZUKI SX4 — 427 total complaints
- SUZUKI VERONA — 339 total complaints
- SUZUKI XL7 — 332 total complaints
- SUZUKI SIDEKICK — 298 total complaints
- SUZUKI RENO — 261 total complaints
- SUZUKI XL-7 — 219 total complaints