1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
81
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
1
Service Bulletin
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK
The 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK has received a total of 81 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SUSPENSION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by Suzuki Motor USA, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Suspension (7 complaints), Power Trainclutch Assembly (5 complaints), and Air Bagsfrontal (4 complaints).
Recalls for the 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK, potentially affecting up to 17,786 vehicles.
Recall 00V008000 — SUSPENSION
| 13,461 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH OF THE MOUNTING BASE ON THE UPPER END OF THE FRONT STRUTS CAN LEAD TO BREAKAGE OF THE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE UPPER END OF THE FRONT STRUTS TO THE VEHICLE BODY.
Consequence: IF THE STRUT BROKE LOOSE, A DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A REINFORCEMENT, FOR BOTH FRONT STRUTS, BETWEEN THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTING BASE AND THE VEHICLE BODY. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTING BASES, MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUTS, AND STRUT BAR STAYS WILL BE REPLACED.
View full details →Recall 96V121002 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
| 4,325 vehicles affected
Defect: THE FUEL TANK ON THESE VEHICLES CAN BECOME PUNCTURED BY A FUEL TANK FLANGE ATTACHMENT REINFORCEMENT DURING REAR-END COLLISIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL TANK INTEGRITY."
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTING FROM THIS PUNCTURE COULD RESULT IN A POST-CRASH FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO NEW SHIELD GUSSETS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND ATTACHMENT BRACKETS TO PREVENT THE REINFORCEMENT FROM PUNCTURING THE FUEL TANK WALL.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK
81 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
CLUTCH PEDAL SEPARATES FROM PIVOT SHAFT. WELD BRAKES, PEDAL DETACHES, VEHICLE DISABLED. THIRD OCCURRENCE. OEM PEDAL REPLACEMENT REVEALS NO-WARRANTY, COMMON OCCURRENCE FAILURE MODE. PEDAL RE-ATTACHED TO SHAFT BY PROFESSIONAL WELDERS ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCURRENCES. HAVE REPLACED CLUTCH CABLE, CLUTCH PLATE & THROWOUT BEARING WITHOUT RESOLUTION. HYDRAULIC REPLACEMENT INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS. *TR
CLUTCH PEDAL SEPARATES FROM PIVOT SHAFT. WELD BRAKES, PEDAL DETACHES, VEHICLE DISABLED. THIRD OCCURRENCE. OEM PEDAL REPLACEMENT REVEALS NO-WARRANTY, COMMON OCCURRENCE FAILURE MODE. PEDAL RE-ATTACHED TO SHAFT BY PROFESSIONAL WELDERS ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCURRENCES. HAVE REPLACED CLUTCH CABLE, CLUTCH PLATE & THROWOUT BEARING WITHOUT RESOLUTION. HYDRAULIC REPLACEMENT INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS. *TR
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT ON AN ICY AFTERNOON HE PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH AND HIT THE UTILITY POLE, AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG POPPED AND BURST INTO FLAMES IN THE CENTER OF THE BAG. A NEIGHBOR SAW WHAT HAPPENED ,CAME OVER, OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR, AND BEAT THE FLAMES UNTIL THE FIRE WAS OUT. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND FORCED THE CONTACT LEFT HAND TO GO THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WHICH SHATTER,ED,AND CAUSED CONTUSIONS TO HIS KNUCKLES. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE POLICE AND THERE WAS REPORT. THE OFFICER COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE AIRBAGS COULD HAVE DEPLOYED BECAUSE THE UTILITY POLE HAD NO DAMAGE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID RECEIVE A DING. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AVAILABLE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE UTILITY POLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76000.*AK UPDATED 03/19/07.*JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT HER VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. SHE STATES THAT SHE GOT INTO HER VEHICLE AND INSERTED THE KEY. SHE SAID THAT WHEN SHE TURNED THE KEY, IT SOUNDED AS IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. SHE STATES SHE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, WAITED AND THEN TURNED THE IGNITION ON AGAIN, THEN SHE SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE, THEN THERE WAS FIRE. SHE SAID HER HUSBAND AND THE NEIGHBOR PUT THE FIRE OUT. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE SHE HAD AN ELECTRICAL FIRE . SHE SAID SHE HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW/USED MOTOR. SHE SAID SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED. *JB
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS NHTSA RECALL 96-V-121-002 RELATED TO THE FUEL TANK. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM
Safety Rating for the 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
97010104187A — STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
MODIFICATION OF POWER STEERING PUMP SERVICE PROCEDURES. *YC
NHTSA Investigations for the 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the SUZUKI SIDEKICK
- 1991 SUZUKI SIDEKICK — 16 complaints
- 1992 SUZUKI SIDEKICK — 11 complaints
- 1993 SUZUKI SIDEKICK — 14 complaints
- 1994 SUZUKI SIDEKICK — 32 complaints
- 1995 SUZUKI SIDEKICK — 29 complaints
- 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK (current)
- 1997 SUZUKI SIDEKICK — 52 complaints
- 1998 SUZUKI SIDEKICK — 41 complaints
- 2000 SUZUKI SIDEKICK — 1 complaint
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 RENO — 261 total complaints
- SUZUKI XL-7 — 219 total complaints
- SUZUKI ESTEEM — 191 total complaints