2012 Suzuki SX4
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Suzuki SX4 has 50 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (34% of all complaints), specifically: upon entering an intersection, the power steering failed to operate resulting in a dramatic increase in the force required to maneuver the vehicle. this could have resulted in a collision with other vehicles or pedestrians. *tr. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
50
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.6x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
STEERING
17 complaints- • UPON ENTERING AN INTERSECTION, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE RESULTING IN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE FORCE REQUIRED TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS. *TR
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUZUKI SX4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO SWITCH INTO THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V811000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUZUKI SX4. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT, THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILE
“UPON ENTERING AN INTERSECTION, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE RESULTING IN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE FORCE REQUIRED TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
15 complaints- • I HAVE BRIDGESTONE TIRES ONLY ABOUT 29,500 MILES AND HAVE UNEVEN WEAR ON ALL MY TIRES I HAVE THEM ROTAED AT EVERY 3000 MILES THAT SHOULDN'T BE AND MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE PASSANGER SIDE IS OFF WHEN YOU SIT IN THE SEAT AND ON WHEN NO NONE SITS IN IT TVI TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND T
- • TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUZUKI SX4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CUSHION IN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. NE
- • THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. I AM AFRAID THAT A SENSOR OR CONNECTION MAY CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO EITHER DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING OR NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A SENSITIVE ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED!!! *TR
“I HAVE BRIDGESTONE TIRES ONLY ABOUT 29,500 MILES AND HAVE UNEVEN WEAR ON ALL MY TIRES I HAVE THEM ROTAED AT EVERY 3000 MILES THAT SHOULDN'T BE AND MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE PASSANGER SIDE IS OFF WHEN YOU SIT IN THE SEAT AND ON WHEN NO NONE SITS IN IT TVI TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND T”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
5 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUZUKI SX4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:14V811000 (POWER TRAIN) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE ONLY FIVE PARTS A MONTH BEING RECEIVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUZUKI SX4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO SWITCH INTO THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V811000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING
- • I HAD MY CAR REPAIRED IN A RECALL IN JAN 2015 (ITS CODE IS VL). AFTER ABOUT ONE MONTH I FOUND SOMETIMES IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MOVE THE STICK OUT OF PARK. IT WAS A RANDOM ISSUE SO I DIDN'T TAKE IT SERIOUS AT THAT TIME. RECENTLY THE ISSUE HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY. I CALLED SUZUKI CUSTOMER SERVICE ON MA
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUZUKI SX4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:14V811000 (POWER TRAIN) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE ONLY FIVE PARTS A MONTH BEING RECEIVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SEATS/RESTRAINTS
3 complaints- • THE SUN MELTED MY SEAT AND SHIFTER AREA HERE IN FLORIDA. I IN FORM SUZUKI CORP. BUT THEY REFUSE TO REPLY TO THE ISSUE EVEN AFTER SUBMITTING PHOTOS AND GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP . I AM ALSO VERY CONCERN ABOUT FIRE STARTING IN THE CAR AS THE SUN MELTED THE INSIDE COULD AS WELL START A FIRE. THE CAR IS U
- • THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR HAS FAILED TO REGISTER A PASSENGER AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMPUTER. THIS WILL CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY AND CAN SERIOUSLY INJURE THE PASSENGER. SUZUKI WAS NOTIFIED AND REFUSES TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. INSTEAD THEY WANT OVER $2000 FOR A NEW SEAT. YEARS 2007 - 2011 H
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUZUKI SX4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SARASOTA MITSUBISHI (6826 S TAMIAMI TRAIL, SARASOTA, FL 34231) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BOTTOM MALFUNCTION.
“THE SUN MELTED MY SEAT AND SHIFTER AREA HERE IN FLORIDA. I IN FORM SUZUKI CORP. BUT THEY REFUSE TO REPLY TO THE ISSUE EVEN AFTER SUBMITTING PHOTOS AND GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP . I AM ALSO VERY CONCERN ABOUT FIRE STARTING IN THE CAR AS THE SUN MELTED THE INSIDE COULD AS WELL START A FIRE. THE CAR IS U”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
2 complaints- • WHILE BRAKING TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, THE ENGINE SURGED RADICALLY AND COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. THE CAR COASTED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BEFORE VIOLENTLY JOLTING TO A STOP BEFORE HITTING THE CURB. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOLID AS A ROCK WHILE APPLYING. THIS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME TWO DAYS LATER.
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUZUKI SX4. THE CONTACT CALLED NHTSA REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V587000 (STEERING). WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE STARTED TO RATTLE UNCONTROLLABLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE
“WHILE BRAKING TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, THE ENGINE SURGED RADICALLY AND COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. THE CAR COASTED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BEFORE VIOLENTLY JOLTING TO A STOP BEFORE HITTING THE CURB. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOLID AS A ROCK WHILE APPLYING. THIS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME TWO DAYS LATER. ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 50 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: UPON ENTERING AN INTERSECTION, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE RESULTING IN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE FORCE REQUIRED TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: I HAVE BRIDGESTONE TIRES ONLY ABOUT 29,500 MILES AND HAVE UNEVEN WEAR ON ALL MY TIRES I HAVE THEM ROTAED AT EVERY 3000 MILES THAT SHOULDN'T BE AND MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE PASSANGER SIDE IS OFF WHEN YOU SIT IN THE SEAT AND ON WHEN NO NONE SITS IN IT TVI TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUZUKI SX4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:14V811000 (POWER TRAIN) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE ONLY FIVE PARTS A MONTH BEING RECEIVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SEATS/RESTRAINTS: THE SUN MELTED MY SEAT AND SHIFTER AREA HERE IN FLORIDA. I IN FORM SUZUKI CORP. BUT THEY REFUSE TO REPLY TO THE ISSUE EVEN AFTER SUBMITTING PHOTOS AND GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP . I AM ALSO VERY CONCERN ABOUT FIRE STARTING IN THE CAR AS THE SUN MELTED THE INSIDE COULD AS WELL START A FIRE. THE CAR IS U
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Suzuki SX4 — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 50
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 2
- Injury reports
- 2
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Suzuki SX4