2008 Suzuki SX4: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 101 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (61% of complaints); the 2009 and 2010 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Sep 2013
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 101 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“I have a yellow light and and red airbag light on I already toke to the dealer and it's still the same and now the engine started knocking and the dealer in our area move nowhere to be found what can I do or where can I take it to get check”Owner report · Engine · Apr 2016
“At a cold start there was a loud clicking noise I was told by two master mechanics to see if I still had a warranty because they said it was the timing chain and tensioners so I took it to the suzuki dealer (brown daub) which told me that was normal I called the garage I usually go to and they think it is the timing chain and tensioners they will be letting me know this week what the problem is plus suzuki washed their hands of it plus the noise is only getting louder.”Owner report · Power Train · May 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2008 suzuki sx4. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 13v405000 (air bags) and stated that the parts needed for the repair were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2015
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl*the contact owns a 2008 suzuki sx4. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced due to internal damage. The vehicle was not repaired. On a second occasion, the vehicle stalled and was able to restart. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2015
“No incident. Need help where to take vehicle for safety recall (passenger seat cushion) and I do not know where to call to. No dealer nearby -live on an island in alaska. Please contact me by email. Will need at least a week off work and more than $1,000.00 to get to dealer and back. Will have to put car and myself on a ferry- 3 days one way. What is possibility of sending new parts with instructions to a mechanic here to do the work on behalf of suzuki - the one where I usually I take my car for check ups? *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2015
“I was on a main road going south a man run a stop sign hit me on drivers side door my neck was broken, and back permently messed up , my daughter on passenger side it jam her hip's, the side air bags did not come out only front ones did and the one on the steering wheel shattered as it came out and the switch uner the steering wheel shorted out almost caught on fire, I have pictures this needs too be investigated I have tried and tried no one will listen I hope you do”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2014
“I was involved in a car crash another car t=bone me on driver's side the air bag on steering wheel and passenger side did come out but they shredded and had some kind of shortage from under them that smoked like they were fixing to get on fire, also the airbag over the driver side door did not come out, we were injured from the crash I was seriously injured from the impact but scares me that the car could of caught on fire from the shortage some one needs too check on the make and models of these car before someone else has a wreck and gets seriously injured. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2014
“Air bag warning lights for both the driver and front passenger lit up and remain always on, regardless of whether a person is seated in the passenger seat or not. Both the driver side and passenger side airbag lights remain on and do not turn off. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 2008 suzuki sx4. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 13v405000 (air bags). The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under the recall due to the state where the vehicle was purchased. The dealer advised that the vehicle be taken to the state it was purchased for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was not available. ....updated 07/22/15 *bf updated 10/2/2017*cn”Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2014
“Trying to get vehicle inspected and the inspection guy informed that there is a probably leak in the exhaust system causing loud noise. The noise could be heard in the car even when not hit heavy on the gas pedal. Although the vehicle is reasonable old, for 50k miles such breakage is exhaust is not expected. This could be a result of faulty equipment or misfitting. Basically I need to get it fixed before it can pass state inspection.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2014
When filing, owners marked a crash in 10 of these complaints and injuries in 9 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Grand Vitara and 2007-2011 SX4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, over time, the OCS sensor mat installed in the front passenger seat may fail due to repeated flexing of the mat from use of the seat. As a result, during a crash necessitating deployment, the air bag will deploy regardless of whether the front seat occupant is an adult or a child.
Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners and dealers will replace the front passenger seat cushion assembly (which includes the OCS sensor mat) free of charge. Sufficient quantities of parts are not currently available to fix all of the affected vehicles. Owners will be notified of the recall in October 2013 and will receive a second notification when parts are available to have their vehicle repaired. The recall began on May 23, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's recall campaign number is VD.
SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 SX4, 2010 GRAND VITARA, AND 2009 THROUGH 2010 EQUATOR VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750, 760, AND 765 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
Remedy: SUZUKI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR SUZUKI AT 1-887-697-8985. OWNERS MAY ALSO VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 SX4 HATCHBACK AND MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 SX4 HATCHBACK AND SEDAN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE THREE SCREWS THAT SECURE EACH OF THE OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS TO THE MIRROR BASE CAN COME LOOSE DUE TO VIBRATION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BASE SCREWS ON BOTH OUTER REAR VIEW MIRRORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 5, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-887-697-8985 OR VISIT SUZUKI'S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SUZUKIAUTO.COM.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2008 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact SX4 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Suzuki SX4 reliable?
NHTSA has 101 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2008 Suzuki SX4. The most complained-about area is air bags (61% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2008 Suzuki SX4 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 50,000 miles or less.
Does the 2008 Suzuki SX4 have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.