"How reliable is the 1997 Suzuki Sidekick?"

"Based on 52 NHTSA complaints, the 1997 Suzuki Sidekick has a median complaint mileage of 0 miles. The most common issue is SUSPENSION."

"What are common problems with the 1997 Suzuki Sidekick?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Suzuki Sidekick is SUSPENSION, accounting for a significant portion of the 52 total complaints filed."

1997 Suzuki Sidekick: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 52 complaints

Total Complaints

SUSPENSION

Top Issue

Crash Reports

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SUSPENSION

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

SUSPENSION:FRONT

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"AFTER A LONG TRIP OR AFTER USING (4) WHEEL DRIVE THE ENGINE QUITS UNLESS YOU KEEP THE ACCELERATOR PRESSED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE PURCHASING IN OCTOBER OF 1996 AT 1500 MILES AND 4400. *AK"

"WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED IMPROPER IDLING, ALMOST STALLED, BUT DIDN'T. ALSO VEHICLE SHUTTERED/VIBRATED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *AK"

"ONE FOOT ABOVE GAS PEDAL, CHAIN LINKAGE WRAPPED AROUND ITSELF CAUSING GAS PEDAL TO STAY DOWN AT FULL THROTTLE, LINKAGE WAS WRAPPED OVER TRIANGLE PIECE IN WHICH THE CHAIN ATTACHES TO. *SLC"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28