1999 Suzuki Esteem: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 31 complaints
31
Total Complaints
114,990mi
Median Mileage
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Top Issue
7
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

76,399 25th Percentile
114,990 Median Mileage
134,750 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
3
SUSPENSION:FRONT
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
2
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1

Severity Assessment

7
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"HAD RESISTANT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HAD SHIFTED INTO DRIVE & TAPPED ACCELERATOR PEDAL & IT BECAME STUCK. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INSIDE THE GARAGE & HIT A PILLAR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. NO INJURIES. *AK"
"HAD RESISTANT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HAD SHIFTED INTO DRIVE & TAPPED ACCELERATOR PEDAL & IT BECAME STUCK. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INSIDE THE GARAGE & HIT A PILLAR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. NO INJURIES. *AK"
"WE BOUGHT THE CAR ON JUNE 13, 1999 AND AFTER TWO WEEKS NOTICED DROPS OF OIL IN DRIVEWAY, THE PROBLEM WASN'T VERY NOTICEABLE AT FIRST THAN AROUND 5 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VECHICLE NOTICED MORE OIL BUT BIGGER DROPS AND UNDER THE HOOD OIL THAT HAD BEEN SPRAYING OVER THE ENGINE. WE TOOK THE VECHICLE..."

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