1999 Suzuki Vitara: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 63 complaints
63
Total Complaints
125,000mi
Median Mileage
SUSPENSION
Top Issue
3
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

85,553 25th Percentile
125,000 Median Mileage
130,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SUSPENSION
9
SUSPENSION:FRONT
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
2
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2

Severity Assessment

3
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"OEM TIRE DESIGN AND SIZE CREATES DANGEROUS HANDLING PERFORMANCE ON SNOW COVERED/ICEY ROADS. VEHICLE PERFORMANCE SUFFERS DRAMACTICALLY DUE TO TIRE DESIGN AND SIZE GIVEN VEHICLE'S WEIGHT. LACK OF CONTACT TRACTION SEVERLY EFFECTS BRAKING AND STEERING CONTROL EVEN AT MUCH LESS THAN REASONABLY SAFE SPEED..."
"DURING SUDDEN STOPS THE BRAKES FADE AND THERE IS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE."
"CONSUMER HEARING A HUMMING NOISE FRON THE AIR CONDITIONING AND IS FEELING VIBRATIONS WHICH MAKE HER FEEL SHE IS LOOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE."

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