"How reliable is the 2001 Suzuki Esteem?"

"Based on 24 NHTSA complaints, the 2001 Suzuki Esteem has a median complaint mileage of 123000 miles. The most common issue is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS."

"What are common problems with the 2001 Suzuki Esteem?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2001 Suzuki Esteem is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, accounting for a significant portion of the 24 total complaints filed."

2001 Suzuki Esteem: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 24 complaints

Total Complaints

123,000mi

Median Mileage

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

60,000 25th Percentile

123,000 Median Mileage

144,400 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

SUSPENSION

SUSPENSION:FRONT

STRUCTURE:BODY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TIRES

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"VEHICLE PURCHASED WITH YOKOHAMA A460 P195/55R15 TIRES. IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS VEHICLE SKIDS WHEN MAKING A TURN, IN RAIN IT SLIDES. YOKOHAMA REPRESENTATIVE STATED THIS TYPE TIRE WILL CAUSE THESE PROBLEMS IN 50 AND BELOW DEGREE WEATHER.*AK DOT # FD8NNHB1700, YOKOHAMA ADVEN A-460 TIRES. *SLC"

"WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DIED. VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. THIS WAS SECOND TIME THAT PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED WHEN DRIVER LIFTED HOOD AND JIGGLED MASTER CONTROL FUSE (80 AMP) COME LOOSE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP.*AK"

"WHILE ENTERING A RAMP CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO SLOWDOWN AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. CONSUMER HAD TO RUN CAR UP ON CONCRETE TO STOP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT BRAKES FELT SMUSHY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK"

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