What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2006 Suzuki Forenza

No clear pattern

13.3% of complaints about the 2006 Suzuki Forenza arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 2006 vehicle, but with only 422 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is power train (118 complaints), typically at 5.8 yr or about 59,980 miles.

Complaints
422
Median age at failure
5.3 yr
Median mileage
51,850 n=363
Crash / fire / tow
9.7% of reports
Safety recalls
4

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
118 reports · 59,980 mi
5.8 yr
1.7%
Electrical system
57 reports · 71,000 mi
7.0 yr
10.5%
Air bags
56 reports · 40,000 mi
3.8 yr
32.1%
Speed control
29 reports · 70,000 mi
7.1 yr
3.4%
Engine cooling
28 reports · 9,000 mi
1.5 yr
3.6%
Exterior lighting
22 reports · 76,000 mi
7.1 yr
4.5%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

14V262000 2014-05-19
Exterior lighting:headlights

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module which could melt the headlamp switch or the DRL module.

If the heat generated within the headlamp switch or DRL module located on the left side of the steering column melts the headlamp switch or DRL module, there is an increased risk of a fire.

12V397000 2012-08-14
Electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash

Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connect the power circuit wires for the headlamps. This can result in intermittent or total loss of low/high beam headlamp function.

If the headlamps fail to function, this will lead to reduced driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

07V452000 2007-09-25
Exterior lighting

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) FUNCTION MAY BE INOPERATIVE DUE TO A MELTED SPLICE PACK ON THE WIRING HARNESS.

INAPPROPRIATE LIGHTING COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY OF VEHICLES AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

07V315000 2007-07-24
Seat belts:front:buckle assembly

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT SEAT BELT TONGUE WILL NOT LATCH INTO THE BUCKLE AND, IN RARE CASES, EVEN THE LOCKED TONGUE WILL POP OUT BY LOW STRETCHING FORCE. IF THE BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH COMPLETELY, THE BUCKLE COULD RELEASE WITHOUT PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON.

THESE BUCKLE MALFUNCTIONS, WHICH COULD PREVENT A PERSON FROM USING THE SEAT BELT OR COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TO FAIL TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED, CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY IN A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Air bags 20 mi 1 mo in service
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAGS:ON AND OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. A LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT WORKING. THE AIR BAG WILL TURNOFF WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED AT A DEALERSHIP. THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE SWITCH WERE ON ORDER. ALSO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
Air bags 20 mi 1 mo in service
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAGS:ON AND OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. A LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT WORKING. THE AIR BAG WILL TURNOFF WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED AT A DEALERSHIP. THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE SWITCH WERE ON ORDER. ALSO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
Air bags mileage not reported 5 mo in service crash / fire / tow
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA STATION WAGON, ON FEBRUARY 25, 2006 I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHICH SOMEONE RAN INTO MY CAR AND I CRASHED THE CAR/THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I THINK THERE IS A DEFECT IN MY BRAND NEW CAR. I THINK THE AIR BAGS OR AT LEAST THE ONE ON THE DRIVER SIDE SHOULD OF DEPLOYED- THAT IS MY COMPLAINT. *JB
Engine cooling mileage not reported 2 mo in service
5 WEEKS INTO THE PURCHASE OF MY 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA IT MADE A LOUD NOISE SIMILAR TO A BAD EXHAUST. THEN IT STARTED TO STALL WHILE I WAS STOPPED. IT WOULD STALL DURING THE FIRST 10-15 MINUTES OF DRIVING THEN WOULD BE FINE. ON THE THIRD TIME IN SERVICE THEY DECIDED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE, FOR 2 WEEKS. SO FAR THE STALLING HAS NOT OCCURRED BUT THE NOISE HAS COME BACK. *JB

Other Forenza model years

20082007200620052004

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