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2004 Suzuki Forenza Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 63 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Suzuki Forenza, most often about the lights (25% of complaints, typically around 86,000 miles). It is 5th of 5 Forenza model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2004 Suzuki Forenza problems
Lights
16 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 86,000 miles. Parts named most often: brake lights, turn signal, headlights.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Suzuki Forenza. The light switch on the front driver side began smoking when it was turned on. The steering sustained burns. On november 20, 2007, the vehicle remained at the dealer for three weeks. She retrieved the vehicle on december 15, 2007 and returned to the dealer the following day.…
I have a 2004 Suzuki Forenza and took it in for a safety recall on the low beam headlights and daytime running lights. The dealership did the recall but said the wires were burnt so bad that it affected the high beam side. Now that the recall has been performed, none of the lights work creating a bigger safety hazard…
Engine
14 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 40,500 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system.
The contact owns a 2004 Suzuki Forenza. The contact stated that the engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the diagnosis was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,520. The VIN was not available.
Our car keeps cutting off while driving. It has been into a Suzuki dealership 4 times and is now in for a 5th time (all in 2 months). It has cut off in an intersection, which was very dangerous.
Electrical
10 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, instrument cluster/panel.
The contact owns a 2004 Suzuki Forenza. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The technician replaced the starter, battery, and inspected the alternator; however, the failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was made aware of the…
Car has trouble starting and check engine light comes on intermittently. July 2007 took car in with 'hard start" problem. They found resonator assembly needed replacing. That repair was done on august 3, 2007. Car ran for approx. 2 months and we took it back in october with the check engine light on and the same "hard…
Air bags
6 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: frontal.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Suzuki Forenza. While driving 45 MPH, the contact crashed into the side of another vehicle. The vehicle sustained moderate damages and none of the air bags deployed. She called the dealer to determine the cause of the failure, but was referred to her insurance agency. The contact has a copy of…
Transmission
6 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: automatic transmission, clutch assembly.
While driving 65 MPH consmer heard a knocking noise coming from the engine. Also, it was hard to down shift the gears. Dealership was notifed, but did not resolve the problem.
Car has trouble starting and check engine light comes on intermittently. July 2007 took car in with 'hard start" problem. They found resonator assembly needed replacing. That repair was done on august 3, 2007. Car ran for approx. 2 months and we took it back in october with the check engine light on and the same "hard…
Wheels and tires
5 complaints · 8%Tires of new Suzuki Forenza wore prematurely. Car hydroplaned on a night when it was drizzling at a speed of approx 35 MPH during light braking into a shallow corner. This resulted in the car leaving the roadway out of control and overturning. Driver was shaken but apparently uninjured although is under care of a…
The contact owns a 2004 Suzuki Forenza. The contact stated that the tires deflated frequently. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wheels needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired and the failure recurred. The approximate…
Body and structure
5 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: body.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Suzuki Forenza. A 10 month old baby was able to remove the cover for the door screw. The cover was located under the handle. The baby was not restrained in a child seat and had the cover in his mouth. The dealer stated that the covers were designed to pop off. The current and failure mileages…
The contact owns a 2004 Suzuki Forenza. While exiting the vehicle, the contact reached for the front driver side door handle and it detached in its entirety. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 52,000.
Speed control
5 complaints · 8%Car accelerates on its own when it does brakes don,t work acts like anti lock bad has just hard pedal car will accelerate until it decides to stop last time up to 105 MPH for about 20 miles it has happened twice on high way 3-4 times in city took car to dealer they said it could be trans control module or engine…
The contact owns a 2004 Suzuki Forenza. The contact stated that while traveling 45 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated to 80 MPH before the contact was able to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that once the vehicle approached an incline, she was able to shift into neutral and engage the emergency brake to stop…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Suzuki Forenza recalls
Lights: headlights
Risk: 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.
Fix: Suzuki will replace the signal switch and add a jumper relay kit and will replace the drl module in teh instrument panel harness. Suzuki distributed to owners an interim letter on july 30, 2014. The recall began october 29, 2014. Owners may contact suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is xa.
Full defect summary
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.
Lights: headlights
Risk: If the headlamps fail to function, this will lead to reduced driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and suzuki dealers will reconnect the affected wires with two heat-shrink crimps, free of charge. The safety recall began on september 25, 2012. Owners may contact suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.
Full defect summary
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.
Lights: exterior lighting
Risk: Inappropriate lighting could reduce visibility of vehicles and increase the potential for a crash.
Fix: Dealers will splice the power circuit wires for the low-beam headlamps and drl free of charge. The recall will be mailed in three phases, starting at the end of october 2007 and concluding by the end of january 2008;. Owners may contact suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.
Full defect summary
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.
Lights: switch
Risk: If the brake lights remain on continuously while driving,a following driver may not know when your brakes have been applied, and a rear-end crash could occur without prior warning. This condition may also discharge the vehicle's battery, and, the automatic transmission torque converter clutch, cruise control and traction control system, if equipped, will become disabled.
Fix: Dealers will replace the brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on march 16, 2005. Owners may contact suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the brake light switch may become misadjusted if an upward/rearward force is applied to the brake pedal. If this should occur, the brake light switch will not function properly, causing the brake lights, including the high mounted stop lamp, to remain illuminated continuously without brake pedal application, with the ignition switch in the on or off position.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: If the driver's air bag deploys improperly during a frontal vehicle crash, the driver could be severely injured or killed.
Fix: Dealers will install an adapting wiring harness. Owner notification began on october 30, 2003, to verona vehicle owners. All forenza vehicles were repaired at the port of entry. There are no owner notifications necessary for the forenza model vehicles. Owners should contact suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger cars, the dual stage driver's air bag deploys in an improper sequence.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Headlight / drl malfunction
Summary
On september 25, 2007, suzuki notified the agency that it will recall model years 2004 -2006 forenza and reno vehicles to correct a defect that can result in loss of headlight and/or drl function.this recall affects 93,963 vehicles.NHTSA assigned number 07v-452 for this recall.NHTSA's investigation initially focused on 2005 forenzas, then expanded it to 2004-2005 forenzas (total of 58,448 vehicles). Suzuki broadened the recall scope to cover 2004-2006 forenzas & renos (93,963 vehicles).the wiring harness behind the instrument panel contains a splice pack to connect the power circuit wires for low-beam headlamps and daytime running lamps (drl).increased resistance due to poor contact between
Questions about the 2004 Suzuki Forenza
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Suzuki Forenza?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: lights (16 complaints, typically around 86,000 miles); engine (14 complaints, typically around 40,500 miles); electrical (10 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Suzuki Forenza have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 19, 2014 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Suzuki Forenza?
- It is 5th of 5 Forenza model years by number of complaints, with 63 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.