THERE IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE 2006, 2007 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE POWER STEERING TENSIONER, DUE TO ITS DEFECTIVE DESIGN, CAN FALL APART AT ANYTIME. THAT PARTICULAR PART HAS SINCE BEEN REDESIGNED, DUE TO MANY FAILURES, AND THE NEW PART SUBSEQUENTLY UTILIZED IN THE LATER MODELS OF THAT VEHICLE. HOWEVER, NO ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE BY SUZUKI TO RECALL THE VEHICLE OR INFORM IT'S OWNERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE POWER STEERING TENSIONER BREAKS APART, THE POWER STEERING IS IMMEDIATELY DISABLED AND THE DRIVER IS FACED WITH A VERY SUDDEN, SEVERE INCREASE IN EFFORT, REQUIRED TO STEER THE VEHICLE. MANY PEOPLE WOULD PANIC IN THAT SITUATION AND COULD VERY LIKELY HAVE A COLLISION. AS SOON AS I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, HE IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND HAD ME BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS. THE REPAIR MANAGER MENTIONED TO ME THAT HE HAD AT LEAST 20 FAILURES OF THAT COMPONENT OCCUR WITHIN THE PAST TWO YEARS. I CALLED SUZUKI, BUT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR COST NOR EVEN GIVE THE SLIGHTEST HINT OF WANTING TO RECALL THAT MODEL & YEAR VEHICLE. FYI, THE ORIGINAL TENSIONER CONSISTED OF A METAL PULLEY WHEEL WHICH HAD A PLASTIC ?U? SHAPED RIM MOLDED ONTO THE OUTSIDE OF THE PULLEY. THE FUNCTION OF THE PLASTIC RIM IS TO HOLD THE POWER STEERING BELT IN PLACE. THE FAILURES THAT HAVE OCCURRED ARE DUE TO THE PLASTIC RIM FALLING OFF OF THE PULLEY (DUE TO DETERIORATION OR FATIGUE), LOOSENING THE BELT AND THUS NO LONGER TURNING THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE NEW COMPONENT IS NOW DESIGNED AS ONE PIECE AND IS ALL METAL. *TR
2007
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE SWAY BUSHINGS ON HER FRONT AND REAR TIRES. ALL FOUR TIRES ON HER VEHICLE BECAME WORN AT 20,000 MILES AND THE REPAIR TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE AIR PRESSURE INDICATOR CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE ON THE TIRES. THE AIR BAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REMAINS ILLUMINATED AND DOES NOT DIM. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING MORE THAN 40 MPH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. U PDATED 04/24/09. *LJ THE LATCH ON THE BACK DOOR WAS LOOSE. UPDATED 04/29/09.*JB
