TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT HAS HAD HER VEHICLE REPAIRED TWICE FOR TWO RECALLS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 01V146000 AND 04V427000); HOWEVER, THE DEFECT STILL OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED. THE CONTACT FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE THE FIRST TWO TIMES TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED, THE DEALER DID NOT RE-ROUTE THE FUEL DELIVERY HOSE WITH THE IMPROVED CLAMP. THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE FAILED WAS ON DECEMBER 31, 2007. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VACUUM HOSE WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY AND THE PSI RELIEF WAS EXTREMELY HIGH. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FLOODED. THE MECHANIC PROPERLY REPAIRED THE DEFECT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED DURING THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MECHANIC HAS RECORDS AND DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED FUEL HOSE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN THE FIRST TWO TIMES FOR THE RECALL REPAIR, IT WAS RECOGNIZED THAT THE FUEL HOSE HAD NOT FAILED AT THAT TIME; HOWEVER,THE RECALL STATED THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY FAIL. SHE RECEIVED THE FIRST RECALL NOTICE IN DECEMBER OF 2001 AND THE SECOND NOTICE IN OCTOBER OF 2004. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART DURING THE SECOND VISIT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS NO LONGER THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,170 (AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST NOTICE) AND 25,325 (AT THE TIME OF THE SECOND NOTICE). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,643.
2007
AIR BAGS
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE WARNING/REMINDER LIGHTS FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. I CALL THE DEALER AND ASK ABOUT ANY RECALLS, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE CAR DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. LAST YEAR, I HAD MY CAR SERVICE AT JACK PHELAN SUZUKI IN COUNTRYSIDE, IL AND INQUIRED ABOUT IT AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THE SAME THING; I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. I RECENTLY RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM SUZUKI ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD REPAIR AT NO COST TO ME, PROVIDED THAT THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD OR LESS THAN 120,000 MILES. MY CAR HAS 155,00 MILES. I CALLED AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD MAKE AN EXCEPTION AND WAS TOLD NO. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AND THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND NOW ARE REFUSING TO FIX IT. I THINK THEY SHOULD REPAIR IT, AS THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE FROM OTHER OWNERS BESIDES MYSELF. I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO GO TO FOR HELP AND WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THIS. *TR