Menu

2005 Suzuki ForenzaProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 156 owner complaints about the 2005 Suzuki Forenza, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-262 the manufacturer reports only 18% of affected cars repaired.

2005 Suzuki Forenza
52
CarFlaw IndexSolid year8% below the Forenza median · #4 of 5 years by complaints
Safety recalls3Lowest repair rate 18%Owner complaints15619 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage32kAir bags, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 3, 2021. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2005 Suzuki Forenza has problems

156 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags465
Exterior lighting383
Electrical system385
Power train300
Engine and engine cooling131
Engine121
Steering82
Vehicle speed control60
Service brakes, hydraulic41
11 other systems210

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

3 recalls

2005 Suzuki Forenza recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

18%repaired · 2016 Q1

Exterior lighting: headlights

Recall 14V-262 · May 19, 2014 · 184,244 vehicles · 33,333 repaired

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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Wiring: interior/under dash

Recall 12V-397 · Aug 14, 2012 · 101,688 vehicles

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Exterior lighting

Recall 07V-452 · Sep 25, 2007 · 93,963 vehicles

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Suzuki.

Mileage at failure

When do air bags problems start?

32kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 39 air bags complaints. 90% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
18under 30k miles35under 100k miles4100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2005 vs. every other Forenza year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Forenza median. How we score

'04'05'06'07'08
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2005 Suzuki Forenza safety ratings

2005 Suzuki Forenza 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2005 Suzuki Forenza, and the recalls they led to.

  1. HEADLIGHT / DRL MALFUNCTIONPE07039 · closed Oct 2, 2007
    Led to recall 07V-452
In owners' words

What Forenza owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Complaint 10957502 · Feb 28, 2017
I BOUGHT A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THESE CARS ARE SO HAZARDOUS. ON THE SECOND DAY AFTER MY PURCHASE, THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT INTO REVERSE ON THE HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET IT OUT OF REVERSE AND COAST TO THE SHOULDER. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THIS IS AN…
Complaint 10888511 · Jul 25, 2016 · 175,000 miles
THE VEHICLE HAS SUFFERED FROM AN INTERMITTENT AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE PAST 10K MILES BUT AT 110K MILES THE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. I HAVE ATTEMPTED SOME OF THE SUZUKI OWNERS RECOMMENDATIONS OF DISCONNECTING AND THEN RECONNECTING THE CONNECTORS UNDER THE SEATS TO NO AVAIL. THIS APPEARS…
Complaint 10851246 · Mar 23, 2016 · 100,000 miles

Own a 2005 Forenza?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.