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2008 Suzuki Grand VitaraProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 42 owner complaints about the 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara, most often about the exterior lighting. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-187 the manufacturer reports only 13% of affected cars repaired.

2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara
57
CarFlaw IndexSolid year23% below the Grand Vitara median · #7 of 12 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 13%Owner complaints426 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage25kExterior lighting, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 4, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara has problems

42 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
Exterior lighting200
Air bags122
Electrical system100
Engine30
Suspension20
Seats10
Service brakes, hydraulic10
Vehicle speed control10
Wheels10
4 other systems41

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

2 recalls

2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara 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.

13%repaired · 2022 Q1

Sensor: occupant classification

Recall 19V-187 · Mar 7, 2019 · 31,302 vehicles · 4,179 repaired

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, an incorrect classification may result in the passenger frontal air bag deploying even if there is a…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

33%repaired · 2015 Q3

Air bags

Recall 13V-405 · Sep 6, 2013 · 189,901 vehicles · 61,740 repaired

Risk. Air bag deployment with a child in the front passenger side seat increases the risk of injury to that child.

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 exterior lighting problems start?

25kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 20 exterior lighting complaints. 95% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
10under 30k miles19under 100k miles1100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2008 vs. every other Grand Vitara 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 Grand Vitara median. How we score

'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara safety ratings

2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Rollover: 4 stars (18.5% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Occupant Classification System FailurePE13021 · closed Sep 30, 2013
    Led to recall 13V-405
In owners' words

What Grand Vitara owners report

Recent exterior lighting complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

MY SUZUKI GRAND VITARA IS A 2007. BOUGHT NEW. I DIDN'T HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE LIGHTING UNTIL AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT.THEN I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BULBS BURNING OUT, BUT ONLY ONE AT A TIME SEVERAL MONTHS APART. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS. NOW I CARRY SPARE BULBS FOR HIGH AND LOW…
Complaint 11123045 · Aug 28, 2018 · 130,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FAILED AND TURNED OFF, ONE SHORTLY AFTER THE OTHER. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BULBS SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUZUKI OF GREEN BROOK (101 US-22,…
Complaint 10995608 · Jun 16, 2017 · 70,000 miles
BOUGHT THIS USED, BUT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS, HIGH BEAMS, DAY RUNNERS SINCE OWNING THIS GRAND VITARA TOO MANY TIMES. I KNOW I HAVE PURCHASED OVER 15 DIFFERENT LIGHT BULBS AS THEY KEEP BLOWING OUT? WHILE DRIVING, THEY ARE SO DIM AND THEN THEY STOP WORKING.THIS IS A HAZARD AND THESE BULBS…
Complaint 10853328 · Apr 4, 2016 · 56,000 miles

Own a 2008 Grand Vitara?

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