Suzuki Esteem 1998
Model Esteem made in 1998 by Suzuki got 38 consumer complains as well as 4 service bulletins. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to air bags and electrical system. Technical service bulletines regarding electrical system and engine and engine cooling. The car has one 1.6 engine.
Model 1998
| Engine [L] | Cylinders | Transmission | Drive | Estimate MPG (city/highway/combined) | Unadjusted MPG (city/highway/combined) | Fuel | Fuel cost | Class | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 | 4 | Lockup/automatic, 4 gears | F | 27/34/30 | 30.2/43.4/34.9888 | Regular | 624 | SUBCOMPACT CARS | |
| 1.6 | 4 | Manual, 5 gears | F | 30/37/33 | 33.6/47.1/38.5755 | Regular | 568 | SUBCOMPACT CARS | |
| 1.6 | 4 | Lockup/automatic, 4 gears | F | 26/33/29 | 29/42.1/33.7219 | Regular | 647 | SMALL STATION WAGONS | |
| 1.6 | 4 | Manual, 5 gears | F | 30/36/32 | 32.9/46.7/37.9459 | Regular | 585 | SMALL STATION WAGONS |
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||||
| SW07 | 05/04/2000 | 610525 | This bulletin contains the revised claims submission procedures for replacement batteries under warranty. *tt | 05/04/2000 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||||
| 0210063 | 10016419 | Service manual update-incorrect wiring diagram of the wiper/washer combination switch. *sc | 09/12/2005 | ||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM | |||||
| 0204145 | 10014822 | Correct coolant usage. *eh | 05/10/2005 | ||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | |||||
| 0109193 | 09/11/2003 | 10004641 | Service manual update - improper torque specifications. *tt | 12/29/2003 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | |||
| 07/05/1998 | 1 | 06/26/1998 | |
| No deployment of air bag during collision, also seat belt did not lock up, resulting in injuries. (qcaw) | |||
| AIR BAGS - FRONTAL | |||
| 08/31/1998 | 1 | 05/01/1998 | |
| On 8-31-98 the whole front end of vehicle was wrecked, airbags experienced no deployment during collision. *yc | |||
| 03/20/1999 | 2 | ||
| Consumer was involved in a 35 mph frontal collision in which driver's/passenger's air bags did not deploy. *ak | |||
| 06/25/1998 | |||
| During frontal impact at 405 mph, the driver's and passenger's side air bags did not deploy. please provide any details. | |||
| 10/25/1998 | |||
| Consumer was involved in a vehicle accident which caused the vehicle to roll over four times, neither airbags deployed. dealer notifed. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| 06/16/2000 | 1 | 04/15/1998 | |
| Vehicle was placed in park for over two hours. then, consumer noticed smoke coming from the tail lights, and vehicle caught on fire. fire department was called, and determined the cause to be an electrical problem. *ak *ml | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY | |||
| 08/01/2001 | 12/01/2000 | ||
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | |||
| 01/06/2000 | 7700 | 2 | 12/27/1997 |
| Re: 1-131916218, 1998 suzuki esteem clutch failed. *bf seat belt loosening while driving. driver's seat cover and door panel needed to be replaced. hestiation on acceleration. clutch failed prematurely. *tt | |||
| SEAT BELTS | |||
| 01/06/2000 | 7700 | 2 | 12/27/1997 |
| Re: 1-131916218, 1998 suzuki esteem clutch failed. *bf seat belt loosening while driving. driver's seat cover and door panel needed to be replaced. hestiation on acceleration. clutch failed prematurely. *tt | |||
| SEAT BELTS - FRONT - ANCHORAGE | |||
| 07/05/1998 | 1 | 06/26/1998 | |
| No deployment of air bag during collision, also seat belt did not lock up, resulting in injuries. (qcaw) | |||
| SEATS | |||
| 01/06/2000 | 7700 | 2 | 12/27/1997 |
| Re: 1-131916218, 1998 suzuki esteem clutch failed. *bf seat belt loosening while driving. driver's seat cover and door panel needed to be replaced. hestiation on acceleration. clutch failed prematurely. *tt | |||
| 04/03/1999 | |||
| Consumer was rearended. upon impact, driver's and passenger's seat retractors broke, causing the passengers to fall/lide into the rear seats. also, driver's side headrest bent. driver and passenger sustained injuries. *ak | |||
| SEATS - FRONT ASSEMBLY - HEAD RESTRAINT | |||
| 04/03/1999 | |||
| Consumer was rearended. upon impact, driver's and passenger's seat retractors broke, causing the passengers to fall/lide into the rear seats. also, driver's side headrest bent. driver and passenger sustained injuries. *ak | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC | |||
| 08/01/2001 | 12/01/2000 | ||
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - PADS | |||
| 11/01/2000 | |||
| There is a squeaking noise when driving that stopped when brakes were applied. took vehicle to dealer, and they changed brake pads. three months later, problem reoccurred. brakes have been constantly changed. please provide any further information.*ak | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 2 | |||
| While driving 50 mph vehicle loses control. steering pulls left to right. vehicle has been to dealers, where they are unable fix problem. *ak | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES | |||
| 01/01/2002 | 1 | 09/01/2097 | |
| This complaint deals with failed inner tie-rod in the gear assembly. the failure resulted in severe problems in controlling the car at high speed. the problem arose because of broken boot and subsequent moisture build-up and damage to the tie-rod. the service personnel attributed the failure to faulty part and poor workmanship. there was the possibility of loss of control of the car and danger to occupants of the car and other drivers on the road.*ak | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR | |||
| 01/06/2000 | 7700 | 2 | 12/27/1997 |
| Re: 1-131916218, 1998 suzuki esteem clutch failed. *bf seat belt loosening while driving. driver's seat cover and door panel needed to be replaced. hestiation on acceleration. clutch failed prematurely. *tt | |||
| 11/28/1999 | 2 | 11/01/1998 | |
| This is the second seperate incident with door handles on this car. the first failure was on the rear drivers side door, the second failure is on the drivers side door. both handles lift up and jam in an open position. handles can be pushed back down with some effort but then fail to operate. this makes the doors inoperative from the outside, so in an accident passengers would not be able to be extracted from the vehicle. i have researched the web and no service bulletins exist for this problem. | |||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS | |||
| 11/01/2010 | 115000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1998 suzuki esteem. while driving approximately 65 mph the vehicle began shifting to the right. the contact was able to drive the vehicle home. the contact inspected the vehicle and noticed the front cross member frame was severally corroded. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repairs. the contact stated he was unable to contact the manufacturer. the approximate failure mileage was 115,000. ds | |||
| 11/28/2010 | 100000 | ||
| Front suspension cross member in 1998 suzuki esteem cracked open while driving at 25mph. car suddenly pulled to the right, since it happen at low speed i was able to quickly stop. upon inspection of the front suspension cross member i found out that rusting was so extensive that you could poke a hole in the cross member by simply pushing a screw driver on to the surface of the cross member. | |||
| 11/17/2009 | 138702 | 1 | |
| 98 suzuki esteem cross member(engine cradle) on the suzuki esteem the engine cradle or cross member rot causing the vehicle to collapse causing into an accident ,crossmember or engine cradle supports lower control arms which if the crossmember let go will cause the vehicle to possible crash in my experience as a auto mechanic every single suzuki esteem that have come to my shop for state inspection has fail due to the cross member this includes 98 to 01 suzuki esteem ,every single car at junkyards are rusted out which make it difficult for a customer to get a used replacement for a cheaper price ,,,i believe that factory or dealer should consider this as a safety recall since this can put in danger alot of people ,,thanks and i hope this will be take on consideration right at this moment i have a customer which his car cross member or engine cradle let go and we cant find a used one anywhere all junkyards state that it is a common thing on suzuki esteems ...all dealers should send a letter to all esteems owner to get the cross member or engine cradle replaced at no cost. *tr | |||
| SUSPENSION | |||
| 1 | 12/13/1997 | ||
| When driving at high speeds vehicle is unstable. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| 01/01/2001 | |||
| While operating vehicle at higher speeds, approximately 55 mph and higher, vehicle will weave, and vehicle is very difficult to control on highway. *note: consumer purchased vehicle with approximately 15,000 miles on it, and had to have struts replaced at approximately 22,000 miles. please provide any additional information/attachments. *ak | |||
| 10/15/2000 | 10/01/2000 | ||
| Reported to dealer and was told undercarriage was loose and rubbing on tires to cause steering wheel vibration, but it still shakes and vibrates | |||
| TIRES | |||
| 11/02/2007 | 1 | ||
| 1998 suzuki esteem left rear tire blew out causing the consumer to hit the guardrail. *kb the consumers daughter was slightly injured. ohio traffic report # 10-90-0789. *jb | |||