1999 Suzuki Vitara
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1999 Suzuki Vitara is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 12 on record.
1999 Suzuki Vitara at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
1999 Suzuki Vitara recalls 5
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH. IF THE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY BE INOPERATIVE. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE, A FAILURE IN THE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH MAY ALSO PREVENT SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 2-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PORT INSTALLATION OF REAR STEREO SPEAKERS, THE VEHICLES WIRING HARNESS COULD HAVE BEEN PINCHED BETWEEN THE REAR STEREO SPEAKER AND SPEAKER RETAINING PLATE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITION/CONDITION OF THE REAR WIRING HARNESS AND REPAIR THE WIRING HARNESS, IF NECESSARY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 2-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PORT INSTALLATION OF REAR STEREO SPEAKERS, THE FRONT SEAT BELT LOWER ANCHOR BOLTS WERE REMOVED TO FACILITATE THE REAR SPEAKER INSTALLATION AND MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION AFTER INSTALLATION OF THE SPEAKERS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL RETORQUE BOTH OF THE FRONT SEAT BELT LOWER ANCHOR BOLTS TO SPECIFICATION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE COUPLING THAT CONNECTS THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT TO THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS CRACKED. THIS COULD ALLOW THE STEERING SHAFTS TO SEPARATE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT COUPLING.
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
1999 Suzuki Vitara common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 50 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
1999 Suzuki Vitara MPG & running costs
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 12 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 1999 Suzuki Vitara costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Dimensions & weight
Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1999 Suzuki Vitara — ranges cover the 3 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Investigations & service bulletins
Manufacturer service bulletins 13
Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 13.
Reminder of the importance to conduct safety inspections for rust damage to suspension and related parts that could be caused by road salt or other chemicals applied to the roadway.
Bulletin SUZ_016008 · Suspension, Structure · Jul 2022This Service Bulletin was sent by Suzuki Motor Corporation to its authorized Suzuki automobile distributors in the U.S., explaining the importance of proper inspection and maintenance of suspension lower arm ball joints to prevent the ball stud from becoming s…
Bulletin N-Q-G-045 · Suspension, Equipment · Nov 2018SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE FOR RESEALING FRONT TIMING CHAIN COVER. *MR
Bulletin 1201074 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jan 2004OIL LEVEL READS AT LOW MARK ON OIL LEVEL DIP STICK. 1999 - 2003 VITARA/GRAND VITARA/XL-7. *TT
Bulletin 0903143 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jan 2003DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE, B1026 FLOW TABLE. SERVICE MANUAL UDPATE CORRECTION. *TT
Bulletin 0503143 · Electrical System · Jan 2003A CONDITION MAY EXIST ON CERTAIN MODELS WHERE THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING MAY LEAK FLUID FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OIL SEAL. *TT
Bulletin TS070110230 · Power Train · Jan 2001THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE REVISED CLAIMS SUBMISSION PROCEDURES FOR REPLACEMENT BATTERIES UNDER WARRANTY. *TT
Bulletin SW07 · Electrical System · May 2000ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A CRANK BUT NO-START CONDITION IN COLD WEATER CONDITIONS. *TT
Bulletin 060103099 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jan 1999CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.0L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A CRANK BUT NO-START CONDITION IN 5 DEGREES F OR COLDER WEATHER CONDITIONS. *TT
Bulletin 060103099 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jan 1999MODIFICATION OF MAIN BEARING OIL CLEARANCE AND THE BEARING SELECTION PROCEDURE. 1999-2005 SUZUKI VITARA SQ420/SQ625L, GRAND VITARA SQ625W, AND XL-7 JA627 *SC
Bulletin 1405175 · Engine And Engine CoolingSource: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the VITARA. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
Canadian recalls 2
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1999 Suzuki Vitara. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.
Other
CMVSS 115 requires that certain information be uniquely identified in the vehicle identification number (VIN). One such item is the engine type. This particular vehicle configuration has two available engines, 1.6L and 2.0L. Both vehicle configurations have been labelled with the same VIN prefix that being "2S3TA52C". This was the correct VIN prefix for the 2.0L model. All 1.6L…
Transport Canada #2002208 · Nov 2002Lights And Instruments
Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. Vehicles may have an inoperative brake lamp-actuating switch. If this switch does not function properly when the brake pedal is depressed, the brake lights may not come on. Correction: Brake lamp-actuating switch will be replaced on affected vehicles.
Transport Canada #2000007 · Nov 1999Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
About the Suzuki Vitara
The Suzuki Vitara is a series of SUVs produced by Suzuki in five generations since 1988. The second and third generation were known as the Suzuki Grand Vitara, while the fourth generation eschewed the "Grand" prefix. In Japan and a number of other markets, all generations have used the name Suzuki Escudo until 2024.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.
1999 Suzuki Vitara vehicles on record
1999 Suzuki VitaraJSAFTD62V00115066
1999 Suzuki VitaraJSAFTD62V00110881
1999 Suzuki Vitara2S3TA52C7X6104034
1999 Suzuki VitaraJSAFTL52V00102347
1999 Suzuki VitaraJSAFTD32V00106506
1999 Suzuki VitaraVSEETV01C01207645
1999 Suzuki VitaraVSEETV03C01207551
1999 Suzuki VitaraJSAFTD62V00113353
1999 Suzuki VitaraJSAFTD62V00115023
1999 Suzuki VitaraJSAFTD62V00105577
1999 Suzuki VitaraJSAFTA03V00104048
1999 Suzuki Vitara2S3TD52V7Y6105162