1998 Suzuki Esteem problems
The 1998 Suzuki Esteem has 36 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (19%) concerns body & structure. After that come air bags (17%) and suspension (17%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 36 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Body & structure 19% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 9 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 7 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 84,000 miles 12 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 4 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 1 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 1 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 0 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 2 |
What the data shows
Among the 12 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 84,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 9 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 7 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 95% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 4 model years of the Suzuki Esteem with enough data (22 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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.
1998 suzuki esteem left rear tire blew out causing the consumer to hit the guardrail. The consumers daughter was slightly injured. Ohio traffic report # 10-90-0789.
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 suzuki esteem. While driving 25 MPH the frame on the vehicle broke. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who replaced the frame. The failure occurred again and the vehicle was taken back to the same mechanic. The mechanic advised her to call NHTSA. She called the manufacturer and was unable to leave a message. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000. The current mileage was 68,000.
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.