1999 Suzuki Esteem problems
The 1999 Suzuki Esteem has 31 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (13%) concerns engine. After that come body & structure (13%) and suspension (13%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 31 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 13% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 7 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 115,000 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 | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 2 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 0 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 3 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 12 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 115,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 7 complaints mention a crash.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1999 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 4 model years of the Suzuki Esteem with enough data (16 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.
Had resistant on the accelerator pedal. Had shifted into drive & tapped accelerator pedal & it became stuck. The vehicle accelerated inside the garage & hit a pillar. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. No injuries.
When applying the brakes while traveling at 20MPH vehicle kept going, rear ending another vehicle. Dealer has vehicle currently.
1999, suzuki, esteem wagon transmission needed to be replaced at 33,000 miles 05-09-2002, suzuki repaired it free of charge, even though warranty expired 2 months earlier. Currently, at 48,000 miles it has started making the same noises again. Vehicle was parked to avoid further damage. It was explained to consumer that the first time it did this was because internal transmission broke off inside holding plate, causing gears and bearings to malfunction due to debris.
Car was being driven at a speed of about 45 MPH; brakes were applied hard; subframe (part that all ball joints and suspension arms bolts into) collapsed on passenger side of vehicle causing wheel to become unstable and severely out of alignment. (when measured, the passenger wheel was +/-1-1/2" closer to the rear of inner fender, and would grind onto the inner fender. The part was replaced with a new replacement part. The old part was rusted through at several points.