Your vehicle report
2005 Suzuki Forenza
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 156
- Received Mar 2005 to Feb 2021
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Airbag warning light stays on27 complaints · 17% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Headlights dim or fail at night20 complaints · 13% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips11 complaints · 7.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #14V262000Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module which could melt the headlamp switch or the DRL module.
- Recall #12V397000Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connect the power circuit wires for the headlamps. This can result in intermittent or total loss of low/high beam headlamp function.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 5 crashes, 7 fires, 9 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 12 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
- Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips
- Unintended acceleration despite braking
- Engine suddenly shuts off while driving
1 more problem
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
- Airbag warning light stays on
- Passenger airbag sensor wrongly shows off
- Airbags fail to deploy in crashes
1 more problem
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 19 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 156 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag warning light stays on | 27 | 17% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 20 | 13% | – | NHTSA recall #07V452000, #12V397000 |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 11 | 7.0% | – | |
| Passenger airbag sensor wrongly shows off | 6 | 3.9% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 6 | 3.9% | – | NHTSA recall #14V262000 |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 4 | 2.6% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 4 | 2.6% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 4 | 2.6% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 3 | 1.9% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 3 | 1.9% | – | |
| Suspension struts and shocks wear out early | 3 | 1.9% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 3 | 1.9% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #14V262000May 19, 2014184,244 vehicles affected
exterior lighting: headlights
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module which could melt the headlamp switch or the DRL module.
If the heat generated within the headlamp switch or DRL module located on the left side of the steering column melts the headlamp switch or DRL module, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy
Suzuki will replace the signal switch and add a jumper relay kit and will replace the DRL Module in teh instrument panel harness. Suzuki distributed to owners an interim letter on July 30, 2014. The recall began October 29, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is XA.
NHTSA recall #12V397000August 14, 2012101,688 vehicles affected
electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash; exterior lighting: headlights
Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connect the power circuit wires for the headlamps. This can result in intermittent or total loss of low/high beam headlamp function.
If the headlamps fail to function, this will lead to reduced driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Suzuki will notify owners, and Suzuki dealers will reconnect the affected wires with two heat-shrink crimps, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 25, 2012. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.
NHTSA recall #07V452000September 25, 200793,963 vehicles affected
exterior lighting
On certain passenger vehicles, headlamp low beam or daytime running light (drl) function may be inoperative due to a melted splice pack on the wiring harness.
Inappropriate lighting could reduce visibility of vehicles and increase the potential for a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will splice the power circuit wires for the low-beam headlamps and drl free of charge. The recall will be mailed in three phases, starting at the end of october 2007 and concluding by the end of january 2008;. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2005 Suzuki Forenza.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN