Suzuki Vitara problems (2015–today)

We have documented 2 engines for the Suzuki Vitara and none has high or critical severity faults in the versions it is fitted to. The safest option is the 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M), with a «Buy» verdict. Outside the engine, the Suzuki Vitara (LY) has several European safety campaigns: the brake servo (built 2015-2022), a rear brake pipe (2023), power steering (2024) and the activated carbon filter in the fuel system (2019-2024), plus a specific fault with the rear axle bolts in 2015. These are campaigns with permanent fixes, with no signs of frequent brake, suspension or steering faults outside them.

Among the 2 engines we have documented, the safest option is the 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M), with a «Buy» verdict. We have found no fault specific to this period: gebrauchtwagenberater.de calls the Vitara's 1.6 simple and particularly robust and lists no M16A weaknesses on the S-Cross, and the testimonies for the 2010-2017 Swift on fiches-auto.fr record no sensor, timing or gasket failures on the 1.6 engines.^[1][2][3]

Outside the engine, the Suzuki Vitara (LY) has several European safety campaigns: the brake servo (built 2015-2022), a rear brake pipe (2023), power steering (2024) and the activated carbon filter in the fuel system (2019-2024), plus a specific fault with the rear axle bolts in 2015. These are campaigns with permanent fixes, with no signs of frequent brake, suspension or steering faults outside them. The most important documented faults are: temporary brake servo lock-up caused by the vacuum pump valve (brakes, critical severity), electric power steering cutting out due to a software fault (steering, high severity), rear axle bolts without the correct anti-abrasion coating (suspension, critical severity) and petrol vapour leak from the activated carbon filter (electrical system, medium severity).^{[1][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]}

The most important by severity and frequency, on the engines we have documented, are: timing chain: no documented pattern of failures (1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet, low severity), oil consumption: no documented pattern (1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet, low severity), direct injection and fuel pump: no documented faults or recalls (1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet, low severity) and 48 V SHVS mild-hybrid system: no documented faults so far (1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet, low severity).

According to our rating by year, the best are 2026 and 2025 (9.4/10); the worst rated is 2019 (8.1/10). Each year's rating counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those units: open each year to see what changes.

Yes: we have documented 5 campaigns for the Suzuki Vitara, such as campaign for the electric power steering cutting out (2025). Check with your VIN at the official service centre whether yours has been done.^[7]