The problem
Certain passenger (111 my 2002 esteem, 777 my 2002 aerio, 2,368 my 2003 aerio) and sport utility (324 my 2002 grand vitara, 274 my 2003 grand vitara, 684 my 2002 grand vitara xl-7, and 781 my 2003 grand vitara xl-7) vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, 'windshield mounting." the windshield May not be properly secured to the vehicle body due to insufficient adhesion between the paint applied during the second-stage painting process and the paint applied during final-stage painting.
The risk
If the windshield is not properly secured, it May separate from the vehicle during a crash which could result in the ejection of unbelted occupants, increasing the risk of severe injury or death.
The fix
Dealers will inspect these vehicles. Vehicles that are found to have insufficient paint adhesion will either have the problem remedied by repainting, or will be replaced, or repurchased and destroyed. Owner notification began on July 8, 2003. Owners should contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 03V-223 (03V223000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | EC |
| Manufacturer | Suzuki Motor USA, LLC |
| Component | Visibility › Windshield |
| Report date | June 16, 2003 |
| Owners notified | July 8, 2003 |
| Vehicles affected | 5,319 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
- 2002 Suzuki Aerio
- 2003 Suzuki Aerio
- 2002 Suzuki Esteem
- 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara
- 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara
- 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7
Plus 1 other model/year combinations not covered on this site.
Owner complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 03V-223 repair free?
Yes. Suzuki dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will inspect these vehicles. Vehicles that are found to have insufficient paint adhesion will either have the problem remedied by repainting, or will be replaced, or repurchased and destroyed. Owner notification began on July 8, 2003.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 5,319 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.