Most common 2006 Suzuki Aerio problems
Share of the 27 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Suzuki Aerio complaints by model year
Best Aerio years: 2004, 2002. Years to avoid: 2003, 2006. Compare all years →
2006 Suzuki Aerio recalls (1)
Power train › Manual transmission
On certain vehicles equipped with 5-speed manual transmissions, due to improper shape of the clip, the retaining clip that keeps the gear shift cable attached to the gear shift lever can contact the gear shift lever housing if excessive lateral force is applied when shifting to first gear.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the gear shift cable retaining clip with a clip that has a different shape. The recall began on August 13, 2007. Owners May contact American Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.
What 2006 Suzuki Aerio owners say
Brakes
Emergency brake light began coming on randomly from time to time. It then began to come on when I turned left, then began to light up when I used the brakes, then stayed on all the time. My brother and I both own 2006 aerios and both had the same problem at the same time. He took his to the dealership for what we thought would be warranty service. Turns out the brakes had worn out at 18,000 miles! He paid $200 to have his replaced. Being a former mechanic, I decided to sidestep the exorbitant cost of having a dealer replace my brakes planned to do the job myself. Unfortunately, there are no part stores that carry replacement pads for my car. I went to a dealership and was asked to pay $150 just for the pads! Instead, I went to a local tire/brake shop and, in the interest of saving time and ending the runaround, I ended up paying the $200 to have my brake pads replaced at 18,000 miles.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Suzuki Aerio. He front brakes have been changed every 2,000 miles since purchase. The brakes wear down to the metal. This condition causes the calipers to fail. He speculated that the calipers were designed too large for the brake system. A technician from the dealer has not stated that since the vehicle was out of warranty they can not provide any assistance. The current mileage was 32,867. The failure mileage was 5,000.
Air bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Suzuki Aerio. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the front passenger side seat belt became abnormally tight and caused welts to the passenger's neck. The contact also noticed that the air bag warning light was illuminated continuously and a message that indicated that the passenger side air bag was deactivated. The problem recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and they were unable to reset the air bag light and informed the contact that the seat belts needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure and the approximate failure mileage was 47,000.
Air bag light on dashboard stays on;when reported to dealership,I was advised that this indicates"air bags would not deploy in case of an accident";dealership(Suzuki courtesy in pittsburgh pa)rejects any responsibility for defect and would not take care of this issue free of charge); never had any accidents with car,but if "air bags will not deploy"statement is correct,I am concerned for the safety of anyone driving this car in my household. I have found many similar complaints on the internet database and feel that NHTSA should look into this problem; current mileage;37000;car was purchased new in 2006. Thank you!
Engine & cooling
About 1-1-1/2 months ago a squeal developed on the right side of the engine of our 2006 Suzuki - currently at 29,000+ miles. My husband took the vehicle to the dealer who sold us the car and an examination was done. The mechanic said the serpentine belt was glazed and that it was not under warranty. He said the belt could be tightened by removing a panel. If it was the pulley that was defective it would be replaced and we could buy the belts at that time from the dealer for replacement. He indicated to my husband that it would be about $155-$165 to have the belts replaced. When asked what other customers did, he said they had the belts replaced or they just "lived with" the squealing. I have frankly never had a car that has had belt issues, and clearly this has happened to other customers, so young in the mileage life of my vehicle.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Suzuki Aerio. While driving 25 MPH on a rainy day, the vehicle shut off when it drove over a puddle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the failure was caused by water intrusion. They further stated that the rod failed and went through the aluminum motor. Both times the rod went through the motor, the water intrusion was caused by the air brether positioned under the motor. The powertrain was unknown. The current mileage was 10,000 and failure mileage was 9,000. Updated 10/16/07
2006 Suzuki Aerio engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 21 / 26 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Suzuki Aerio a good car?
Based on 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Aerio rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Aerio at the same age. It is one of the Aerio years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Suzuki Aerio?
The brakes — 7 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › disc › pads. Next are the air bags (5) and engine & cooling (4).
How many recalls does the 2006 Suzuki Aerio have?
There is 1 recall for the 2006 Suzuki Aerio, the most recent from July 15, 2007 (manual transmission). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Suzuki Aerio?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003 and 2006. See the full Suzuki Aerio years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Suzuki Aerio problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 28,000 miles; 89% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.