Most common 1998 Suzuki Esteem problems
Share of the 24 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Suzuki Esteem complaints by model year
Best Esteem years: 2002, 1996, 1997. Years to avoid: 1998, 1999, 2000. Compare all years →
What 1998 Suzuki Esteem owners say
Body & structure
98 Suzuki Esteem cross member(engine cradle) on the Suzuki Esteem the engine cradle or cross member rot causing the vehicle to collapse causing into an accident ,crossmember or engine cradle supports lower control arms which if the crossmember let go will cause the vehicle to possible crash in my experience as a auto mechanic every single Suzuki Esteem that have come to my shop for state inspection has fail due to the cross member this includes 98 to 01 Suzuki Esteem ,every single car at junkyards are rusted out which make it difficult for a customer to get a used replacement for a cheaper price ,,,I believe that factory or dealer should consider this as a safety recall since this can put in danger alot of people ,,thanks and I hope this will be take on consideration right at this moment I have a customer which his car cross member or engine cradle let go and we cant find a used one …
I was driving on flat paved road at approximately 30 miles per hour when the subframe snapped on the right front passenger side of the vehicle causing the vehicle to immediately jerk right with substantial force. I was able to maintain control of the vehicle with the steering wheel due to driving at a low speed but the car was pulling very hard to the right and the steering wheel was almost impossible to steer. I drove approximately one half mile to a spot where I was able to pull over safely, I noticed the subframe which connects the front right passenger wheel to the body had rusted severely and broke apart, it was so bad the material was crumbling. If the car was traveling at a high rate of speed a terrible accident would have almost certainly occurred. …
Suspension
I was driving on flat paved road at approximately 30 miles per hour when the subframe snapped on the right front passenger side of the vehicle causing the vehicle to immediately jerk right with substantial force. I was able to maintain control of the vehicle with the steering wheel due to driving at a low speed but the car was pulling very hard to the right and the steering wheel was almost impossible to steer. I drove approximately one half mile to a spot where I was able to pull over safely, I noticed the subframe which connects the front right passenger wheel to the body had rusted severely and broke apart, it was so bad the material was crumbling. If the car was traveling at a high rate of speed a terrible accident would have almost certainly occurred. …
Was driving on the highway , slowed down to take a right turn onto side road....there was a terrible grinding noise and immediate pull of car to right...had to fight to keep control of car...was hard to steer but drove home at about 5 miles per hour...luckily only a quarter of a mile...pretty sure if it had let go if I'd hit a bump or something driving 55 on the highway...that the car would have flipped...that's how quickly I lost control...after reading all other reports...too bad this car had not been recalled...I might not now be without a car.
Air bags
Air bags lights went on yesterday, I never had any accident. Seat bet gets stocks. Suzuki Esteem 1998.[redacted] VIN #
Consumer was involved in a vehicle accident which caused the vehicle to roll over four times, neither airbags deployed. Dealer notifed.
1998 Suzuki Esteem engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 26 / 33 / 29 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 24 / 31 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Suzuki Esteem a good car?
Based on 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Esteem rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Esteem at the same age. It is one of the Esteem 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 1998 Suzuki Esteem?
The body & structure — 7 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frame and members. Next are the suspension (6) and air bags (6).
How many recalls does the 1998 Suzuki Esteem have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1998 Suzuki Esteem. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Suzuki Esteem?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002, 1996 and 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1998, 1999 and 2000. See the full Suzuki Esteem years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Suzuki Esteem problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 14% 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.