Most common 2001 Suzuki Esteem problems
Share of the 21 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 2001 Suzuki Esteem owners say
Body & structure
2001 Suzuki Esteem. Steering was suddenly off center so I had an alignment completed which fixed the problem. About 1 week later, while driving, the steering wheel became very off center again. A few blocks further (I was driving in town at the time, at slow speeds) the front passenger sub-frame broke. This caused the front passenger wheel to slope and the suspension to pull out from the transmission, immediately making the car inoperable. Had this occurred at highway speeds, I am sure an accident would have ensued. Fortunately it occurs as I was pulling up to a stop sign. I had it towed to a repair shop, where I learned that it was caused by the frame rusting through and breaking. While there were small rust spots on the bottom of one of the doors, the car was not at all rusty. …
Front subframe on a 2001 Suzuki, Esteem cracked. Call Suzuki dealer to see if there were any recalls for that problem and the answer was no. Which I think there should be due to the fact that the car is not that old to have does kind of problems. Part and labor will be really expensive close to a $1,000 dollars for repair. When I talked to the person in the parts department, told me that they had a lot of people looking for the same part for repair lately, this is why I think is a recall issue and Suzuki should warranty this kind of parts they are suppose to last for a really long time I suppose. Please help!!!!! I still haven't fixed the car because of costly repair.
Suspension
Front subframe on a 2001 Suzuki, Esteem cracked. Call Suzuki dealer to see if there were any recalls for that problem and the answer was no. Which I think there should be due to the fact that the car is not that old to have does kind of problems. Part and labor will be really expensive close to a $1,000 dollars for repair. When I talked to the person in the parts department, told me that they had a lot of people looking for the same part for repair lately, this is why I think is a recall issue and Suzuki should warranty this kind of parts they are suppose to last for a really long time I suppose. Please help!!!!! I still haven't fixed the car because of costly repair.
Husband was driving vehicle when the front tire gave way and bent in from frame. Took to the repair shop and was informed that the entire frame was rotted out. The vehicle could not be repaired as the part is not available. The car only had 129,000 miles on it. This is a common problem with the car and it should have been recalled. Fortunately, no accident occurred and no injuries were sustained. Shame on Suzuki for producing inferior cars. This is a serious safely issue!
Engine & cooling
Noticed ticking noise coming from engine compartment. Took it to get oil changed and state inspected no problem found. 3 weeks later timing chain slipped and possible engine damage May have occurred. Vehicle has only 46000 miles. Prior to hearing ticking noise car was driving perfect. Timing chain repair $1000. If they find engine damage $3400.
While driving, the engine make a ticking noise as if it needed oil, but it didn't. Upon inspection of the vehicle by the dealership they indicated that the noise was caused by an internal engine problem.
2001 Suzuki Esteem engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 26 / 33 / 29 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 32 / 27 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 24 / 31 / 26 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Suzuki Esteem a good car?
Based on 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Esteem rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Esteem at the same age. 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 2001 Suzuki Esteem?
The body & structure — 10 complaints, 48% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frame and members. Next are the suspension (5) and engine & cooling (3).
How many recalls does the 2001 Suzuki Esteem have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2001 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 2001 Suzuki Esteem problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 123,000 miles; 23% 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.