Most common 2004 Suzuki Forenza problems
Share of the 63 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Suzuki Forenza complaints by model year
Best Forenza years: 2004, 2005, 2008. Years to avoid: 2006, 2007. Compare all years →
2004 Suzuki Forenza recalls (5)
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008.
Remedy: Suzuki will replace the signal switch and add a jumper relay kit and will replace the DRL Module in teh instrument panel harness. Suzuki distributed to owners an interim letter on July 30, 2014.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connect the power circuit wires for…
Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and Suzuki dealers will reconnect the affected wires with two heat-shrink crimps, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 25, 2012. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.
Exterior lighting
On certain passenger vehicles, headlamp low beam or daytime running light (drl) function May be inoperative due to a melted splice pack on the wiring harness.
Remedy: Dealers will splice the power circuit wires for the low-beam headlamps and drl free of charge. The recall will be mailed in three phases, starting at the end of October 2007 and concluding by the end of January 2008;.
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
On certain passenger vehicles, the brake light switch May become misadjusted if an upward/rearward force is applied to the brake pedal. If this should occur, the brake light switch will not function properly, causing the brake lights, including the high mounted stop lamp, to remain illuminated continuously without brake pedal…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on March 16, 2005. Owners May contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.
Air bags › Frontal
On certain passenger cars, the dual stage driver's air bag deploys in an improper sequence.
Remedy: Dealers will install an adapting wiring harness. Owner notification began on October 30, 2003, to verona vehicle owners. All forenza vehicles were repaired at the port of entry.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2004 Suzuki Forenza:
Headlight / drl malfunction
On September 25, 2007, Suzuki notified the agency that it will recall model years 2004 -2006 forenza and reno vehicles to correct a defect that can result in loss of headlight and/or drl function.this recall affects 93,963 vehicles.NHTSA assigned number 07v-452 for this recall.NHTSA's investigation initially focused on 2005 forenzas, then expanded it to 2004-2005 forenzas (total of 58,448 vehicles).
What 2004 Suzuki Forenza owners say
Lights
Driving home from work. Smelled something burning. Checked called mechanic. Drove into his garage. Called around for parts. Couldn't find any found switch in ca. Took time. No car. Replaced combination switch, head light module. Labor and installed head light module, combination switch and repaired melted wires. 6 hrs. For labor $70. Hr. Total amount w/ taxes $452.03 this was before recall notice. And know parts to be found. Mother-in-law sending out the info. Received from Suzuki $89.26. Not what we were hoping for.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Suzuki Forenza. The light switch on the front driver side began smoking when it was turned on. The steering sustained burns. On November 20, 2007, the vehicle remained at the dealer for three weeks. She retrieved the vehicle on December 15, 2007 and returned to the dealer the following day. Currently, when the light switch is turned off, it would come back on. The dealer had the vehicle until January 16, 2008. The vehicle went back to the dealer on January 27, or 28, 2007 because the switch was not working. None of the lights on the instrument panel or exterior lights were working. She received the vehicle back on February 10, 2008 and was informed that the failure was the harness in the switch and the wires. They did the wiring. The vehicle is currently with the dealer and has been there since February 10, 2008. …
Engine & cooling
I bought my car used and it has a new tranny, cv axles and everything the only thing original is the engine. So I have already had to replace the o2 sensors twice at $60 each. I have had to replace the tps sensor, thermostat and housing, ignition coil, battery, starter, fuel pump and alternator. All because I kept getting the check engine lights on and throwing coding all over the place. And the car still stalls when I stop at a stop light and runs and idles rough. I have spent over $1500 fix this problem and it still exists I did all the work myself I have worked on cars my whole life and am a mechanic. Every mechanic I take it to can both find the problem and Suzuki can't give an answer to the problem and I don't know what to do.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Suzuki Forenza. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the contact noticed smelled smoke and noticed fire emitting from the engine compartment. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the fire. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.
Electrical system
Tl contact owns a 2004 Suzuki Forenza. The light switch on the front driver side began smoking when it was turned on. The steering sustained burns. On November 20, 2007, the vehicle remained at the dealer for three weeks. She retrieved the vehicle on December 15, 2007 and returned to the dealer the following day. Currently, when the light switch is turned off, it would come back on. The dealer had the vehicle until January 16, 2008. The vehicle went back to the dealer on January 27, or 28, 2007 because the switch was not working. None of the lights on the instrument panel or exterior lights were working. She received the vehicle back on February 10, 2008 and was informed that the failure was the harness in the switch and the wires. They did the wiring. The vehicle is currently with the dealer and has been there since February 10, 2008. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Suzuki Forenza. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The technician replaced the starter, battery, and inspected the alternator; however, the failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 65,000. ....updated 09/19/16 updated 04/12/17 lj the consumer requested an update.
2004 Suzuki Forenza engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 28 / 22 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 27 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Suzuki Forenza a good car?
Based on 63 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Forenza rates better than average: 75% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Forenza at the same age. It is one of the best Forenza years by this measure. 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 2004 Suzuki Forenza?
The lights — 16 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about brake lights. Next are the engine & cooling (14) and electrical system (10).
How many recalls does the 2004 Suzuki Forenza have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2004 Suzuki Forenza, the most recent from May 19, 2014 (headlights). 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 Forenza?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 2005 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006 and 2007. See the full Suzuki Forenza years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Suzuki Forenza problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 50,000 miles; 45% 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.