Most common 2006 Suzuki Forenza problems
Share of the 280 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 →
2006 Suzuki Forenza recalls (4)
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;.
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
On certain passenger vehicles, the front seat belt tongue will not latch into the buckle and, in rare cases, even the locked tongue will pop out by low stretching force. If the buckle does not latch completely, the buckle could release without pressing the release button.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front driver and passenger seat belt buckles with the improved part free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2007. Owners May contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.
What 2006 Suzuki Forenza owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 116 →
My transmission range sensor has failed for the third time in as many years. Each time I have it repaired by the dealership. This malfunction causes the vehicle to spontaneously throw itself in to neutral or reverse either while driving or when vehicle is at a complete stop. While driving my car suddenly jerked very hard then slowed to an almost complete stop causing the car behind me to slam on its brakes and hit my bumper. I stopped, restarted the engine and then was not able to accelerate past 15mph even with my foot firmly on the gas pedal. Like I said before, this is the 3rd time this has failed and I am glad that the person who was behind me stopped quickly and only tapped my bumper. This has also happened at higher speeds and is just an accident waiting to happen. Suzuki needs to do a major recall!! …
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Suzuki Forenza. The contact stated that while attempting to shift the vehicle into reverse, there was an abnormal banging noise that emitted from the vehicle and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact mentioned that there would also be an 'x' on the instrument panel next to the 'd' for drive on the shift selector. The contact was an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the range transmission sensor needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired, however the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Electrical system all 57 →
My transmission range sensor has failed for the third time in as many years. Each time I have it repaired by the dealership. This malfunction causes the vehicle to spontaneously throw itself in to neutral or reverse either while driving or when vehicle is at a complete stop. While driving my car suddenly jerked very hard then slowed to an almost complete stop causing the car behind me to slam on its brakes and hit my bumper. I stopped, restarted the engine and then was not able to accelerate past 15mph even with my foot firmly on the gas pedal. Like I said before, this is the 3rd time this has failed and I am glad that the person who was behind me stopped quickly and only tapped my bumper. This has also happened at higher speeds and is just an accident waiting to happen. Suzuki needs to do a major recall!! …
Tl contact owns a 2006 Suzuki Forenza. The contact stated that his vehicle caught fire. Two hours prior to the fire, he took the vehicle to the dealer and they checked the dashboard computer. It was discovered that the computer failed and another one had to be ordered; however, the contact was informed that he could still drive the vehicle. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle began to smoke and the wiring harness around the blow motors melted and burned. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. He suffered from smoke inhalation. The dealer stated that the vehicle was destroyed because the entire wiring harness was burned, which would cost a lot to repair. The failure mileage was 34,000. Updated 03/18/09.
Air bags all 56 →
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Suzuki Forenza. While driving 40 MPH, another vehicle ran the contact's vehicle off the road causing it to crash into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained lacerations to the face, a bruised rib, and a fractured cervical vertebrae which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 200,000. Updated 9/18/2017
On feb 3, 2007, I had a automobile accident. The accident resulted in my car being totaled. It had extensive front end damage, and the air bag sensors were exposed, but the airbags never deployed. I wasn't injured bad enough to seek medical attention, but could have been, as a result of the airbags not deploying. My insurance adjuster told me that there was no reason for the bags to not work, because the sensors were exposed, and I had hit many trees with the radiator resting on the motor. My adjuster gave me his name and number for contact if I needed for anyone to contact him. My car is now totaled, and I have no transportation, because the Suzuki company will not stand by their products. This is a safety feature, and should have been in working order, as it was a new car.
2006 Suzuki Forenza engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 28 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Suzuki Forenza a good car?
Based on 280 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Forenza rates use caution: 2.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Forenza at the same age. It is one of the Forenza 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 Forenza?
The transmission & drivetrain — 116 complaints, 41% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the electrical system (57) and air bags (56).
How many recalls does the 2006 Suzuki Forenza have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2006 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 2006 Suzuki Forenza problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 55,000 miles; 43% 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.