Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara. The contact stated that the door ajar warning light was constantly illuminated while the doors were securely closed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the front passenger's side occupant classification system sensor was inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.
I was involved in a front end collision where I t-boned another vehicle and my 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara became immobilized because the impact was so hard that the driveline broke. But the driver airbag did not deploy at all!
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara. While at a stop light, another vehicle crashed into the rear driver side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 13V405000 (air bags); however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,000. The consumer stated the recall was for the passenger side, but it was the drivers side light that was lit. Updated 08/26/15.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara. After the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 13V405000 (air bags), the air bag warning indicator was consistently illuminated. The failure recurred each time the vehicle was started. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the air bag system was faulty and could deploy at any time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
I have tried numerous times through safercar.gov to check if the airbags I have in my car are on the recall. I get no response. I would appreciate if you can check to see if my car's airbags are OK. A response would be greatly appreciated.
Tl*- the contact stated that her 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara, has had several safety issues since she's purchased the vehicle last year. The first problem was her air bag sensor; she stated that when there is someone sitting on the passenger front side the air bag sensor constantly turns on and off. She has stated that sometimes if you sit in the seat a certain way the airbag sensor works. She has taken the vehicle to the dealership and they changed the computer in the vehicle on one occasion. The seat continued to have the same problem and she took the vehicle back and they changed the seat sensor and that didn't work. The stated that they have also re calibrated the seat and the seat sensor was still malfunctioning. On 03/16/07 while driving at a speed of 60 MPH she tried to pass two vehicles on the expressway and the vehicle stalled. …
The vehicle was shipped to a Suzuki dealer in puerto rico and then shipped back to the USA. Once shipped to puerto rico, Suzuki provides a specific VIN as vehicles exported out of the USA. The vehicle was shipped back to USA in 2009 and ever since I have received three safety recall notifications to have done by local Suzuki dealer. We contacted the local Suzuki dealers several times and the VIN does not appear in their system at all. I been told they will not service my vehicle being that it was ship from puerto rico and the only place they would fix the recall would be there. I have contacted corporate Suzuki multiple times and been told they can't do much to try to negotiate with the dealer again which has refused to do the service. I have been many hours explaining my situation to different individuals from dealer and Suzuki and never come to a solution after several months. …
My vehicle (in addition to headlights that burn out frequently), has had the airbag sensor control light and seat belt light illuminated off and on for the past few months, accompanied by the high pitched beep-beep-beep ...alarming, of course. Mine also came on a little of 54,000 mile. As it is intermittent, and I am generally in the vehicle alone, I haven't had it looked at or replaced. This will happen when no one and/or nothing is on the front seat. Various speeds (from 35 MPH to freeway speeds). E lights for the front passenger seat airbag and seatbelt are constantly on. They came on at approximately 56000 miles. I was told by Suzuki of nashville that it was possibly the sensor in the front passenger seat, but not sure. Cost of $2700 to repair. Also I was told that they do not know if the airbags will deploy or if the seat belt will catch when brakes are activated. …
I purchased a 2nd hand 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara. The light for my air bag lit up on my dashboard. When I took it in for servicing, I was informed that the sensor on the front seat passenger air bag module was defective and needed to be replaced. As I conducted my research with the mainland Suzuki office and the local dealership, it was presented to me that many, many vehicles of the same was brought it for the same problem. I was not in any accident but was responsible in paying a little over $2,000.00 out of my pocket. Apparently the "black listed" extended warranty that was provided to me at the time of sale, does not cover restraints. I am upset that the manufacturer of this car does not want to take responsibility, and for 2nd hand buyers - we are made financially responsible for paying for the repairs. …
I got a 2006 Grand Vitara brand new at first it was little things like my dome light switch breaking and the window controller becoming loss and after getting them fixed they break again a week latter then a sensor light comes on about the air bag and wont go off the worst thing is my air condition control only lets ac run cant turn it off and don't try to put the heat from you feet to face the air might just stop working then I started to have bearing issues that was a recall item but my dealership closed so I had to drive 47 miles drop it off and had to come back the next day to get it that was the first recall then my car started to make a weird noise I got the notice of another recall and my pulley broke and I cant drive my car 47 miles to get it fixed I asked if I just fix it my self will they refund me my money back for the part they said no and they wouldn't even ship the item to …
Related recalls
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kizashi and 2006-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles. The front passenger leather seat may shrink due to high humidity and high temperature.
Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat bottom cushion, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2019.
Air bags
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Grand Vitara and 2007-2011 SX4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, over time, the OCS sensor mat installed in the front passenger seat may fail due to repeated flexing of the mat from use of the seat.
Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners and dealers will replace the front passenger seat cushion assembly (which includes the OCS sensor mat) free of charge.
NHTSA investigations
Occupant Classification System Failure
Suzuki Motor of America is conducting a safety recall to remedy the occupant classification system's (OCS) sensor mats in approximately 193,936 model year 2006-2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara and 2007-2011 Suzuki SX4 vehicles (see NHTSA recall 13V-405 for more details).The sensor mat installed in the front passenger seat can develop an electrical circuit disconnection as a result of repeated flexing of the seat from use of…
Airbag complaints in other Grand Vitara years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
NHTSA has 50 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara, 31% of the model year's 161 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-187 (occupant classification, Mar 7, 2019); NHTSA recall 13V-405 (air bags, Sep 6, 2013). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 1 fire and 8 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.