Most common 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara problems
Share of the 13 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Suzuki Grand Vitara complaints by model year
Best Grand Vitara years: 2013, 2004, 2009. Years to avoid: 2006, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2002. Compare all years →
2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara recalls (2)
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.
Power train › Manual transmission
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The gear shift rear shaft on these vehicles may break, preventing the gears from being able to be changed.
Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the gear shift rear shaft, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934.
What 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara owners say
Air bags
The airbag system defect light went on and stayed on. The diagnosis from an authorized former Suzuki dealer (Lincoln of Wayne, Wayne, New Jersey), charging approximately $270 for the diagnosis, was that the occupant sensing pad including the bottom seat on the passenger side had failed. This particular part had already been replaced under an NHTSA-related safety recall campaign approximately three years ago. The replaced part had not previously actually failed, but now the replacement part has failed. Contacting Suzuki headquarters in California, I found that they were saying the replacement part needed is not in stock and if it were in stock, they would be charging approximately $2700 for the part not including installation. Please contact Suzuki of America and have them produce more of the part and fund a campaign to replace the faulty replacement parts. Thank you.
On September 12 2016 aproximately at 2:00 am my wife was impacted on the drivers side door waiting for the green light. The vehicle was at a stanstill when a Jeep late 90s model hit her full force on the drivers side door, luckily the fortification of the bar inside the door that goes across took the blunt of the impact and my wife only came out with minoir bruises and cuts from the drivers window. Neither the drivers airbag or the passenger airbag deployed and that concerns me because the vehicle wass estimated to be going around 40mph when it impacted my wifes car. Ive notified my local dealer where Suzuki vehicles are dealt with and its been said that since theres no recall theres nothing to be done.
2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 19 / 25 / 22 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 19 / 24 / 21 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD | 19 / 23 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara a good car?
Based on 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Grand Vitara rates better than average: 60% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Grand Vitara 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 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
The air bags — 7 complaints, 54% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the seats (2) and fuel & propulsion system (1).
How many recalls does the 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara, the most recent from March 7, 2019 (occupant classification). 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 Grand Vitara?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013, 2004 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006, 1999, 2000, 2007 and 2002. See the full Suzuki Grand Vitara years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 39,000 miles; 75% 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.