Most common 2001 Suzuki Vitara problems
Share of the 27 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Suzuki Vitara complaints by model year
Best Vitara years: 2001. Years to avoid: 1999. Compare all years →
What 2001 Suzuki Vitara owners say
Engine & cooling
Driving and suddenly engine makes a horrible noise and stopped. All the dashboard light cameon, I did not start the vehicle. Had it towed to a mechanic. Once the mechanic got it started he told me that he thought I had major engine problems. Decided to have vehicle towed to my nephew's mechanic whom I would trust, and the found that the time chain appartently jumped stopped which caused major engine damage. Also, they had come to the conclusion the reason why the timing chain did this was due to a foreign piece of medal that looked like a washer which evidentially worked its way and got caught into the the chain. He said that the only way this piece of medal could have gotten there was during the time the vehicle was built. Suzuki was not much help. They said that I should have brought the vehicle to the dealer which was not close by nor did I know at the time what the problem was.
Owned vehicle for 3 years had oil changes every 3 months no problem til on the March 14th, 2005 I was driving through a neighbor going around 10 MPH and all of the sudden the engine makes a horrible noise and stops. All the dashboard lights came on. Did not start the vehicle up. Had it towed to a mechanic. Mechanic had trouble getting it started and once he got it started he told me that he did not know what went wrong but he advised that my engine had gone bad. I then had vehicle towed to my nephew's whom I can trust. And they found out the the timing chain apparently jumped stopped and caused major damage to my engine which the engine had to be replaced.
Suspension
2001 grand Vitara 4 door r235-60-16 tires; vehicle dramatically swerves suddenly to the side at highway speeds; forces constant control of vehicle; experienced by at least 2 other drivers of the vehicle; tires replaced; alignment done; no change; vehicle appears to be unsafe on te highway; if tires encounter an imperfection in the road such as an indentation where the asphalt meets, it will hit that spot and jump to the side; several near accidents; reported to dealer who said there is nothing out of the ordinary; however, it appearded in the last year; acts as if something is wrong with steering mechanism; had this problem once before on a differnt vehivle & it was the steering column
The cigarette lighter pop's out when it done to were I can't find it, it has burnt several items in my tray,and floor. Also the gas pedal stick's when you push down on it to give a verbal acceleration to get around someone etc. The air in the tire's are always going down. The oil says it low everytime I look at it once every two weeks. The belt on the ac keep losing and now it needs replaced because it now has freezed up on me. The radio at 12:00 am and pm reads 00. Then the minutes only displaced. There's a rattle under the car, don't know what that is? When I put the 4x4 on it has a hard time going back into the regular gear. So really just needed to see if there were recalls on theses problem's?
Transmission & drivetrain
While driving 70 MPH the front end of the Suzuki grand Vitara xl7 (2001) the steering wheel began to shake violently in my hands. I pulled over to the side of the road and noticed that there was a rip in the rubber boot under the SUV on the drivers side (front). I believe it was called a 1/2 shaft. I stuck my finger in the rip of the rubber boot and felt a bunch of pieces on metal & large ball bearings laying in there. I had to park the SUV and call someone to pick up myself and my children so that we could pick up the wife which was being released from the hospital. I rented a u-haul truck with a trailer (185.00) and drove it back from milwaukee. December 24th. I placed the SUV on jack stands and took off the tire and the cap for the drive shaft on the outer part by the break drum, I found a retainer clip about 1" in diameter. …
The cigarette lighter pop's out when it done to were I can't find it, it has burnt several items in my tray,and floor. Also the gas pedal stick's when you push down on it to give a verbal acceleration to get around someone etc. The air in the tire's are always going down. The oil says it low everytime I look at it once every two weeks. The belt on the ac keep losing and now it needs replaced because it now has freezed up on me. The radio at 12:00 am and pm reads 00. Then the minutes only displaced. There's a rattle under the car, don't know what that is? When I put the 4x4 on it has a hard time going back into the regular gear. So really just needed to see if there were recalls on theses problem's?
2001 Suzuki Vitara engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 22 / 25 / 23 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 22 / 26 / 23 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 22 / 25 / 23 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 21 / 24 / 22 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 20 / 23 / 21 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 20 / 23 / 21 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 20 / 23 / 21 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 20 / 22 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Suzuki Vitara a good car?
Based on 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Vitara rates average: 30% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Vitara at the same age. It is one of the best Vitara 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 2001 Suzuki Vitara?
The engine & cooling — 9 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the suspension (4) and transmission & drivetrain (4).
How many recalls does the 2001 Suzuki Vitara have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2001 Suzuki Vitara. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Suzuki Vitara?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999. See the full Suzuki Vitara years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Suzuki Vitara problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 48,000 miles; 54% 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.