U.S. public vehicle records

Suzuki SAMURAI problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

45 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1986 to 1998 model years. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 45 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting	2	4.4%
Braking behavior	2	4.4%
Engine operation	1	2.2%
Steering behavior	1	2.2%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly

Seat Belts:Front:Retractor

Suspension:Front

Tires:Tread/Belt

Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner

Seat Belts:Front:Webbing

Steering

Structure:Frame And Members

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly	6
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	5
Suspension:Front	5
Tires:Tread/Belt	4
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner	3
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing	2
Steering	2
Structure:Frame And Members	2

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 6; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 5; Suspension:Front: 5; Tires:Tread/Belt: 4; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 3; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 2; Steering: 2; Structure:Frame And Members: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 45 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

1996

1997

1999

2000

2001

2003

1995: 20; 1996: 8; 1997: 7; 1999: 2; 2000: 4; 2001: 2; 2003: 2

Pattern summary

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 484380 · 1995-07-24 (July 24, 1995)

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE TRANSMISSION AREA. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484380 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 519108 · 1997-09-08 (September 8, 1997)

TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT RETAINING BOLT SNAPPED OFF TWICE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 519108 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 547464 · 1999-07-22 (July 22, 1999)

WHEN CONSUMER SUDDENLY APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER CAUSING HER SERIOUS INJURY. *YC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 547464 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 855615 · 2000-01-27 (January 27, 2000)

WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 855615 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 514218 · 1997-04-16 (April 16, 1997)

ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 514218 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 485887 · 1995-07-05 (July 5, 1995)

STEERING MECHANISM FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ROLLOVER. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485887 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1994

1998

1986: 0; 1987: 0; 1988: 1; 1989: 1; 1990: 1; 1991: 1; 1992: 0; 1994: 0; 1998: 0

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Suzuki SAMURAI model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
1986	5	0	Not available
1987	6	0	0
1988	20	1	+1
1989	2	1	0
1990	2	1	0
1991	3	1	0
1992	4	0	-1
1994	2	0	Not available
1998	1	0	Not available

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

45 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 45 records

82.2%Valid incident date37 / 45 records

100.0%Valid filing date45 / 45 records

82.2%Ordered incident and filing dates37 / 45 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1994	1998
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	525.0% ODI 501073 PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT RELEASE. *DSH Look up ODI 501073 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 982663 PASSENGER REAR RIGHT LAP BELTS INOPERATIVE, MALE WON'T GO INTO FEMALE PORTION TO LOCK. *AK Look up ODI 982663 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	525.0% ODI 490542 FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH BROKE. *DSH Look up ODI 490542 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Suspension:Front	120.0% ODI 965995 UPON IMPACT, BROADSIDE REAR DRIVER'S, 30MPH SPUN AROUND THEN ROLLED OVER. TT Look up ODI 965995 at NHTSA ↗	116.7% ODI 484344 VEHICLE VEERED RIGHT THEN LEFT, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURY. *SKD Look up ODI 484344 at NHTSA ↗	15.0% ODI 964339 FRAME IS TO SMALL. *AK Look up ODI 964339 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 967271 COMING OFF RAMP VEHICLE STATED SWIRLING AND SKIDDING WHEN REACHING BOTTOM OF REMP, VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. *AK Look up ODI 967271 at NHTSA ↗	125.0% ODI 483006 LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE ON WET PAVEMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STRIKE SIDE OF HILL/ROLLOVER. *SD Look up ODI 483006 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Tires:Tread/Belt	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	116.7% ODI 10041110 TIRE FAILURE. *LA Look up ODI 10041110 at NHTSA ↗	210.0% ODI 733390 TREAD SEPERATED (TIRESIZE: P205/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/75R15 ) Look up ODI 733390 at NHTSA ↗	150.0% ODI 878225 WHILE TRAVELING 55MPH HEARD A NOISE. VEHICLE STARTED TO SHIMMY. PULLED VEHICLE OVER & CHECKED ON TIRES. NOTICED LEFT FRONT TIRE, A SPARE, HAD LOST ITS TREAD. TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED SUZUKI SAMAURI JEEP FIRESTONE, SF405, P205/70R15, DOT ELYTCKK508. AK JB Look up ODI 878225 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	15.0% ODI 975539 WHEN REAR ENDED THE SEAT BACKS BROKE AND CAUSED FURTHER INJURIES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT Look up ODI 975539 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	2100.0% ODI 964137 WAS HIT FROM REAR AND THE TWO SEATS RECLINED DRIVER WAS THROWN INTO THE BACK. TT Look up ODI 964137 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	15.0% ODI 960767 FRONT SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTION, TAKATA SEAT BELTS. TT Look up ODI 960767 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 964012 SEAT BELT FAILURE. TT Look up ODI 964012 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Steering	120.0% ODI 865188 WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON FREEWAY 101 THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN FRONT THAT WAS IN THE WAY. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE MADE A SLIGHT TURN TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, AND ALL OF SUDDEN VEHICLE ROLLED OVER, HITTING AN EMBANKMENT, THEN HIT A WALL, THEN VEHICLE STOOD UP. AK ML Look up ODI 865188 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	15.0% ODI 964411 TRAVELING ON RAMP HIT CURB LOST CONTROL VEHICLE ROLLED OVER IN THE AIR. TT Look up ODI 964411 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Structure:Frame And Members	120.0% ODI 514678 PART OF FRAME AROUND WINDSHIELD FELL OFF, LEAVING A HOLE AROUND WINDSHIELD, WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO ENTER INTERIOR OF VEHICLE, DAMAGING WIRES TO RADIO AND ALSO FLOODED INTERIOR. Look up ODI 514678 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	15.0% ODI 964339 FRAME IS TO SMALL. *AK Look up ODI 964339 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1994: 2 complaints · 1998: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1994	0	2	2
1998	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1994	2	0	0
1998	1	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly	Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	Suspension:Front	Tires:Tread/Belt	Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner	Seat Belts:Front:Webbing	Steering	Structure:Frame And Members
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Suspension:Front	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	1 ODI 964339 FRAME IS TO SMALL. *AK Look up ODI 964339 at NHTSA ↗
Tires:Tread/Belt	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Steering	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Structure:Frame And Members	0	0	1 ODI 964339 FRAME IS TO SMALL. *AK Look up ODI 964339 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

1 patterns with matching reports.

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 2.2% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 514218

ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

Look up ODI 514218 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b