Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

1990 Suzuki SAMURAI: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1990 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System:Ignition:Module is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation150.0%

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.

Electrical System:Ignition:Module
1
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System:Ignition:Module1
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing1

Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

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. 2 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
1
1997
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19951
19971

1995: 1; 1997: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System:Ignition:Module leads the component reports. 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.

Examples from the source records

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

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 964012 · 1995-04-19 (April 19, 1995)

SEAT BELT FAILURE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 964012 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

95V103008 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly

Reported: 1995-05-24 (May 24, 1995)

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.

Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

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

Data completeness

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

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 2 records
100.0%Valid incident date2 / 2 records
100.0%Valid filing date2 / 2 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates2 / 2 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.

Component complaint heatmap
Component198619871988198919901991199219941998
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
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
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.

1 reports2024-112026-10

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
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

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.

Age 0Age 1Age 22 reports

1994: 2 complaints · 1998: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
1994022
1998000
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
1994200
1998100

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
ComponentElectrical System:Ignition:ModuleSeat Belts:Front:Webbing
Electrical System:Ignition:Module—0
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing0—

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.

1 patterns with matching reports.

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 50.0% 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