2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Visibility & Lighting
Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 20 of 42 complaints (48%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 58 in 2007 to 42 in 2008.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | vs. 2008 Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,300–3,650 | 3,300–3,450 | 3,300–3,450 | 2,850–3,300 | 2,850–3,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 17–19 | 18–19 | 18–19 | 19–22 | 19–22 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15–17 / 20–22 | 16–17 / 21–22 | 16–17 / 21–22 | 17–19 / 23–26 | 17–19 / 23–26 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 468–523 | 468–494 | 468–494 | 404–468 | 404–468 | |
| Complaints filed | 161 | 58 | 42 | 14 | 20 | |
| Recalls issued | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 15 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Visibility & Lighting: 20 of 42 NHTSA complaints (48%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara get?
EPA rates it 18–19 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
EPA estimates $3,300–$3,450 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 2.7L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 17 mpg (high) | 22 mpg (high) | 19 mpg (high) | $3,300 (low) | 468 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 5-spd | 6 | 2.7L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 16 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (high) | 18 mpg (low) | $3,450 (high) | 494 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 2.7L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 17 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (high) | $3,300 (low) | 468 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 5-spd | 6 | 2.7L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 16 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | $3,450 (high) | 494 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 13 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
SEATS; AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION · Campaign 19V187000 · Mar 8, 2019
Defect: 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. As a result, the occupant classification system (OCS) sensor mat may not accurately detect if an adult or child is occupying the seat.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, an incorrect classification may result in the passenger frontal air bag deploying even if there is a child in the front passenger seat, increasing their risk of injury.
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. All second letters notifying owners of the remedy were mailed by April 10, 2020. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's numbers for this recall are 4011 and 4012.
AIR BAGS · Campaign 13V405000 · Sep 10, 2013
Defect: 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. As a result, during a crash necessitating deployment, the air bag will deploy regardless of whether the front seat occupant is an adult or a child.
Consequence: Air bag deployment with a child in the front passenger side seat increases the risk of injury to that child.
Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners and dealers will replace the front passenger seat cushion assembly (which includes the OCS sensor mat) free of charge. Sufficient quantities of parts are not currently available to fix all of the affected vehicles. Owners will be notified of the recall in October 2013 and will receive a second notification when parts are available to have their vehicle repaired. The recall began on May 23, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's recall campaign number is VD.