2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 7 of 13 complaints (54%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Engine include more fire reports (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 11 in 2011 to 13 in 2012.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | vs. 2012 Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,850–3,300 | 2,850–3,100 | 2,850–3,100 | 2,850–3,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–22 | 20–22 | 20–22 | 20–22 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–19 / 23–26 | 19 / 23–25 | 19 / 23–25 | 19 / 23–25 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 404–468 | 404–444 | 404–444 | 409–431 | |
| Complaints filed | 20 | 11 | 13 | 4 | |
| Recalls issued | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
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 2012 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 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Airbags & Restraints: 7 of 13 NHTSA complaints (54%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara get?
EPA rates it 20–22 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
EPA estimates $2,850–$3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 19 mpg | 25 mpg (high) | 22 mpg (high) | $2,850 (low) | 404 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 19 mpg | 24 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.4L | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 19 mpg | 23 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 444 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 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.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION · Campaign 17V085000 · Feb 13, 2017
Defect: 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.
Consequence: If the transmission cannot be shifted, it can increase the risk of a crash.
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. Suzuki's number for this recall is VZ.