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1998 Suzuki Sidekick

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The Verdict

Worst problem area

Airbags & Restraints

Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 9 of 27 complaints (33%) mention it.

Complaints filed fell from 36 in 1997 to 27 in 1998.

Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 3 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.Also cataloged for 1998: 6 configuration(s) of a different vehicle class, excluded from the comparison bar only (but included in the figures above).
Category199619971998vs. 1998 Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD
Annual fuel cost ($)2,850–3,1002,850–3,1002,850–3,100
Combined MPG20–2220–2220–22
City / Highway MPG19–21 / 22–2419–21 / 22–2419–21 / 22–24
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)404–444404–444404–444
Complaints filed593627Not compared
Recalls issued210Not compared
Crash-involved complaints359Not compared
Fire-involved complaints301Not compared
Injuries reported2511Not compared
Deaths reported000Not compared
Configurations compared10126

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 1998 Suzuki Sidekick have?

No NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026.

What is the most common complaint about the 1998 Suzuki Sidekick?

Airbags & Restraints: 9 of 27 NHTSA complaints (33%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 1998 Suzuki Sidekick get?

EPA rates it 20–22 MPG combined.

How much does it cost to fuel a 1998 Suzuki Sidekick?

EPA estimates $2,850–$3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

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EPA-Rated Configurations (12)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 1Automatic 3-spd41.6LRear-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 2WD20 mpg23 mpg21 mpg$2,950423 g/mi
Configuration 2Manual 5-spd41.6LRear-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 2WD21 mpg (high)24 mpg (high)22 mpg (high)$2,850 (low)404 g/mi (low)
Configuration 3Automatic 4-spd41.6LRear-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 2WD19 mpg (low)24 mpg (high)21 mpg$2,950423 g/mi
Configuration 4Manual 5-spd41.6LRear-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 2WD20 mpg24 mpg (high)22 mpg (high)$2,850 (low)404 g/mi (low)
Configuration 5Automatic 4-spd41.8LRear-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 2WD19 mpg (low)22 mpg (low)20 mpg (low)$3,100 (high)444 g/mi (high)
Configuration 6Manual 5-spd41.8LRear-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 2WD20 mpg23 mpg21 mpg$2,950423 g/mi
Configuration 7Automatic 3-spd41.6L4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 4WD20 mpg23 mpg21 mpg$2,950423 g/mi
Configuration 8Manual 5-spd41.6L4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 4WD21 mpg (high)24 mpg (high)22 mpg (high)$2,850 (low)404 g/mi (low)
Configuration 9Automatic 4-spd41.6L4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 4WD19 mpg (low)24 mpg (high)21 mpg$2,950423 g/mi
Configuration 10Manual 5-spd41.6L4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 4WD20 mpg24 mpg (high)22 mpg (high)$2,850 (low)404 g/mi (low)
Configuration 11Automatic 4-spd41.8L4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 4WD19 mpg (low)22 mpg (low)20 mpg (low)$3,100 (high)444 g/mi (high)
Show 1 more configuration
The remaining EPA-rated configurations on this page.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 12Manual 5-spd41.8L4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 4WD20 mpg23 mpg21 mpg$2,950423 g/mi

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
CategoryComplaintsCrash-InvolvedFire-InvolvedInjuriesDeaths
Engine60110
Transmission & Drivetrain30000
Fuel System41010
Electrical20000
Brakes31000
Steering00000
Suspension, Wheels & Tires41000
Airbags & Restraints96090
Driver Assistance & Speed Control00000
Body, Seats & Latches11010
Visibility & Lighting20000
Other10000

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

No recalls have been issued for this model-year.