Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2002 Suzuki Esteem. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗SUZUKI/FMVSS 212/WINDSHIELD MOUNTING
- Summary
- CERTAIN PASSENGER (111 MY 2002 ESTEEM, 777 MY 2002 AERIO, 2,368 MY 2003 AERIO) AND SPORT UTILITY (324 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA, 274 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA, 684 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA XL-7, AND 781 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA XL-7) VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, 'WINDSHIELD MOUNTING." THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED TO THE VEHICLE BODY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ADHESION BETWEEN THE PAINT APPLIED DURING THE SECOND-STAGE PAINTING PROCESS AND THE PAINT APPLIED DURING FINAL-STAGE PAINTING.
- Consequence
- IF THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED, IT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A CRASH WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE EJECTION OF UNBELTED OCCUPANTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES. VEHICLES THAT ARE FOUND TO HAVE INSUFFICIENT PAINT ADHESION WILL EITHER HAVE THE PROBLEM REMEDIED BY REPAINTING, OR WILL BE REPLACED, OR REPURCHASED AND DESTROYED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (5)
5 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The structure is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 2 | 40% |
| Wheels | 2 | 40% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 20% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 20% |
| Steering | 1 | 20% |
| Tires | 1 | 20% |
How 2002 compares with other Esteem years
Best and worst Esteem years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 13 | 0 |
| 1996 | 5 | 0 |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 |
| 1998 | 24 | 0 |
| 1999 | 20 | 0 |
| 2000 | 26 | 0 |
| 2001 | 21 | 0 |
| 2002 | 5 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 27 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,500
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 329 g/mi
- EPA class
- Subcompact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 27 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 32 / 27 | $2,500 | 329 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 31 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 30 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 30 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 31 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 30 / 25 | $2,700 | 356 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2002 Esteem for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2002 Suzuki Esteem FAQ
How many recalls does the 2002 Suzuki Esteem have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 03V223000 (visibility). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2002 Suzuki Esteem problems?
Owners filed 5 complaints with NHTSA. Structure (2), Wheels (2), Engine and engine cooling (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2002 Suzuki Esteem get?
EPA rates the 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 24 city, 32 highway and 27 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2002 Esteem compare with other years?
Among the 1995–2002 Suzuki Esteem model years at least five years old, the 1996 drew the fewest complaints (5) and the 2000 the most (26). The 2002 drew 5. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.