Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara. 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 ↗Passenger Seat Occupant Detection System may Fail
- Summary
- 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.
Gear Shift Rear Shaft may Break
- Summary
- 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.
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 (13)
13 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The air bags is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 7 | 53.8% |
| Seats | 2 | 15.4% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 7.7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 7.7% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 7.7% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 7.7% |
| Power train | 1 | 7.7% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 7.7% |
| Steering | 1 | 7.7% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 7.7% |
How 2012 compares with other Grand Vitara years
Best and worst Grand Vitara years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 8 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 | 1 |
| 2006 | 161 | 6 |
| 2007 | 58 | 3 |
| 2008 | 42 | 2 |
| 2009 | 14 | 4 |
| 2010 | 20 | 5 |
| 2011 | 11 | 4 |
| 2012 | 13 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 | 2 |
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 22 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,050
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 404 g/mi
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 / 25 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 / 24 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel Drive | 19 / 23 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2012 Grand Vitara 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
2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara FAQ
How many recalls does the 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 19V187000 (air bag), 17V085000 (power train). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara problems?
Owners filed 13 complaints with NHTSA. Air bags (7), Seats (2), Electrical system (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara get?
EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 19 city, 25 highway and 22 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2012 Grand Vitara compare with other years?
Among the 2004–2013 Suzuki Grand Vitara model years at least five years old, the 2005 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2006 the most (161). The 2012 drew 13. 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.