Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1996 Suzuki Sidekick. 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/FRONT STRUTS
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH OF THE MOUNTING BASE ON THE UPPER END OF THE FRONT STRUTS CAN LEAD TO BREAKAGE OF THE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE UPPER END OF THE FRONT STRUTS TO THE VEHICLE BODY.
- Consequence
- IF THE STRUT BROKE LOOSE, A DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL ADD A REINFORCEMENT, FOR BOTH FRONT STRUTS, BETWEEN THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTING BASE AND THE VEHICLE BODY. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTING BASES, MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUTS, AND STRUT BAR STAYS WILL BE REPLACED.
SUZUKI/FUEL:FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY
- Summary
- THE FUEL TANK ON THESE VEHICLES CAN BECOME PUNCTURED BY A FUEL TANK FLANGE ATTACHMENT REINFORCEMENT DURING REAR-END COLLISIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL TANK INTEGRITY."
- Consequence
- CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTING FROM THIS PUNCTURE COULD RESULT IN A POST-CRASH FIRE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO NEW SHIELD GUSSETS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND ATTACHMENT BRACKETS TO PREVENT THE REINFORCEMENT FROM PUNCTURING THE FUEL TANK WALL.
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 (59)
59 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The suspension is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 59 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 15 | 25.4% |
| Power train | 14 | 23.7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 10 | 16.9% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 13.6% |
| Air bags | 4 | 6.8% |
| Equipment | 3 | 5.1% |
| Structure | 3 | 5.1% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 3.4% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 3.4% |
How 1996 compares with other Sidekick years
Best and worst Sidekick years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5 | 1 |
| 1991 | 14 | 1 |
| 1992 | 10 | 0 |
| 1993 | 14 | 1 |
| 1994 | 21 | 1 |
| 1995 | 26 | 0 |
| 1996 | 59 | 2 |
| 1997 | 36 | 1 |
| 1998 | 27 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 | 0 |
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
- Special Purpose Vehicles
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 21 / 24 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 21 / 24 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 24 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 24 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 21 / 22 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 / 23 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 23 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 22 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 23 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 22 / 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 1996 Sidekick 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
1996 Suzuki Sidekick FAQ
How many recalls does the 1996 Suzuki Sidekick have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 00V008000 (suspension), 96V121002 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1996 Suzuki Sidekick problems?
Owners filed 59 complaints with NHTSA. Suspension (15), Power train (14), Engine and engine cooling (10) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1996 Suzuki Sidekick get?
EPA rates the 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 21 city, 24 highway and 22 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1996 Sidekick compare with other years?
Among the 1990–2000 Suzuki Sidekick model years at least five years old, the 2000 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1996 the most (59). The 1996 drew 59. 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.