Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1999 Suzuki 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 ↗SUZUKI/FMVSS 108/BRAKE LAMP SWITCH
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH. IF THE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY BE INOPERATIVE. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE, A FAILURE IN THE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH MAY ALSO PREVENT SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
- Consequence
- IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS FOLLOWING CLOSELY, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY.
SUZUKI/REAR STEREO SPEAKER WIRE
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 2-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PORT INSTALLATION OF REAR STEREO SPEAKERS, THE VEHICLES WIRING HARNESS COULD HAVE BEEN PINCHED BETWEEN THE REAR STEREO SPEAKER AND SPEAKER RETAINING PLATE.
- Consequence
- AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD OCCUR DUE TO THE PINCHED WIRES.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITION/CONDITION OF THE REAR WIRING HARNESS AND REPAIR THE WIRING HARNESS, IF NECESSARY.
SUZUKI/FRONT SEAT BELT LOWER ANCHOR BOLTS
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 2-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PORT INSTALLATION OF REAR STEREO SPEAKERS, THE FRONT SEAT BELT LOWER ANCHOR BOLTS WERE REMOVED TO FACILITATE THE REAR SPEAKER INSTALLATION AND MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION AFTER INSTALLATION OF THE SPEAKERS.
- Consequence
- IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL RETORQUE BOTH OF THE FRONT SEAT BELT LOWER ANCHOR BOLTS TO SPECIFICATION.
SUZUKI/STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COUPLER
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE COUPLING THAT CONNECTS THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT TO THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS CRACKED. THIS COULD ALLOW THE STEERING SHAFTS TO SEPARATE.
- Consequence
- IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT COUPLING.
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 (50)
50 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 50 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 15 | 30% |
| Power train | 10 | 20% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 16% |
| Structure | 4 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 8% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 8% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 6% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 6% |
| Steering | 3 | 6% |
| Air bags | 2 | 4% |
How 1999 compares with other Vitara years
Best and worst Vitara years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 50 | 4 |
| 2000 | 35 | 0 |
| 2001 | 27 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1 | 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 24 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,800
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 370 g/mi
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 24 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 | 22 / 26 / 24 | $2,800 | 370 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 22 / 25 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 22 / 25 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 24 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 / 23 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 / 22 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 / 23 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 / 23 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 23 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 22 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 23 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 23 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1999 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
1999 Suzuki Vitara FAQ
How many recalls does the 1999 Suzuki Vitara have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 99V273002 (brake), 99V154000 (electrical), 99V155000 (seat belt), 98V324002 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1999 Suzuki Vitara problems?
Owners filed 50 complaints with NHTSA. Suspension (15), Power train (10), Engine and engine cooling (8) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1999 Suzuki Vitara get?
EPA rates the 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 22 city, 26 highway and 24 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1999 Vitara compare with other years?
Among the 1999–2004 Suzuki Vitara model years at least five years old, the 2002 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1999 the most (50). The 1999 drew 50. 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.