Is the Suzuki Esteem Reliable?

19952002 reliability analysis based on NHTSA safety recalls and owner complaints.

85/100
Excellent

Reliability Score

1
Total Recalls
113
Owner Complaints
12
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Own a Suzuki Esteem? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.

Suzuki Esteem Reliability by Year

Model YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliability ScoreRating
200215
90
Excellent
20010171
83
Excellent
20000252
74
Good
1999012
88
Excellent
19980236
74
Good
1997041
96
Excellent
199605
95
Excellent
19950222
77
Good

Reliability scores are proprietary to VinCheckEngine and incorporate multiple weighted safety signals.

How the Esteem Compares to Similar Vehicles

Suzuki Esteem85/100
Sedan Category Average72/100

The Esteem scores 13 points above the average sedan — a strong result.

Known Suzuki Esteem Reliability Issues

The following components appear most frequently in owner complaints filed with NHTSA:

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
15
SUSPENSION
8
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
4

Based on 113 owner complaints across recent model years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Suzuki Esteem reliable?+

The Suzuki Esteem scores 85/100 on our reliability index — rated "Excellent." Across 8 recently analyzed model years, it accumulated 1 recall campaigns and 113 owner complaints in the NHTSA database.

What year Esteem is most reliable?+

Among the years analyzed, the 2002 Esteem achieved the highest reliability score of 90/100 with 1 recall and 5 complaints.

How many miles does a Esteem last?+

With consistent maintenance, most Suzuki Esteem owners report 150,000 to 200,000+ miles of service life. Checking the VIN of any specific used Esteem will reveal its actual mileage history and any title events.

More Suzuki Esteem Research

Check a Specific Suzuki Esteem VIN

Model-level reliability scores show general trends. A VIN-specific report reveals the exact history of any individual vehicle — accidents, odometer records, auction events, and open recalls.

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