The bolts that fasten the drive plate to the torque converter may loosen and come out
Suzuki is recalling 142 model year 2013 SX4 vehicles manufactured December 26, 2012, through February 4, 2013 and equipped with a continuously variable transmission.
The bolts that fasten the drive plate to the torque converter may not have been installed with sufficient torque and may loosen and come out. The detached bolts can get caught between the drive plate and cylinder block, which may cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Its cars sell great in India, but in the U.S. not so much
Suzuki makes a great motorcycle, we’re told, and it’s the No. 1 automaker in India. But its sales in the U.S. have been barely detectable the last few years and now the company says it’s packing up and shipping out.
American Suzuki Motor Corp. Suzuki’s sole U.S. distributor, said today it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will stop selling new cars immediately. It said it will continue to honor warranties and provide parts for Suzukis already on the road.
The company blamed the decision on poor sales, high costs and stringent safety and pollution regulations. Customers haven’t exactly been ecstatic about their cars so the company’s demise may not result in public outbursts of remose.
My car is a Forenza Station Wagon 2006. In 2008, the dealer replaced my transmission. Now 4 years later, I need another one, Deborah of Matthews, N.C. wrote in a ConsumerAffairs posting recently.
I contacted the corporate office and they said they couldn’t do anything for me. There is no way a car should need two transmissions in 6 years.
Deborah was far from the only consumer to experience serious transmission problems without receiving any help from Suzuki. David of Gulfport, Miss. bought a 2008 Firenza with a 100,000-mile drive-train warranty for his daughter, who took it to Hawaii.
Once there, the transmission started having problems so she took it to the only Suzuki dealer on the island. They said they would not honor the warranty because Suzuki would not let them have any 2008 models? David said.
Something needs to be done about this. My daughter can barely afford to live there, let alone pay for a new transmission.
Suzuki started selling cars in the U.S. in 1985 and sold a high of 102,000 vehicles in 2007. But its growth was sidelined by the financial crisis of 2008 and never quite got back on track. The company sold just 26,000 in the last year.
Suzuki began a slow disappearing act earlier this year when it skipped several major auto shows, suspended its social media activity and slashed national television advertising. It also dropped 32 dealers last year and even canceled its subscription to J.D. Power Associates’ customer satisfaction data.
The company’s cars often came in near the bottom of governmental and independent safety te
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