The 1996 Suzuki Sidekick has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 17,786 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the suspension. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION00V0080002000-01-2013,461 affected
Defect
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.
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.
Complaints by component
SUSPENSION
7
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
5
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
4
3crashes1fires2injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
4
SUSPENSION:FRONT
4
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
3
1fires
Total complaints81
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Clutch pedal separates from pivot shaft. Weld brakes, pedal detaches, vehicle disabled. Third occurrence. Oem pedal replacement reveals no-warranty, common occurrence failure mode. Pedal re-attached to shaft by professional welders on two previous occurrences. Have replaced clutch cable, clutch…”
“Clutch pedal separates from pivot shaft. Weld brakes, pedal detaches, vehicle disabled. Third occurrence. Oem pedal replacement reveals no-warranty, common occurrence failure mode. Pedal re-attached to shaft by professional welders on two previous occurrences. Have replaced clutch cable, clutch…”
“Tl*- the contact stated that while driving the 1996 suzuki sidekick sport on an icy afternoon he pulled into the driveway at 5 mph and hit the utility pole, and both airbags deployed. The passenger side airbag popped and burst into flames in the center of the bag. A neighbor saw what happened…”
“Consumer states that her vehicle caught fire. She states that she got into her vehicle and inserted the key. She said that when she turned the key, it sounded as if the battery was dead. She states she turned the ignition off, waited and then turned the ignition on again, then she smelled and saw…”
“The vehicle experienced the same defect as nhtsa recall 96-v-121-002 related to the fuel tank. The consumers vehicle was not included in the recall due to vin. *nlm”
“Consumer states, the temperature gauge always indicated hot, due to the radiator cap which is defected, has been change three times. And reocurring the problem.. Please provide further information. Ts”
“This car has been in the shop almost from the day I purschased it from largo honda in key largo florida; dec. Of 1999. Although I purschased an extended service contract for $8,000, I was never able to get satifaction from the dealer, the seller, or my warrenty co. Always at my expence , towing,…”
“This car has been in the shop almost from the day I purschased it from largo honda in key largo florida; dec. Of 1999. Although I purschased an extended service contract for $8,000, I was never able to get satifaction from the dealer, the seller, or my warrenty co. Always at my expence , towing,…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Suzuki Sidekick as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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