How many recalls does the 1999 Suzuki Vitara have?

NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 1999 Suzuki Vitara model year. Whether one car had the recall work done depends on that car, so check its VIN with NHTSA.

What is the WhipWorthy verdict on the 1999 Suzuki Vitara?

Worthy. More owner complaints than usual, not enough to mark it down. The verdict weighs this year against the other years of the Vitara, from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are unverified and not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

1999: 50 owner complaints, Worthy

Our take: worth a look. Owners filed more complaints than in a typical year of this model, not enough to mark it down.

Year verdict

Worthy

1.6× a typical year

More owner complaints than a typical year, not enough to mark it down. Still get it inspected.

Confidence: Medium

The typical year comes from only 3 years.

Past 100,000 miles

Not judged

Not enough older years of this model to compare against.

How the dial was counted

Year verdict: Typical year: 28 complaints, the median of 3 nearby years. Each counted over its first 8 years from January 1998; this one had 45.

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WhipWorthy sticker

1999 Suzuki Vitara

Complaints50Filed in all
Loading owner complaints
Recalls5On file
Loading recalls
CrashNoneNone listed by NHTSA
Loading crash ratings
MPG21 to 24Combined, EPA
Loading fuel economy

Complaints are unverified owner reports, not adjusted for how many were sold.

Compare this car Every Vitara year

Car report

Save this car to My Garage and see its recalls at a glance.Car Hunt Pass or Pro

Value signals

We do not price cars.

These help you judge whether this one is worth its price.

Costly problem zones ahead at your miles come with a Car Hunt Pass or Pro. See plans
Fuel: $2,700 to $3,050 a year.The EPA’s estimate for 15,000 miles a year, 55% in town, at its fuel prices. Each version
Loading the EPA's yearly fuel cost
Have the VIN? Check it is this car, and see its open recalls at NHTSA.
VIN
On the dash at the base of the windshield, or on the driver’s door sticker.

What about the price? Check the asking price on two listing sites. Buying from a dealer? Run its offer through the offer X ray.

Education, not financial or mechanical advice. Have any used car checked by a mechanic you trust before you buy.

The full record

Tap to open

What owners complain about

50 complaints; the part named most is the suspension

Unverified reports, not adjusted for sales. One complaint can name several parts, so shares add up past 100%. Filed Jan 20, 1999 to Aug 9, 2010. 40% name a part that is usually costly to fix.

Owners reported 3 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries in these complaints.

Suspension15 · 30%
Transmission and drivetrain10 · 20%Usually costly to fix
Engine8 · 16%Usually costly to fix

What one owner wrote about the suspension

Front suspension crossmember has rusted through on my 1999 Suzuki Vitara. The chevrolet tracker, which is the same car has had a safety recall due to this issue. This poses a significant safety concern! *tr

Filed Aug 18, 2008NHTSA complaint 102387261 of 18 owner quotes

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11 more parts, and 18 owner quotes

Every part owners name for the 1999 Suzuki Vitara, with their own words about what went wrong. Usually costly to fix among them: Body and frame.

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SourceOwner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1999 Suzuki Vitara. NHTSA, checked Nov 3, 2026.

Seller kit

Questions for the seller, test drive checks and price points

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Walk up to the seller ready

Questions to ask the seller of a 1999 Suzuki Vitara, built from this year's owner complaints and recalls. What to feel, hear and look at on the test drive, with boxes to tick at the car. Honest points to raise on price, from the records and never from guesses. Copy the questions to your phone in one tap.

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Write your offer

A ready to send offer for the seller, by text or email

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Send the seller a fair offer

Type the asking price and your own offer for the 1999 Suzuki Vitara, tick what you found, and get a polite message ready to text or email. Its reasons come from this year's owner complaints, recalls and crash ratings, and never from made up repair prices.

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When problems show up

Too few complaints give a mileage

Too few complaints mention a mileage to show a pattern. 0 complaints of 50 gave one, and a part needs at least 15.

SourceMileage from owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1999 Suzuki Vitara. NHTSA, checked Nov 3, 2026.

Will it outlast the loan?

The month of your loan each problem zone lands in

Not enough owner complaints for the 1999 Suzuki Vitara mention a mileage to lay against a loan. Have a mechanic look it over all the same.

Recalls

5 recalls on file

Not every car needs every fix. Run the VIN at NHTSA to see which are still open. Repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand; ask before any work.

Lights
Apr 7, 2009 · Recall 09E012000
Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
What can happen
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
The fix
Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
Lights
Oct 15, 1999 · Recall 99V273002
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."
What can happen
If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion and another vehicle was following closely, a vehicle crash could occur.
The fix
Dealers will replace the stop lamp switch assembly.
Seat belts
Jun 28, 1999 · Recall 99V155000
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.
What can happen
In the event of a crash, the seat belts may not properly restrain an occupant increasing the risk of injury.
The fix
Dealers will retorque both of the front seat belt lower anchor bolts to specification.
Equipment and accessories
Jun 28, 1999 · Recall 99V154000
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.
What can happen
An electrical short could occur due to the pinched wires.
The fix
Dealers will inspect the position/condition of the rear wiring harness and repair the wiring harness, if necessary.
Steering
Feb 9, 1999 · Recall 98V324002
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.
What can happen
If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, a loss of steering control could occur increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix
Dealers will replace the steering shaft coupling.

SourceRecalls listed by NHTSA for the 1999 Suzuki Vitara. NHTSA, checked Nov 3, 2026.

Crash ratings

None listed under this name

NHTSA's stars out of five, for each version it tested. Front crash stars only compare cars of about the same size and weight. The tests changed for 2011 models, so these stars do not line up with newer ones.

NHTSA lists no crash ratings under this model name for this year. It may rate the car under another name. Check at NHTSA.

SourceNHTSA crash ratings for the 1999 Suzuki Vitara. NHTSA, checked Nov 3, 2026.

Fuel economy

21 to 24 mpg combined, across 12 versions

The EPA's estimates for each engine and transmission, and its own yearly fuel cost. Yours depends on how you drive and the shape the car is in. Figures for 2007 and older use the EPA's 2008 method, so they may be lower than the original sticker.

Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L
Vitara 2Door 2WD · Rear wheel drive · Regular gas
City
22 mpg
Highway
25 mpg
Combined
23 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$2,800
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
Vitara 2Door 2WD · Rear wheel drive · Regular gas
City
20 mpg
Highway
23 mpg
Combined
21 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$3,050
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L
Vitara 2Door 2WD · Rear wheel drive · Regular gas
City
22 mpg
Highway
26 mpg
Combined
24 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$2,700
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
Vitara 2Door 2WD · Rear wheel drive · Regular gas
City
20 mpg
Highway
22 mpg
Combined
21 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$3,050
This one on fueleconomy.gov

Show 8 more versions

Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L
Vitara 2Door 4WD · 4 wheel or all wheel drive · Regular gas
City
21 mpg
Highway
24 mpg
Combined
22 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$2,900
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
Vitara 2Door 4WD · 4 wheel or all wheel drive · Regular gas
City
20 mpg
Highway
23 mpg

SourceEPA fuel economy data, fueleconomy.gov. EPA, checked Nov 3, 2026.

True cost to own

The loan, fuel, insurance and upkeep, a month and over 5 years

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What it really costs to own

What the 1999 Suzuki Vitara costs a month and over 5 years: the loan and its interest, fuel worked out from the EPA's figures for the version you pick, and your own insurance, registration and upkeep. A cost a mile, a link that reopens your numbers, and the breakdown copied to your phone in one tap.

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Every year of the Vitara

4 Worthy, 0 Maybe, 0 Pass, of 6 years on file

Owner complaints for each model year, this one outlined. Tap a year to open it. The newest 2 are not judged yet. Bars are totals, so older years stand taller; the verdict compares every year at the same age.

Best and worst years of the Vitara

SourceNHTSA owner complaints and recalls for the Vitara. NHTSA, checked Nov 3, 2026.

Before you buy this one

5 checks, with a close look at the suspension

Built from this year's numbers. Whatever the data says, the car in front of you is the one that counts.

Run the VIN at NHTSA to confirm every recall was fixed.
This year has 5 recalls on file. Recall repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand. Ask the dealer to confirm before any work is done. Look up a VIN at NHTSA.
Ask the seller for the service records.
Look closely for any work on the suspension. It is the part owners complain about most for this year.
Have a mechanic you trust inspect it before you pay.
Ask them to look at the suspension first.
Look at a vehicle history report.
It can show reported crashes, flood or salvage titles, and mileage that does not add up.
On the test drive, pay attention to the suspension.
Listen for clunks over bumps, and notice if the car wanders or leans hard.

Going to see it? Take the checklist52 checks with the bad signs to look for, saved on your phone.

Check this exact car

The verdict is about the model year. These checks are about the one in front of you. Most are free or a few dollars.

VIN for these checks

Copy it, then paste it into each check. Nothing is sent until you open one.

Official checks on this VIN

Open recallsFree
NHTSA
Safety recalls on this VIN that are not fixed yet, from the last 15 years.
A recall already fixed does not show.
Check recalls at NHTSAnhtsa.gov (opens in a new tab)
Theft and total lossFree
NICB VINCheck
Whether an insurer reported it stolen and not found, or wrote it off as a total loss.
Only insurer records. Five checks a day.
Open NICB VINChecknicb.org (opens in a new tab)
Title brandsA few dollars
NMVTIS, the federal title system
Salvage, flood, junk and rebuilt brands from any state, and the last miles on the title.
No repairs, service or recalls. Sold by approved sellers listed on the site.
See the approved sellersvehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov (opens in a new tab)
Title statusVaries by state
The state motor vehicle office
Whether the title is branded in that state and, where the state offers it, whether a lender still has a lien.
It will not name the owner. Each state asks its own way, and some only by mail. Ask to see the seller’s title too.
Find your state’s officeusa.gov (opens in a new tab)

What a paid report adds

A history report such as Carfax or AutoCheck pulls in more of the car’s past than these checks can:

Crashes and damage reported by police, insurers or shops, even when it was fixed.
Service visits that shops reported, with the miles each time.
How many owners, for how long, and the states it was registered in.
Whether it was a rental, fleet or lease car, when that was reported.

It only knows what was reported to it. A clean report is not proof of a clean car. Ask the seller first: many dealers hand one over for free.

Red flags in a history

Salvage title
Usually an insurer called it a total loss. In most states it cannot be driven on the road until it is rebuilt and inspected.
Rebuilt title
A salvage car that was fixed and passed a state check. It can be fine, but it is worth less, can be harder to insure, and needs a careful inspection.
Flood damage
Water can ruin wiring and sensors months later. Be wary of a flood brand that vanished after a move to another state.
Lemon or maker buyback
The maker bought it back over a defect it could not fix. Ask what the defect was and how it was fixed.
Odometer rollback
A mileage reading lower than an earlier one, or a title marked not actual miles.
Many owners, fast
Three owners in two years can mean a problem each one passed along.
Gaps in the records
Years with no service or registration. Ask why: it may have sat, been off the road, or been rebuilt.

Title words and rules differ by state. Not legal advice.

Before you pay

Pre purchase inspection
Have a mechanic you choose, not the seller, put it on a lift and look it over before you pay.
Insurance quote
Get a quote on this exact car before you sign. Ask your own insurer and one or two others.

Model year	Owner complaints	Verdict
1999	50	Worthy
2000	35	Worthy
2001	29	Worthy
2002	7	Worthy
2003	1	Not judged
2004	1	Not judged

The verdict on the 1999 Suzuki Vitara

Value signals

What owners complain about

Seller kit

Write your offer

When problems show up

Will it outlast the loan?

Recalls

Lights

What can happen

The fix

Lights

What can happen

The fix

Seat belts

What can happen

The fix

Equipment and accessories

What can happen

The fix

Steering

What can happen

The fix

Crash ratings

Fuel economy

Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L

Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L

Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L

Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L

True cost to own

Every year of the Vitara

Before you buy this one

Check this exact car

Official checks on this VIN

What a paid report adds

Before you pay

Pre purchase inspection

Insurance quote

Lights

What can happen

The fix

Lights

What can happen

The fix

Seat belts

What can happen

The fix

Equipment and accessories

What can happen

The fix

Steering

What can happen

The fix

Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L

Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L

Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L

Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L

Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L