2008 Suzuki Forenza owner complaints

I was driving on the interstate and just passed a semi truck going about 65 MPH and then my car suddenly switched gears into neutral on it's own. I was able to pull over to the side of the road safely and restart the car a couple times for it to reset and go back to normal. I was on my way to the dealership when this incident occurred. There had been an issue with the park/neutral switch previously in my car but this was the first time that the gear switched while I was driving and not when I first started the car and put it into gear. That had happened frequently when I started the car and put it in drive but it said it was in neutral but then after a couple restarts it would reset and work correctly for a little while before it happened again. Once I replaced that switch I haven't b

In less than 2 months, I've had to replace several parts of my car that I don't believe is part of regular service maintenance. Thermostat, coolant hose, spark plugs (twice in a year), brake lights and headlight bulbs (replaced twice in a year), transmission control module and motor mounts because of the TCM that made my car jerk all the time whenever I accelerate. Either at a traffic light or on the freeway, my car hesitates to accelerate and jerks every time I shift gears. Now, possibly the transmission range sensor needs to be replaced (I am currently in the process with this one). I'm afraid in the next few months, I'll be spending more on car repairs than the car is worth and it's only a 2008! *tr

One day, when I put my car in reverse, it "clunked" into gear, the gear display was scrambled, and the check engine light came on. I shut my car off and started it again, thinking it was a fluke. The check engine light remained on and it also "clunked" into drive. When I went to accelerate, the RPM's were 5-10 higher than normal and it took a little longer to "get up and go." sometimes, my car will initially run fine until a few minutes into the drive, when it falls into neutral while driving, then goes back to drive, the check engine light comes on again, and the problems resurface. I took it to advanced auto parts and the machine said transmission control system but they said that could mean anything and would be fine to drive. After taken off the machine, the check engine light went off

The TCM switch on my 2008 Suzuki forenza was replaced in november of 2010 and was found by an authorized service center for Suzuki as being defected. I was told that it caused the transmission to switch itself into neutral, which caused the car to fail attempts to accelerate at times. I had taken the car to the Suzuki dealership where I purchased the car within 30 days of buying the car and complained about acceleration. I was told the was new and would take a little while for the parts to work out their newness. Within the next two years this issue persisted and would cease to happen after taking the car in and being told there was no problem found. The issue seemed to go away and would return again within 90 days. I was even told that I was used to driving cars with better perform

Had to replace the transmission range sensor. $140 fix between parts and labor. Of course it wasn't under the 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Suzuki forenza. The contact stated that the vehicle would not accelerate over 20 MPH and the check engine light would illuminate sporadically. A local mechanic diagnosed that the transmission range sensor was defective. The range sensor was replaced and the vehicle began to work normally. The dealer was contacted, but the contact was unable to have the dealer repair the failure due to distance. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 47,000 and the current mileage was 48,170.

Transmission regulation sensor - car jumping out of gear while driving. Dangerous very dangerous. *tr

My check engine light came on and was put on machine and got a po700 and po705 which required a sensor which should not have been on a brand new car. From my understanding there have been a lot of problems with this and I don't understand why a recall has not been done on this because my warranty did not cover this do to not being inside the transmission due to Suzuki's rules.

Coming home late night around 2ish, waiting at a redlight my car does a sudden jerk, the check engine light comes on and im in drive (foot on brake pedal) but in the dash the gear starts flashing and indicating I was in neutral but I wasn't. Light turns green I go to press down on the acceleration and my car seemed like it barely wanted to drive, as if it needed a push. I didn't drive my car for the whole weekend because I was paranoid. Took my car in that monday on october 22nd 2012 (they had it for 8days), got my car back assuming the problem was fixed, but here we are a month later, november 29th 2012 and my car it doing the same. I was driving maybe about 30pmh and I was coming to a stop at a light and my car did a soft jerk and the engine light came on. Went to turn into a parking lot

The "trans range switch" is causing my car to jump to 2 gear randomly. The car seems to run fine after o start it. And out of no were the engine jumps and the "engine light" comes on the car acts likes its not in 1st gear. It can't get it to go into gear (drive or reverse) without it jumping. Then after the car sits for a day it acts fine for the first trip and then it starts the same problem again afterwards. I can't go uphill either without it reaving high like its in neutral. I think this is the "trans range switch" going bad.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Suzuki forenza. The contact was driving approximately 20 MPH when the vehicle would not accelerate as the check engine light illuminated. The contact stated the dealer was contacted and the transmission range switch was replaced, remedying the defect. The contact was unable to contact the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Suzuki forenza. The contact stated that while driving various speeds, the transmission independently shifted into neutral. The engine was turned off and restarted, however the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic numerous times. The transmission range sensor, head gasket and transmission were replaced at different times. In addition, the catalytic converter and coil pack were replaced. The failure continued after the repairs were performed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Suzuki forenza. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle began to decelerate and a warning light illuminated on the instrument panel displaying the drive symbol with a line across. This symbol indicated no drive. The contact stopped the vehicle and was able to restart it without failure. The warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnostic. The technician stated that the transmission range sensor would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Suzuki forenza. While driving approximately 30 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front end of the contact's vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a neck and a back injury that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,000. ......updated 01/12/15*bf updated 01/15/15.*jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Suzuki forenza. The contact stated that the driver side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,125.

Air bag light came on in car. Had to take to dealer to reset. Wiring harness under the seat was faulty. *tr

We have a 2008 Suzuki forenza. The passenger air bag will not activate with someone of an appropriate weight sitting in the seat when the car is started. If the car is running when someone sits down sometimes it will go off. The car has been to the dealer 4- 5 times and they say there is nothing wrong. This is a major safety risk for the front seat passenger. Your help will be greatly appreciated. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Suzuki forenza. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag in the seat inadvertently deployed causing significant injury to the contacts eardrum and the seat was destroyed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was not available.

In mid july my airbag warning light came on in my vehicle. I took it to my local Suzuki dealership where I was told by an associate it would be atleast $1800.00 to resolve the issue. My vehicle wasn't even brought into the service department for a diagnostic. Unable to afford a repair of that magnitude I'm concerned for the safety of my family if the airbag system doesn't deploy in the event of an accident. Searching the internet I've noticed this issue is common with suzukis 05' and up. Mine being an 08' my warranty expired the same month about 2weeks earlier so they said there wasn't anyway around the $1800 charge. I believe this issue should be recalled so a basically new car doesn't have a faulty expensive and apparently extensive repair due within the 36,000 mile/3year warranty period

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Suzuki forenza. The contact stated that when driving at various speeds, the vehicle would exhibit an unusual jerking sensation and a misfire. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be inspected and they informed her that she would need to have the catalytic converter replaced. The dealer was unable to repair the failure because part in stock. This failure recurred on an intermittent basis. The catalytic converter was replaced prior to the failure. The vehicle was not further repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was approximately 42,400.