Transmission slips into neutral while driving at 55 MPH. The electronic d starts flashing and it looks like there is n over the d on the dash. The car will not move unless I down shift into 3rd gear and the power train is automatic. *kb
2008 Suzuki Reno powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2008 Suzuki Reno have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 47,208 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 Reno | 20 |
| 2007 Reno | 23 |
| 2008 Reno (this page) | 12 |
When does it fail?
Of the 12 powertrain complaints filed for the 2008 Suzuki Reno, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
How fast does it fail?
Cumulative share of the 10 mileage-bearing powertrain complaints filed against the 2008 Suzuki Reno by each odometer reading. Median failure: 55,000 mi.
10% have failed by30,000 mi
Half the fleet by55,000 mi
90% have failed by85,000 mi
Curve based on owner-reported odometer mileage at the time of complaint. Reflects when owners filed, not when symptoms first appeared. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve.
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2008 Suzuki Reno shows a persistent pattern of transmission control failures, with the transmission range sensor emerging as the most common culprit. Owners describe the vehicle unexpectedly dropping into neutral while driving 50+ mph, lurching or hopping out of gear, and slamming hard when shifting from park. Check engine light codes P0705 and P0705P appear repeatedly. Several owners have replaced the sensor two to three times in short windows—sometimes within months—only to have the problem recur. Cost per replacement runs $250–$500.
Other powertrain faults follow a similar recurrence pattern: one owner had to replace the throttle position sensor, throttle body, and throttle pedal sensor every few months over extended ownership, all triggering limp-home mode and loss of power at highway speeds. One TCM replacement failed to stop stalling. Owners note the failures cluster just after powertrain warranty expiration and that independent repair shops and online Suzuki forums confirm this is widespread. Multiple owners cite safety concerns from sudden power loss when pulling onto highways or merging in traffic. Suzuki has issued no recall despite owner requests and the acknowledged frequency of these failures.
Same Suzuki Reno powertrain reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission Range Sensor Failure
The transmission range sensor triggers check engine lights and causes the transmission to slam into gear, lose power, or unexpectedly downshift to neutral. Owners report multiple replacements within months of each other, with the failures recurring even after repair.
When: 20,550 miles to 62,000 miles; commonly occurs shortly after powertrain warranty expiration
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; Vehicle lurches, hops out of gear, or slams into gear when shifting; Loss of power while driving, enters limp-home mode; Transmission drops into neutral unexpectedly while driving; Hard gear shifts and difficulty accelerating
Codes mentioned: P0705, P0705P
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement cost cited around $250–$500 per repair. Multiple owners replaced the sensor 2–3 times within a short span (some within 3 months of each other). One owner replaced it twice but still had to drive in 3rd gear to prevent random dropping out of gear.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Suzuki dealerships stated the transmission range sensor is not covered under the powertrain warranty. No recalls issued despite owners noting this is a known, widespread issue on Suzuki Reno and Forenza forums.
Transmission Control Module (TCM) Failure
The TCM causes the vehicle to stall or behave erratically. In one case, replacement of the TCM did not resolve the stalling issue.
When: 30,335 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls without warning while driving uphill; Erratic transmission behavior
Repairs/costs cited: TCM was replaced; repair did not remedy the stalling issue.
Throttle Position Sensor / Throttle Body Failure
The throttle position sensor fails repeatedly, causing the check engine light and loss of power. Failures recur every 2–3 months despite replacement attempts.
When: Recurring every 2–3 months over extended periods
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light comes on; Loss of power while driving; Enters limp-home mode; Engine hesitation
Repairs/costs cited: One owner had to replace the throttle position sensor, then throttle body, then throttle pedal position sensor repeatedly over several months. Extended warranty did not cover these repairs. Another owner replaced the throttle body and transmission range sensor.
Transmission Shift Quality / Gear Selection Issues
The transmission struggles to select gears properly, jolting into high gears unexpectedly and failing to shift smoothly. One owner reported the transmission stuck in 4th gear regardless of driving conditions.
When: Various mileages throughout vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Hard, abrupt gear shifts; Transmission jolt or unexpected downshifts; Vehicle stuck in 4th gear; Poor acceleration and struggle to shift; Difficulty leaving from a stop
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced a part twice and the issue persisted. No specific repair costs cited.
Transmission Range Selector Malfunction (Display/Electrical)
The electronic transmission display malfunctions, showing incorrect gear selection on the dash. One owner reported the odometer display scrambling during gear shifts and showing 'N' (neutral) over the 'D' (drive) indicator.
When: During normal operation
Symptoms owners cite: Electronic 'D' indicator flashes incorrectly; Display shows 'N' over 'D' on the dash; Odometer scrambles when switching gears; Odometer reads reverse when in park
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 11 most recent
This really should be enforced as a recall. Obd2 codes are p0705 and p0705p (transmission range sensor failures). When shifting to d or r, the check engine light goes on, you hear a loud voice and the car shakes, it's scary. The failure starts soon after powertrain warranty expiration date. I realized this happens to a lot of owners of Suzuki cars, sharing the exact same experiences. It's a shame…
Transmission has trouble switching gears, odometer scrambles when switching from park to drive, odometer reads as being in reverse when it's in park, and when it switches gears it switches hard and struggles to accelerate. *tr
Driving down the road going 50 mphs the engine light comes on loses all power goes into lump home mode. Took it to the shop and replaced the throttle position sensor. 3 months later light comes back on take it back to the dealership and this time it is the same thing they did a transmission flush and replaced the sensor again. 3 months later the same thing happened again this time its the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Suzuki reno. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH the vehicle decelerated. The contact noticed a whining noise. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The mechanic stated the transmission range sensor would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000. *tr
Vehicle lurched and hopped out of gear. I took the vehicle to the mechanic, he stated the code indicated the transmission range sensor was having an issue, not covered by warranty. I had it replaced at a later date. The fix lasted about 2 months and the sensor again went bad, I just had it replaced again but it did not solve all of the issues, I have to drive in 3 to keep the car shifting and…
Driving at 50mph and the car jolts into 4th gear and stays there. Making any take off from stop terrible. It must be very hard on the transmission and the power train. I have replace this part twice now and it still continues to happen. A recall is needed severely. *tr
Pulling out at a red light the car had no power like it stopped working or was out of gear hesitation. Check engine light came on transmission code p0705. Had it replaced at a reputable transmission repair shop. Same problem again 3/28/2013 given a replacement part free. Same problem again 4/15/2013 going to Suzuki 4/18/2013 for them to check the car. Stressing me out, I hope I don't get killed…
While driving the car automatically downshifts into neutral. I was told it was a transmission range sensor and it was not covered by the warranty. This will cost + or - 250.00. The car is still covered by the 100,000 mile 10 year warranty and has only 38,000 miles on it. I was told that this is a common occurrence on Suzuki renos and forenzas. . . Is this a defective part. It is dangerous- *tr
I've had to replace the throttle body as well as the transission range sensor and the trans axle control module. I've had to replace the arms on the windshield as well for the windshield wipers because they had came off while I was driving. This car has almost caused me my life multiple times and im so sick of no one trying to fix what is going on with it. I know that they dont make this model…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2008 Suzuki Reno?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2008 Suzuki Reno?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 30,335 and 62,000 miles, with the median around 47,208. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,335; a quarter make it past 62,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Suzuki/Reno.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.