This bulletin describes corrective action needed to address complaints of reduction in engine power output due to activation of the continuously variable transmission (CVT) temperature protection control system due to deterioration of the CVT fluid or malfunction of the transmission control module.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 Suzuki Kizashi powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi have filed 6 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain 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 →
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Kizashi (this page) | 6 |
| 2011 Kizashi | 3 |
| 2012 Kizashi | 8 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 6 powertrain complaints filed for the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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.
What stands out
Powertrain accounts for 27% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 3 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
The car has on numerous occasions while traveling at highway cruising speed on a sunny day will go into a failsafe mode, and no error is detected by the car, loses the ability to downshift, and loses acceleration. Has become a reoccurring issue on all long trips as the car must be on the road over an hour before the instance will occur. Almost always when in the middle of nowhere which causes…
The vehicle goes in the limp mode while accelerating uphill. At one occasion it went into the limp mode and stalled, very unsafe for highway. Turing it off and restarting needed. The transmission has issues that hasn't been addressed by the manufacturer.
At hi way speed the CVT enters limp mode. You can not accelerate. The vehicle drops in speed and you must pull over and shut the car off. This has happened three times. We do drive mostly hi way and feel like this is dangerous. We also own a 2013 same make and model. We did receive a recall on it. The 2010 vehicle was manufactured on 10/23/2010. Please investigate for us as we are in fear of…
In the past 13 months I have had to have a engine replacement in which the vehicle was pouring carbon monoxide into the car, I went to pick the vehicle up after being repaired for over a month at the Suzuki dealership in charlotte, nc. I drove the car approximately 1.5 miles away where the vehicle cut off as I was making a turn into a busy intersection leaving me stranded in the middle of…
Transmission control module (TCM) for the CVT, the TCM may detect an abnormality in the CVT pulley ratio under as a result of the unusual movement of the stepper motor. The malfunction indicator light (MIL) may illuminate and the CVT could go into a fail safe mode resulting in the vehicle losing acceleration. Contacted the Suzuki corporation and they state my VIN is not showing this recall…
Car has begun lurching and RPM gauge fluctuating at highway speeds (above 60 MPH). Transmission fluid was replaced at 80k miles by Suzuki dealer, now at 88k miles and having issue. This is not safe on the highway!
Had powertrain trouble with your 2010 Suzuki Kizashi?
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 2010 Suzuki Kizashi?
It's a meaningful issue. 6 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 6 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 102,074 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2010/Suzuki/Kizashi.
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.