2004 Suzuki Forenza Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Suzuki Forenza.

< older2005
Complaints
86
Crashes
11
Fires
11
Injuries
6
Fatalities
Recalls
2

Worst 2004 Suzuki Forenza Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#111 complaints

Headlight/Taillight Failures

Avg mileage:87,681 mi
Fires:4
#29 complaints

Engine & Cooling

Avg mileage:45,244 mi
#37 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:80,425 mi
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Suzuki Forenza.

Headlight/Taillight Failures
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
4
Avg Miles
87,681
Engine & Cooling
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
45,244
Electrical Faults
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
80,425
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
54,292
Airbags
4
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Wiring
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Door
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension:Front
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Interior Lighting
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Parking-Brake Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Suzuki Forenza. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2004 Suzuki Forenza

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~285,932 vehicles.

14V262000Exterior Lighting:headlights
~184,244 affected

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module which could melt the headlamp switch or the DRL module.

12V397000Exterior Lighting:headlights · Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash
~101,688 affected

Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connect the power circuit wires for the headlamps. This can result in intermittent or total loss of low/high beam headlamp function.

Other Suzuki Forenza Years

2004 Suzuki Forenza — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2004 Suzuki Forenza reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2004 Suzuki Forenza has 86 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Headlight/Taillight Failures with 11 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Suzuki Forenza?
Top reported problems: Headlight/Taillight Failures (11 complaints, avg 87,681 mi); Engine & Cooling (9 complaints, avg 45,244 mi); Electrical Faults (7 complaints, avg 80,425 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Suzuki Forenza?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 68,941 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Suzuki Forenza?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Suzuki Forenza include 11 crash-related reports, 11 fire reports, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2004 Suzuki Forenza have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 285,932 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2004 Suzuki Forenza?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Suzuki Forenza reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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