Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi, and it carries 5 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 23% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 18% |
| Air bags | 3 | 14% |
| Power train | 3 | 14% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 5% |
| Engine | 1 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 5% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
BEEN TRYING TO GET MY REPAIRS ON MY CAR SINCE JUNE OF 2020 AND WAS JUST RECENTLY TOLD THAT I COULD NOT GET MY CAR REPAIRED DUE TO SUZUKI CLOSING DOWN I CAN NOT GET MY TAGS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE THE RECALLS HAS TO BE FIXE
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
THE AIRBAG DEFECT WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING OR THE CAR BEING ON. SUZUKI DEPOT IN SANT ANA CA REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION DUE TO A MANUFACTURER RECALL. THE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE RIGHT FRONT
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I WAS DRIVING AND STOP ON A RED LIGHT I HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE SO PUT MY CAR ON PARKING THE LIGHT CHANGE SO I SHIFT TO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE STAY (NEUTRAL) NO MATTER WHAT GEAR IT IS THE CAR STAY NEUTRA
NHTSA complaint: Power train
2011 SUZUKI KIZASHI SPORT SLS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY AND EMISSIONS RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO HELP LOCATE A LOCAL DEALER TO COMPLETE THE RECALL. *JS
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
UNDIAGNOSEABLE OVERHEATING. WHEN RUNNING THE AIR CONDITIONER FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME (I.E. ROAD TRIP, LESS THAN 90 MINUTES) THE AIR CONDITIONING STOPS WORKING AND THE COOLANT BLOWS OUT OF THE OVERFLOW TANK. THIS HAS
NHTSA complaint: Engine
SIX MONTHS AGO, I HAD TO REPLACE MY DRIVERS SIDE LOWBEAM HEADLIGHT BULB. IT APPEARS TO BE OUT AGAIN. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN UNUSUALLY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TO HAVE A HEADLIGHT GO OUT.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I GOT MY KIZASHI IN 2012 AND HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY TWICE. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO HAVE LOOKED AT AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANY REASON IT KEEPS BEING DRAINED THE WAY IT HAS BEEN. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET IN MY CAR AND WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. HE WAS T-BONED ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HE WAS IN THE INTERSECTION GOING AROUND 30 MPH, I AM NOT SURE HOW FAST THE OTHE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kizashi and 2006-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles. The front passenger leather seat may shrink due to high humidity and high temperature. As a result, the occupant classification system (OCS) sensor mat may not accurately detect if an
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, an incorrect classification may result in the passenger frontal air bag deploying even if there is a child in the front passenger seat, increas
Fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat bottom cushion, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2019. All second letters notifying owners of the
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Suzuki Kizashi vehicles. Dust can enter the vent line that provides fresh air to the carbon canister, restricting its air flow and possibly creating excessive negative pressure in the fuel tank which may result in the fuel tank c
Risk: A cracked tank may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Suzuki has sent owners an initial notification to inform them of the recall. When parts are available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will install a cover over the opening near the suction
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling 2010-2013 Kizashi vehicles. The front passenger seat Occupant Classification System (OCS) may misclassify an adult occupant as child and deactivate the front air bag.
Risk: The deactivated front air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and service providers will replace the front passenger seat cushion, which includes a new OCS mat assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed on October 29, 2021.
Suzuki Motor Of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Kizashi vehicles manufactured October 2009 through July 2012. In the affected vehicles, spiders may weave a web in the evaporative canister vent hose, blocking it and causing the fuel tank to have an excessive amount o
Risk: Negative pressure could cause the fuel tank to crack resulting in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Suzuki is in the process of notifying owners, and dealers will replace the evaporative canister vent line on the affected vehicles with a vent line that has a filter on the end. If the canister vent l
| Reliability raw | 74 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 88 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 49 | below average |
| Efficiency | 46 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and exterior lighting is the most reported area with 5 of them (23%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 74/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2011 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.