2008 Suzuki Forenza: jerking or lurching

Filed Aug 26, 2016 · Transmission · 63,350 miles · IL

I have already replaced the transmission range sensor once in october of 2014 and it is acting up again now. When I am driving the car jerks when it is shifting gears and on a couple occasions it has just switched into neutral for no reason while the car is still in motion. The most recent time was on my home from work on 8/22/16. I had to pull over and stop and start my car a few times to reset the problem. The part should not have to be replaced every couple years. This is a safety hazard and this needs to be fixed by suzuki.

Filed Mar 16, 2016 · Brakes, Electrical · 108,000 miles · SC

I have had the transmission range sensor replaced on my 2008 suzuki forenza twice already and it has malfunctioned again. When it malfunctions, my car jerks heavily when changing gears, and it is an automatic engine. The rpms will not exceed 3000, the check engine light comes on, and "hold" flashes in the dash. The car accelerates very slowly shudders above 50 MPH. The speedometer has dropped to zero while I have been driving on the highway, so I cannot tell how fast I am going.

Filed Oct 24, 2015 · Transmission · 139,000 miles · TN

This is not the first time this has occurred. I had been traveling home as normal, all of a sudden the car started jerking. Look down at my gear selection viewer and it was scrambled showing a d and a r overlapping each other flashing. This happens periodically causing the car to stall in the middle of traffic. I am not the first person to have the problem with this specific model of car. The events that occurred are very dangerous for myself and my family and whomever else this is affecting.

Filed Nov 16, 2014 · 60,000 miles · KS

When I came to a stop at a stop light the engine made a loud thunking noise and jerked. The display showed the letter "d" with a slash through it. When the light changed to green my car would not accelerate normally. I was finally able to get the car to move by revving the engine up to 4000 RPM and it slowly crept forward. The mechanic advised the transmission range sensor was bad and needed to be replaced. Additionally the paint has chipped off on all the doors and 2 of the inside door handles have broken off.

Filed May 27, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 65,040 miles · KS

I was driving down a busy street in stop and go traffic. While stopped at a stop light, my vehicle made a very loud "clunk" noise, lurched forward and the check engine light came on. When I attempted to accelerate after the light turned green, I had to push the gas pedal almost to the floor to get the vehicle to move forward. I pulled over and parked, turned the vehicle off, waited about a minute, turned the vehicle back on, and the problem had gone away although the check engine light was still on. A day or so later, while I was driving on the highway going approximately 65 miles per hour, the vehicle made the "clunk" noise, lurched forward and the check engine light came on again. This time, because I was already in motion, the rpms jumped up above 3000, which is very high for a 4 cylinder engine only going 65 miles per hour. Again, I pulled over, turned the vehicle off, waited about a minute, turned the car on and was able to drive the vehicle normally again although the check engine light remained illuminated. This issue has been happening randomly about 20 times a year over the course of the last 2 1/2 - 3 years.

Filed May 23, 2014 · Seats, Transmission · 75,600 miles · KS

Starting in january 2014 car had approximately 75,000 miles on it and began lurching into gear from stopped. When put into reverse, jumps into gear. When put into drive after backing out of driveway lurches forward starting in 3rd gear and continues during driving. Husband diagnosed after much online research and a few months later, even taking code into dealership for repair. Dealer insisted they couldn't replicate and cleared code without making note of problem. My husband argued that we wouldn't be picking car up until the problem was replicated and taken care of. After insisting they couldn't replicate, we drove back to dealership and made service manager ride with husband until car "performed" malfunction, literally a half of a block from dealership. It was obvious they were avoiding problem and hadn't driven car at all! Code was noted as 0700, just as my husband had reported initially. Transmission sensor was replaced and after diagnostics were finally properly performed, airbag light was also reset (has continued to come on almost entire time we've owned the car-were told our daughters long legs were kicking wires underneath drivers' side seat) and also made aware voltage is too high on drivers side but nothing was done to fix either. Dealership offered no solution. Spent $191.65 to fix transmission sensor. Originally charging $260+ but husband demanded reduction in diagnostic price due to the fact we had to drive back into town to dealership to duplicate problem for incompetent/unwilling service department . Very unsatisfied and will be looking into options after seeing transmission range sensor seems to be ongoing epidemic for many 2008 suzuki forenza owners. Have also had ongoing problems with seat airbag sensor not working on front passenger's side since 2009.

Filed Feb 6, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 92,850 miles · NC

My transmission range sensor has been replaced twice, both within a 12 months time frame. Both times my car jerks at low and high speeds and my engine light is invoked. The second time the dealership replaced my transmission range sensor...the very same week my vehicle is still experiencing the same exact issues, inclusive of my engine light coming on and staying on for 3 days. Upon return, the dealership says my jerking, hard gear shifting and on board engine light is being caused due to an engine skipping issue, which is "possibly" due to the electronic control module not communicating with the transmission control module. I'll have to pay the dealership $210 to see if the connector between the ECM and the TCM is bad, and if its not bad, I still pay the $210, but then they'll tell me what the next possible step would be?? I feel I'm in a no win situation, it sounds like, just keep writing checks. My issue sounds the same as the countless others that have been documented, my issue should be covered since suzuki is more than aware that these are known issues.

Filed Dec 24, 2012 · Acceleration, Engine · 95,000 miles · CA

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!

Filed Nov 29, 2012 · Transmission · 49,884 miles · CA

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 once the light turned green and it seem as though my car didn't want to accelerate. So I turned off the car, waited for 10mins or so, turned it back on and the light was gone and my car was okay. I took my car in to my job, they informed me that it was the same problem, which is the gear sensor/ transmission range sensor. Im taking my car in again on monday dec 3rd to be fixed. I have had my car almost 4 years now, I still have a warranty as well and I just hit the 50,000mile mark. Im scared to drive it because I do not want anything to happen to me or other people driving on the road. So I pray the problem is fixed on monday. I have read many other reviews about the same problem and it blows my mind that so many people have the same problem and nothing has been done. I love my car so it really is a bummer that I am having this type of problem.

Filed Sep 18, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 38,370 miles · NM

The car will not come up to speed when pulling into traffic. Transmission jerks violently and car will not speed up to enter traffic safely. Turn the car off service light goes away, back into traffic and same issue. Car will not go to speed to enter traffic safely!

Filed Feb 24, 2012 · Transmission · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 suzuki forenza. The contact stated that the transmission sensor switch failed. The failure caused the vehicle to jerk violently when shifted into reverse and back into drive. In addition, the vehicle was non-responsive to acceleration attempts. The vehicle was repaired. The current mileage was 60,000 and the failure mileage was not available.

Filed May 12, 2011 · Transmission · 26,526 miles · WI

The car hesitates during cold start up. The car also jumps out of gear while I'm driving and has LED to several near miss accidents where both me and my daughter could have been severely injured. Trying to get help from the american suzuki customer assistance is a joke. The customer service is bad and every time you call back to follow-up the person that was handling your case mysteriously quits. All they do is jerk you around until the basic warranty expires and you're no longer their problem. After this all repairs are out of pocket. I have taken my car to get repaired several times and each time they don't know what's wrong. I have had two new transmissions put in and my car only has 29,856 miles on it. I can't believe there hasn't been a recall on this vehicle; it is a safety hazard. I guess this is why suzuki was so quick to discontinue manufacturing this vehicle the same year it was produced. I want suzuki to take responsibility for this defective vehicle and either replace it or refund the purchase price of the car. I refuse to pass this problem on to another consumer. The dealerships clearly misrepresented the safety and quality of this vehicle. Its not fair that consumers are getting ripped off and no one seems to care!!