Seems to be a common problem with this vehicle and other similar models going back 4 years. Car hit 80000 miles and the trans range sensor went out. Car goes into "limp mode" because the computer thinks there's something wrong with it, when the reality is a bad sensor not an actual mechanical problem. That and the problem is intermittent. Sometimes occurs just as car is started and put in gear, and sometimes not at all. (check engine light goes off and on with each incident or new starting of the vehicle.) the safety issue is that because it is in limp mode, you cannot accelerate quickly and the car may even roll backwards on hills if you have to stop, as happened to me this morning while taking son to school, had to hold the brake and rev the (automatic!) engine until I felt it pulling to make it up the hill. Can sometime stop and turn the car off, then back on and issue goes away. Having a hard time believing that after 7 years of complaints a recall hasn't already been issued since this is an obvious blatant defect.
2008 Suzuki Forenza transmission complaints
Page 3 of 4: complaints 41 to 70 of 79, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I bought my car 3-29-09. At 4,000 mi. I began having problems. At 57,059 mi. 4-9-13 was the 18th time my car has been in for svc. I'm on my 3rd dealer (orig. Out of svc.) I am having my 3rd trans installed.can someone say "lemon law ?" 1st they could not find the problem as no codes were shown by the computer. My car at one point was at the dealer for 34 days straight! At times it would not even go into gear or would just die. I have had the TCM,ECM,& trans range switch replaced multiple times.since oct 2012 have getting an intermittent ck eng light, I was finally able to bring it in on 3-29-13 & the ECM was replaced. On 4-8-13 I was barely able to make it in to the shop as my car was stuck in 3rd gear and I was on the hwy the ck eng, light was on. It was the trans range switch again! It was just replaced oct 2012. Mon. Eve. The car would stall in neutral when in drive, slam into gear, the ck eng light remained lit, it was stuck in 3rd gear and the newest development was that as I was driving on the hwy, the lit d (drive) by the odometer was flashing normal & then with a line through it. I got to the dealer, pulled the code & the trans needs to be replaced again! I have absolutely had it with this car and am attempting to re-instate my arbi- tration with them (I dropped it when the supposedly fixed the prob.last yr). 14 of visits were major. Suzuki's tech explained to me that there is an engineering design flaw. My car is dangerous and I no longer want my life in suzuki's hands. I cannot continue to drive a care that can become faulty at any time, especially when I am driving 55-65 MPH on the hwy and the car gets stuck in third gear! My husband has also had the engine die on him while driving.(I took a short video with my phone that shows the ck eng light on and the d flashing with a line through it.every time that the ck eng light comes on lately, it's a new code.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 suzuki forenza. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop, the vehicle exhibited a delayed response. On a separate occasion the gear lever was shifted into drive and the transmission independently shifted into reverse. The vehicle was taken to a transmission center where the transmission range sensor was replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000. Updated 04/30/13
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 suzuki forenza. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle erroneously slipped out of gear and jolted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the failure on several occasions. The dealer updated the computer but the failure continued. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 7 and the current mileage was 60,000. The VIN was unknown.
About once a week my car has an issue when shifting. When I shift into reverse I get a clunk. Then when I drive the car seems to be stuck in a high gear. The check engine light will go on. If I turn the car off and leave it off for 5 to 10 minutes it will be fine when I start it again. The engine light codes are p0700 and p0705. Upon doing research on this subject I found that this is the transmission range sensor that is failing. Suzuki will not fix this under the power train warranty which seems very wrong since this is part of the transmission. I have found a large number of people with the same problem. This is obviously a defective part that suzuki is doing nothing about.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 suzuki forenza. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle erroneously slipped out of gear and jolted. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was confirmed that the spark plugs, engine head gasket, and trans range sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the same failure on several occasions. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000 and the current mileage was 45,500.
Started car put it into reverse to back out, aloud "clunk" noise was maid and the car had trouble accelerating. Not it often slips into neutral while driving or will only accelerate in third.
I purchased this car new in 2/ 2009. I have had to have it into the shop for repairs of check engine light and transmission, ultimately leading to a transmission replacement on 7/17/12. It has been in the shop 14 times from 7/24/10 until the present most of which included the check engine light/and or the transmission failure, still today my car is in the shop because it won't reverse. The accident that occurred on 12/24/2012 could have possibly been avoided had I been able to reverse because as the car approached me I attempted to reverse when it failed.
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!
The TCM switch on my 2008 suzuki forenza was replaced in november of 2010 and was found by an authorized service center for suzuki as being defected. I was told that it caused the transmission to switch itself into neutral, which caused the car to fail attempts to accelerate at times. I had taken the car to the suzuki dealership where I purchased the car within 30 days of buying the car and complained about acceleration. I was told the was new and would take a little while for the parts to work out their newness. Within the next two years this issue persisted and would cease to happen after taking the car in and being told there was no problem found. The issue seemed to go away and would return again within 90 days. I was even told that I was used to driving cars with better performance and my perception of how the car drives was the issue. It was only after going to different service center that I was told the tcms are often replaced but the failure to accelerate issue could also be the engine or transmission. Failure to accelerate could happen after coming to a complete stop or acceleration above 40mph. The issue returned after having the TCM switch replaced within 90 days as it had done after each visit where I was told there was no problem found. The incidents were intermittent and if left past 90 days would increase in frequency. My latest visit was to the original dealership on 7/14/12 where I was told that no problems were found with the TCM switch. When asked to see the read out for the test, I was denied and given $1,500 in estimates to clean my engine and general maintenance that was due. The engine light came on this time, so, I could have errors read. I found out in september that the TCM switch is failing. This complaint is the first step to getting this addressed.
One day, when I put my car in reverse, it "clunked" into gear, the gear display was scrambled, and the check engine light came on. I shut my car off and started it again, thinking it was a fluke. The check engine light remained on and it also "clunked" into drive. When I went to accelerate, the RPM's were 5-10 higher than normal and it took a little longer to "get up and go." sometimes, my car will initially run fine until a few minutes into the drive, when it falls into neutral while driving, then goes back to drive, the check engine light comes on again, and the problems resurface. I took it to advanced auto parts and the machine said transmission control system but they said that could mean anything and would be fine to drive. After taken off the machine, the check engine light went off, only to come on again the next time I drove it. My brother (who has mechanical experience) cleaned the transmission sensor and filter, hoping it would help, but it didn't. As I go to a small town college three hours away from home and make a 3 minute drive to and from classes everyday, I let it be for the semester, insisting that it would eventually go away. Well, it's christmas and it never went away; each day I drive my car it presents me with the same problems. My brother took my car back to advanced auto parts and the machine read the same issues as before, plus a possible wire short. They didn't suggest any fixes so he checked for shorts in the wires and found none. It appears it must be the transmission range sensor. After reading up on the trs, it seems that this is an ongoing problem that many owners are experiencing as early as 30k miles on cars some bought new. I feel as though this issue has also caused other problems with my car (reduced gas mileage/battery failure) and is cause for a factory recall, as its appearance is widespread and the effects are numerous.
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.
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!
I am thinking our transmission range sensor went out on our 2008 suzuki forenza with over 70,000 miles. Car check engine light was on for a few days, then turned off about 3 days ago, stopped at drug store, when I turned on the car, the check engine light was back on, put car in reverse and clunk, while the display where the r for reverse would have been was scrambled, car still reversed. Clunked into drive, and wouldn't switch out of 1st gear.
After backing out of my driveway, I put my car into drive and felt a sudden jolt and the check engine light came on. I could not accelerate and barely reached 20 MPH on a busy road. The check engine light remained on until I arrived at the dealership. When I turned my car off, the check engine light obviously went off, however it did not come back on when the mechanic turned the car on, neither did the car jolt when changing gears. I was notified that my "transmission range sensor" had internal failure and would need to be replaced. Although I have a 100,000 mile warranty on power train, this apparently is not covered because it is not an internal transmission problem. My issue is that it is a problem dealing with the transmission however it is not covered under warranty?
The transmission range sensor went out the first time last year. Started to show an "x" over the gear when you shifted, it would kick, and it would not allow you to over 35mph even with your foot on the gas. We replaced the sensor in oct of 2011. It is now april 2012 and the sensor has gone out again. The air bag sensor light is constantly on. The dealership states that wire keeps getting shorted because of the location under the seat.
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.
Transmission range sensor failed causing vehicle to jump gear and rearend another vehicle causing 1800 dollars in damage to personal vehicle and unknown amount to vehicle that was hit. This sensor had previously been replaced by dealer 3 times prior to vehicle reaching 36,000 miles. After alot of research myself there seems to be alot of problems with this. This vehicle should be recalled for this transmission sensor before somebody get seriously hurt!
Had to replace the transmission range sensor. $140 fix between parts and labor. Of course it wasn't under the 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 suzuki forenza. The contact stated that the vehicle would not accelerate over 20 MPH and the check engine light would illuminate sporadically. A local mechanic diagnosed that the transmission range sensor was defective. The range sensor was replaced and the vehicle began to work normally. The dealer was contacted, but the contact was unable to have the dealer repair the failure due to distance. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 47,000 and the current mileage was 48,170.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 suzuki forenza. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle began to decelerate and a warning light illuminated on the instrument panel displaying the drive symbol with a line across. This symbol indicated no drive. The contact stopped the vehicle and was able to restart it without failure. The warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnostic. The technician stated that the transmission range sensor would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.
As I was driving, the car all the sudden slipped into neutral and showed a d with a slash through it. I pulled over and tried to put the car in park. The vehicle displayed I was in reverse. When I put it in drive it read neutral. When I started driving again, there was no power, as if I was in neutral. This has continued since.then, I have almost been hit.numerous times, once almost hit from the front and the rear when turning on a yielding green light and the car through itself into neutral. Also I have hit the gas in drive and gone backwards. I am very disappointed I have a 3 year old car with only 52,000 miles that is this dangerous for my two year old son and I. I have problems with this car daily.
While driving, car suddenly lost power, unable to accelerate or change gears on it's own, and when I shift from drive to park, it felt like my car got hit, a very hard "bang" and same when shifting from park to reverse or back to drive. Ck engine light appeared. After stopping and turning car off for aprx. 10 minutes then turning back on, light was still on, but now car was accelerating and changing gears. Got the car to the suzuki 112 dealership in medford, ny and they said codes po700 & po705 were present. They diagnosed a failed automatic transmission range sensor / switch assy. The service advisor told me this is a very common problem, and he replaces 4-6 of these per month between the forenza and reno model suzuki vehicles. Service advisor stated this is not covered under the power train warranty since this is just a component that is mounted to the transmission, not actually inside the transmission. $216.63 later, the dealership mechanic removed and replaced the part. Note: this is the 2nd time I had this problem, but 1st time they couldn't diagnose as check engine light shut itself off before they got to check it out.
I have been getting service engine soon light on the dashboard. Then shortly after my battery needed to be replaced and I thought that was the problem. Well the next weekend the light came on and now when I switch gears I get a loud thump and the car jumps really hard. I went to advanced auto parts with the service engine light still on they were able to retrieve codes and verify the transmission range sensor a circuit while in park/reverse/nuetral and drive. And they also retrieved the transmission control sensor. I am scared to drive my car now and I will not drive it till it gets fixed. I have had transmission problems for the longest time and I am scared this car will cause an accident. It is a very unsafe car and I am concerned about the problem with the airbag not deploying due to many complaints. You need to do a recall on this car before someone gets badly injured or killed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 suzuki forenza. The contact was driving 15 MPH when the transmission failure light illuminated and the vehicle shifted to a higher gear independently. The failure recurred on four separate occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the dealer confirmed that the transmission mode switch needed replacement. The manufacturer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 46,000.
Transmission range switch, fails to shift down during acceleration, may work for a while and then makes a clunk and fails again, causes check engine light to glow and may show a box with a diagonal line through it where the d for drive would be.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 suzuki forenza. The contact stated that when driving at any speed, the vehicle would lunge forward and skip gears. The contact stated that the vehicle would act as if it were in limp mode and the check engine warning light was also illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 36,000 and the current mileage was 39,300.
Purchased a 2008 suzuki forenza on 9/8/2008. Acceleration concerns, a ringing noise from the engine and my passenger side air-bag notification light was reported 9/16/08. Told by phone the car was new and would need to be driven for a couple of weeks to warn up. 9/16/08 ringing noise was louder had acceleration concerns, timing cover had melted due to friction from the belts sliding. Invoice reflects electrical body work as such: ' side airbag light not on tension on wire harness connector under the driver or passengers seat could cause high resistance - relocate both harness and secure them." 10/27/08 reported tapping noise at engine when starting car, acceleration was dragging and air bag light. Invoice findings - no problem found - told not to expect performance on acceleration. 1/17/09 (car released 1/23/09) side air bag light indicates it is off, cruise control dropping, transmission not accelerating, engine running loud until warmed up: resolution - timing cover replaced other issues found to be working to factory specs. 6/18/2009 -acceleration is slow, car downshifting at high speeds, transmission not shifting well while coasting, must come to a complete stop to switch into gear: resolution - suzuki helpdesk ticket 175996598 suggested to re-initialize TCM (transmission switch). 10/1/09 - same issue as 6/19/09 - revving higher and loud in cold and damp weather told no new info: issue seemed to subside ' no work done to my knowledge. 12/30/09 same issues as 6/19 & 10/1 timing cover adjusted told acceleration was normal. Fix for timing cover january 5, 2010. 8/1/10 & 10/26/10 taken in for acceleration & maint. After near accidents and problems driving between the speeds of 15 and 60 MPH: nothing addressed. 1/4/11 - transmission switch was replaced by a different suzuki center. Told transmission or engine can go out. Acceleration issues have returned side airbag still shows off when occupied by person 120 plus pounds.
Suzuki forenza 2008 transmission problems with 34000 miles and the dealer says I have to change the transmission and the warranty does not cover repair,they told me that have three choices :new car,new transmission for $4000 dollars or 1600 dollars to repair it. Is just that?
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