2008 Suzuki Forenza: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Aug 10, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 78,000 miles · NC

While sitting at a stop sign, I decided I was a little to far into the road. I shifted into reverse and noticed it shifted really hard. I put it into drive and pulled out onto the road - again it shifted hard. When trying to speed up, the car wouldn't shift out of 1st gear, the check engine light came on and I couldn't speed up. I've been told it is a bad transmission range sensor.

Filed Jul 17, 2013 · Acceleration, Transmission · 42,677 miles · TX

The car will not shift correctly. Displays a scrambled message on the dash information console. Dangerous almost caused me to be struck and killed by a 18 wheeler. Something must be done by this. Is a serious problem.

Filed Apr 15, 2013 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · TN

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.

Filed Feb 5, 2013 · Acceleration · 55,000 miles · GA

I noticed after purchasing the car with 40,000 miles on it after owing the car for 5 months I put the car it reverse and it made a loud clunk when it was shifting in gear and repeated the same noise when putting the car in drive. After putting the car in drive the car would not accelerate like it was not shifting into gear. The issue has persisted and I had my brother, a licensed mechanic look at the car and he determined that it is a sensor in the transmission causing the problem. The car will not shift into gear until it reaches 45mph until it shifts into gear the rpms will jump like the car is straining to get into gear. After researching the problem I have learned that a lot of suzuki owners have this same problem.

Filed Jun 16, 2011 · Transmission · 36,000 miles · NC

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.

Filed Apr 6, 2011 · Transmission · 53,714 miles · PA

My 08 forenza hesitates during cold start up. No codes show. It has 58000 miles (timing belt due in a few thousand), 5 speed stick , driven 90 miles one way every 3 third day. It did die on the highway back in january '11 , cel came on, went into limp mode,I didn't shut down for fear of completely dying it was towed to dealer. Pulled codes p2106, p2110, and p0835 from computer. Dealer found nothing wrong other than codes. Since then hesitation has been getting worse. It doesn't seem to idle normally all that well even after driving for several hours (seems like tps is sticking runs around 2000 for about 15 seconds after coming to a stop).