2007 Suzuki XL7: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jun 21, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 suzuki xl7. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the temperature gauge abnormally increased and the engine overheated. The contact maneuvered the vehicle to the side of the road and noticed smoke (no flames) under the hood. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the instrument cluster would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

Filed Jan 10, 2015 · Fuel system · TN

I was on my way to work on wednesday night and my truck started jerking and loosing power. So I had to have it towed to the place that I'm financing it from their mechanic checked it out and told me it was the battery.so I bought a battery. It ran good so I decided to take it a little bit further and it done the same thing so I took it back to them again yesterday they tell me that they are busy and they can't get to it until today. I've missed 3 days of work because of their false answers.I don't want to be stranded on the road or for my truck to catch on fire because they can't get it fixed like they suppose to if I can't get to work they can't get paid and they will be ready to repo it.

Filed May 31, 2013 · Brakes, Electrical · 119,000 miles · GA

There are multiple issues with my 2007 xl-7. Most recently it's been the smell of burning wires coming from either the steering column or under the dashboard which I will need to get inspected asap. I read one other complaint posted on 2/29/12 stating the same problem of smelling burning wires which ended in the vehicle being engulfed in flames and the family running for their lives. I've already had a so called tune-up from the local dealer about 1 1/2 years ago, but I now have issues starting the vehicle when I get gas. I have to pump the gas pedal multiple times in order to start the SUV and then it's a rough idle until I start driving. I get the oil change regularly, but was told on the last oil change the I needed a new oil pan gasket because oil was leaking from the pan. I also had my brakes checked 2 years ago and was told by the mechanic that I have uneven brake pads due to the front brake calipers engaging incorrectly or on one side of the rotors. In order to replace the calipers, get new brake pads and turn the rotors on the front, it would cost me $400+ per the mechanic which I felt was ridiculous. I've never heard of faulty brake calipers on a vehicle under 5 years of age as I bought my xl-7 new in 2007 and the brake inspection was between 2009 - 2010. My windshield wipers failed one year to the point where I now have a scratch on my windshield. I like the style of the xl-7 and it's horse power and it's not failed me on long road trips, but the recent issue and past issues are very troublesome. I'm very close to paying my SUV off and no longer have the warranty so I have some decisions to make on whether I should invest the money or get rid of it. A recall on the electrical system should be implemented when considering all the past complaints. By the way, the dealer I purchased my xl-7 from no longer exist.

Filed May 31, 2013 · Electrical, Fuel system · 119,000 miles · GA

There are multiple issues with my 2007 xl-7. Most recently it's been the smell of burning wires coming from either the steering column or under the dashboard which I will need to get inspected asap. I read one other complaint posted on 2/29/12 stating the same problem of smelling burning wires which ended in the vehicle being engulfed in flames and the family running for their lives. I've already had a so called tune-up from the local dealer about 1 1/2 years ago, but I now have issues starting the vehicle when I get gas. I have to pump the gas pedal multiple times in order to start the SUV and then it's a rough idle until I start driving. I get the oil change regularly, but was told on the last oil change that I needed a new oil pan gasket because oil was leaking from the pan. I also had my brakes checked 2 years ago and was told by the mechanic that I have uneven brake pads due to the front brake calipers engaging incorrectly or on one side of the rotors. In order to replace the calipers, get new brake pads and turn the rotors on the front, it would cost me $400+ per the mechanic which I felt was ridiculous. I've never heard of faulty brake calipers on a vehicle below 5 years of age as I bought my xl-7 new in 2007 and the brake inspection was between 2009 and 2010. My windshield wipers failed one year to the point where I now have a scratch on my windshield. I like the style of the xl-7 and its horse power and it' has not failed me on long road trips, but the recent issue and past issues are very troublesome. I'm very close to paying my SUV off and no longer have the warranty so I have some decisions to make on whether I should invest the money or get rid of it. A recall on the electrical system should be implemented when considering all the past complaints. By the way, the dealer I purchased my xl-7 from no longer exists.

Filed Feb 29, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 41,000 miles · GA · fire

Family was traveling to town when we smelled something that smelled like wires burning. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the smell disappeared. Upon leaving the stop sign we were at, we traveled about a quarter of a mile & the driver (myself), started to smell smoke. I then pulled over to further inspect the vehicle at which time, I turned on the overhead lamp in the vehicle since it was starting to get dark, & noticed that the whole front dashboard at this point, was glowing red, orange, & blue & thick black smoke was boiling up on the entire inside windshield & that the truck on the driver's side was fully engulfed in flames behind the dashboard. I immediately got my children (teenagers) out of the truck & leaned over to grab my purse & saw that there was blue flames dripping down from under the dashboard onto the floor where my feet had previously been just seconds before. We all ran as fast & as far as we possibly could away from the vehicle to safety. Within 3 minutes of getting safely out of the truck (by the grace of god), the entire truck was fully engulfed in flames. The trucks windows had at this point, already had started blowing out & shattering & it was shooting huge basketball size fireballs out of the top of the truck into the fields that were beside the road we were on. The local fire department had arrived on the scene at 4 minutes after the truck had caught on fire, & the flames were nearly 30 to 40 feet above the truck. The fire department as well as the fire chief, determined the cause of the fire was due to an electrical failure and/or malfunction within the truck itself. I am just very thankful to the good lord that we all got out safely. If, I had kept driving, the fire department stated that we all could have passed out from smoke inhalation & possibly lost our lives that night. I just wanted others to be aware of this very serious situation.