Suzuki recalls Grand Vitara, Jimny

SUZUKI Australia has recalled more than 3000 pre-2008 Grand Vitaras and Jimnys to fix a potentially defective power steering pump belt tensioner that can throw the belt, leaving the driver without power steering assistance.

The company says the problem on 2005-2007 Grand Vitara 1.6-litre four-cylinder and 2.7-litre V6 models and 2000-2007 Jimny 1.3 litre vehicles is caused by the failure of a plastic coating on the pulley.

That coating can dislodge, causing an abnormal noise from the engine bay, and in the worst case, the belt might jump off, causing increased steering effort.

More than half of the 3151 affected vehicles are Grand Vitaras powered by the 2.7-litre V6, which was a replaced by a 3.2-litre variant in August 2008.

Suzuki Australia communications manager Andrew Ellis told GoAuto that a couple of Australian Suzuki owners had experience the problem with their vehicles, but no accidents had been reported.

Owners of cars in the following vehicles vehicle identification (VIN) ranges are asked to contact their dealer to have vehicle inspected and the part replaced: Grand Vitara 1.6 – JSAJTA74V00100045-JSAJTA74V00200247 Grand Vitara 2.7 – JSAJTD94V00100012-JSAJTD94V00102537 Jimny 1.3 – JSAFJB43V00100009-JSAFJB43V00213367.