The Suzuki Jimny is one of the best compact SUVs for all terrains. This is because it is durable with excellent ground clearance and performance. But what are the common problems with the Suzuki Jimny?
Common problems with the Suzuki Jimny are a faulty fuel pump, damaged wires in the door harness, faulty ABS, rust, and death wobble vibrations. Furthermore, owners of the Suzuki Jimny have reported having vacuum leaks, gearbox failure, worn-out kingpin bearing, and constant velocity joint wear out.
What are the common problems with Suzuki Jimny?
Faulty fuel pump
The Suzuki Jimny has had several problems the manufacturer had to recall some models. For instance, the manufacturer had to recall some 2018 Suzuki Jimny because of a faulty fuel pump.
The fuel feeding impeller in the fuel pump, which is made of resin material, may be swollen and damaged because of insufficient material density caused by improper injection molding procedure. As a result, the impeller may affect the fuel pump housing, leading to the fuel pump malfunction.
This is so dangerous as it could cause the engine to start working and cause an accident.
Damaged wires in the door harness
This problem affected several 2018 to 2020 Suzuki Jimny model years. The manufacturer had to recall the affected cars and fix them. Because of a poor design, the lead wires in the driver and passenger side door harness could be damaged or cut by the repeated motion of opening and closing the doors.
Consequently, this may cause the curtain and side airbags to not deploy as needed in the event of an accident, heightening the danger of an injury.
Faulty ABS
Another issue that forced the manufacturer to recall several 2014 to 2015 Suzuki Jimny model years was a faulty ABS. The manufacturer noted that the resin fragments in the brake hydraulic control unit getting stuck in the hydraulic control valve could make the anti-lock braking system (ABS) not work properly.
Rust
Aside from manufacturer defects, the main problem that Suzuki Jimny users have complained about is rust problems. This is mainly because the Suzuki Jimny has poor rust prevention treatment applied from the factory. Some of the areas to look out for rust are the boot or trunk floor, body or cabin, inner wheel arches, below the rear seats, bodywork behind front driving lamps, and bodywork behind the side plastic moldings.
To fix this problem, you will have to repair or replace the rusted areas depending on the level of damage.
Death wobble vibrations
Death wobble vibrations are very common in the Suzuki Jimny 3. Death wobble means that there are severe vibrations of the steering wheel and even the whole front half of the car in a particular speed range. Nonetheless, fixing this problem can be easy or hard depending on the severity of the issue. Visit a professional mechanic to fix it.
Vacuum leak
This problem normally occurs in older Suzuki Jimny models. Since the Jimny is usually driven off-road, it has a high tendency to develop vacuum leaks in its vacuum system for front wheel hub caps. The leak is normally caused by the disengagement of the front wheel hub caps. So, to fix this issue, you will have to fix his issue.
Gearbox failure
This issue is common in Suzuki Jimnys made in the mid-to-late 2000s. Most of these models are fitted with an R72 gearbox model that tends to fail prematurely. The main cause of this gearbox failure is some bearings in the gearbox. So, to fix this problem, you will have the mechanic replace the faulty bearings.
Worn out king pin bearing
Like the death wobble issue, this problem is also common in the Suzuki Jimny 3. It is caused by the poor design of the steering knuckle assembly. Due to the poor design, dust, water, mud, and grit enters the steering knuckles, and then get into the kingpin bearings. As a result, it rapidly accelerates the wear of the kingpin bearings.
To fix this issue, you will have to replace the worn-out kingpin bearings.
Constant velocity joint wears out
Even though this problem is not common in Suzuki Jimnys, several Suzuki Jimny 3 users have reported it. The constant velocity joint wears out because of improperly using Jimny’s 4WD transmission. Note that repairing this CV joint is not only cumbersome but also costly.
A comparable car is the Jeep Wrangler. This is the common issues with Jeep Wrangler.
FAQ
Is Suzuki Jimny reliable?
Yes, the Suzuki Jimny has always been a reliable car. It may be a small off-roader with several issues, but it is more reliable than most of its rivals like the Jeep Wrangler. On the flip side, it is one of the least reliable Suzuki models, although most reliability agencies have given it an above-average reliability score.
How long does Suzuki Jimny last?
Like most Suzuki models, the Suzuki Jimny should easily do more than 200,000 miles. And with proper care and maintenance, this car should clock more than 250k or even 300k miles. Apart from maintaining the car properly, the owner also needs to practice good driving habits.
Is it expensive to repair the Suzuki Jimny?
Despite the Suzuki Jimny being costlier to maintain than other Suzuki models, it is quite cheaper to maintain than most of its rivals. On average, the owner should spend between $400 and $550 to maintain this car. Besides, if you usually drive it off, you may have to incur more expenses than a person who drives it on-road most of the time.
Why is Suzuki Jimny better than most of its rivals?
Suzuki Jimny is better than most of its rivals because of its built quality and efficiency. This car is small, and lightweight 4WD. As a result, its lightweight design allows it to cruise smoothly through sand, over mud, and up steep slippery slopes where heavier 4X4s tend to have issues.
Is a used Suzuki Jimny a good car?
It depends on how well the car was maintained. Any used car can be good or bad depending on how well it was maintained by its previous owner. But with that said, Suzuki Jimny is among the least reliable Suzuki models. So, you should double-check the history and state of the used Suzuki Jimny before buying it.
Conclusion
Suzuki Jimny is among the finest compact SUVs for off-road driving in the market. This car comes with outstanding ground clearance and a properly selectable four-wheel drive system with low-ratio transfer. It is also efficient, reliable, and fun to drive. However, for this car to last, proper care and maintenance is needed.