Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age, so 79.1% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Power Train, with 18 complaints, typically at 8.7 years.
Suzuki Kizashi years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 5 | 5 | yes | |
| 2012 | 22 | 15 | yes | |
| 2011 | 18 | 18 | yes | |
| 2010 | 22 | 21 | yes |
Among the 4 Suzuki Kizashi years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2012, 2010, 2011; the three worth hunting are 2013, 2011, 2010.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 7.5% | covered | |
| 1 year | 16.4% | covered | |
| 2 years | 20.9% | covered | |
| 3 years | 25.4% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 34.3% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 41.8% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 46.3% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 55.2% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 67.2% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 77.6% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 86.6% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 89.6% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 94% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 98.5% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 20.9% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 79.1% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 39% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Suzuki Kizashi, the early trouble is Exterior Lighting — reported at around 3.5 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Power Train at 8.7 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 8.7 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Air Bags | 7.9 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System | 6 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 9.6 yrs | — | — | |
| Engine | 7.8 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Exterior Lighting | 3.5 yrs | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6.7 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Steering | 6.6 yrs | — | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the Kizashi's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Corolla draws 5.16, the Lexus IS 1.31 and the BMW M3 1.49, against 1.14 for the Kizashi. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the Kizashi | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla | 219 | 1981–2026 | |
| Lexus IS | 118 | 2001–2026 | |
| BMW M3 | 78 | 1988–2026 | |
| Acura TLX | 41 | 2015–2026 | |
| Ford Focus | 138 | 2000–2026 | |
| Subaru WRX | 17 | 2015–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Suzuki Kizashi reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.14 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which Kizashi years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2012, 2010, 2011. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2013, 2011, 2010. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do Kizashi problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age. The most reported system is Power Train, typically at 8.7 years, followed by Air Bags.
Will the warranty cover Kizashi problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 20.9% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 39% of the complaints here.
Is the Kizashi more reliable than the Toyota Corolla?
Yes: 1.14 complaints per production run for the Kizashi against 5.16 for the Toyota Corolla.
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