1998 Suzuki Sidekick Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 1998 Suzuki Sidekick, and owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1998 Suzuki Sidekick. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1998 Suzuki Sidekick have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA; 9 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 11 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 247,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 9 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“3 years ago i bought a set of 4 goodyear warngler duratrac tires for my suzuki vitara. After aprox 1,5 years i go to tire service shop to repair air loss around the rim. With tire unmounted we found i”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 8, 2019 · Tires
“Was in a frontal accident. Front end of car pretty much totaled. Airbags did not deploy, and no problems with the codes or light before this.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 9, 2015 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1998 Suzuki Sidekick (Sidekick 2Door 4WD, Sidekick 2Door RWD, Sidekick 4Door 4WD, Sidekick 4Door RWD, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 20–22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19–21 / 22–24 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD, Special Purpose Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6/1.8 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Suzuki Sidekick model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Suzuki Sidekick model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 Suzuki Sidekick | 0 | 1 |
| 1989 Suzuki Sidekick | 1 | 7 |
| 1990 Suzuki Sidekick | 1 | 5 |
| 1991 Suzuki Sidekick | 1 | 14 |
| 1992 Suzuki Sidekick | 0 | 10 |
| 1993 Suzuki Sidekick | 1 | 14 |
| 1994 Suzuki Sidekick | 1 | 21 |
| 1995 Suzuki Sidekick | 0 | 26 |
| 1996 Suzuki Sidekick | 2 | 59 |
| 1997 Suzuki Sidekick | 1 | 36 |
| 1998 Suzuki Sidekick | 0 | 27 |
| 2000 Suzuki Sidekick | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1998 Suzuki Sidekick
How do I know if my 1998 Suzuki Sidekick has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Suzuki dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Suzuki models
- Forenza907 complaints
- Grand Vitara639 complaints
- SX4312 complaints
- XL7217 complaints
- Verona216 complaints
- Reno173 complaints
- XL-7163 complaints
- VZR1800146 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.