4 Suzuki Models With Annual Maintenance Costs Under $300
Maintenance costs are an essential area to consider when shopping for a new or used car, and they can vary a lot depending on the brand, the model, and the model year. Suzuki is a Japanese automaker that doesn’t sell new cars in the U.S. anymore, but many used Suzuki models are still on the market. Here’s a look at four Suzuki models with an annual maintenance cost of under $300.
1. Suzuki Swift
Although Suzuki cars are rare in America, they still have an average annual maintenance cost of $503, according to RepairPal. One of the Japanese automaker’s options that has a cheaper yearly maintenance cost is the Suzuki Swift. The Swift was a subcompact sedan and hatchback sold briefly in the U.S. in the late 1990s.
The Swift has an average annual maintenance cost of just $209, and owners on the site reported six problems with the car. The most common issue had to do with the brake rotors getting warped. It’s unclear how much it’d cost to fix this issue, but the site recommended applying proper amounts of lug nut torque. Another common problem had to do with the dome lights staying on. This tended to happen after the car had logged over 200,000 miles.
2. Suzuki Samurai
The Suzuki Samurai was perhaps the most well-known Suzuki model for American car enthusiasts, also known as the Jimny. It’s a small SUV designed for off-roading and has a similar look to the Jeep Wrangler. Although getting a Samurai in the U.S. market may be difficult, the Suzuki SUV provides its owners with an affordable annual maintenance cost of just $239.
Owners on the site reported four different problems with the Samurai. The most common problem was the car’s battery dying due to the fusible link getting burnt. This issue affected the model years of the vehicle that spanned the early 90s. RepairPal suggests replacing the battery as well as fixing the fusible link.
3. Suzuki Vitara
The Suzuki Vitara is another small SUV with a more traditional SUV design than the Samurai. The Japanese automaker sold the SUV in the U.S. between the 1980s and early 2000s, though it was known as the Sidekick in its earliest years. It has an average annual maintenance cost of $278, and owners on the site only reported three problems with the small SUV.
The most common problem had to do with an oil leak that may happen on the car’s right front axle. Owners reported this issue happening in all of the car’s later model years, including up to the 2004 model year, which was when it was discontinued. This problem appeared after owners had logged about 180,000 miles. Owners should replace the axle seal to fix this issue.
4. Suzuki Verona
This Suzuki Verona midsize sedan was sold in the U.S. in the early 2000s, but it wasn’t very successful and was killed off in 2006. Regardless, it still has a cheap maintenance cost, as owners pay an average of $293 annually to maintain their Verona. Its most common problems were actually software related. The car may provide the wrong fault codes and have poor shifting qualities. Both issues occurred after about 100,000 miles.
However, these issues can be fixed by updating the car’s software. The fault code issue can be fixed by upgrading the power control module software, while the shift quality issue can be fixed by updating the transmission control module software.
