SuzukiEsteem1995Overview/suzuki/esteem/1995/base/

1995 Suzuki Esteem

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1995 Esteem.

The 1995 Suzuki Esteem specifies a 3.5-quart fill of 5W-30 API oil, and its launch year recorded 14 owner complaints — predominantly in service brakes and hydraulics — against a clean slate of zero recalls. Spanning the 1995 through 2002 model run, complaint totals swung from a low of five in 1996 to a high of 34 in 2000, situating the inaugural Esteem notably below the range's midpoint. This early reliability profile indicates the model arrived on a comparatively steady footing before later years accumulated a sharper volume of reported problems.

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque62 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 26R · 440 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 26R · 440 CCAOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length165.4 in
Wheelbase98 in
Track (front / rear)56.7 / 57.9 in

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 62 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 26.0-29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs8 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings26 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts57-58 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17 ft-lbs
Main Bearings39-40 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug26.0-29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs8 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts62 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing5, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance1 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.31 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Capacity5.00-5.06 oz
Standard BCI Group Number26R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance440 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test13 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief13 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature190 °F
Engine Oil Pressure48-62 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM4000 rpm
Intake Valve Lash0.0050-0.0070 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.0070-0.0080 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket16 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle62 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.040 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.120
Rotor Runout Limit0.0039 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.788 in
Rotor Finish0.709 μin
Drum Maximum Machining7.88 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miBrake System (inspect)
Every 7,500 miDoor Stop (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Shift Linkage (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Timing Belt (replace) · Vehicle Wiring Harnesses (inspect)
At 90,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 120,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister Filter (replace)
At 150,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1995 Suzuki Esteem recorded 14 complaints, zero recalls, and six technical service bulletins. The most frequent issue for this specific year involved the hydraulic service brakes with six reports, followed by air bags with two reports. Across the generation from 1995 to 2002, complaints generally trended upward, peaking at 34 in 2000 before declining toward the end of the run. The 1995 model falls at the beginning of this arc with a relatively low complaint volume compared to later years, though it is higher than the 1996 and 1997 models. Recalls remained non-existent for the majority of the generation, only appearing once in 2002. Given the low number of complaints and total lack of recalls, this is a good year to buy.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
6
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
14
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 14 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic6
Air Bags2
Steering,Suspension,Power Train1
Fuel System, Gasoline1
Suspension,Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Engine & Engine Cooling,Power Train,Exterior Lighting,Structure,Tires,Wheels1
Tires1
Engine & Engine Cooling,Fuel System, Gasoline,Electrical System1
Service Brakes, Air1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 6 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
N-Q-G-0452018-11-20SuspensionThis Service Bulletin was sent by Suzuki Motor Corporation to its authorized Suzuki…
01091932003-09-11Service Brakes, HydraulicSERVICE MANUAL UPDATE - IMPROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. *TT
SW072000-05-04Electrical SystemTHIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE REVISED CLAIMS SUBMISSION PROCEDURES FOR REPLACEMENT BATTERIES…
102 050971999-01-01SeatsSUBJECT REGARDING AMENDMENTS OF TIGHTENING TORQUE OF FRONT SEAT RAIL MOUNTING BOLT. *TT
0210063Electrical SystemSERVICE MANUAL UPDATE-INCORRECT WIRING DIAGRAM OF THE WIPER/WASHER COMBINATION SWITCH. *SC

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Esteem. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1995 Esteem take?

3.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1995 Esteem have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.