SuzukiGrand Vitara1999Overview/suzuki/grand-vitara/1999/base/

1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1999 Grand Vitara.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara is equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission and achieves an EPA-rated fuel economy of 17/19/18 mpg. This model year recorded five recalls and 117 total owner complaints, with the gasoline fuel system identified as the top complaint area. Within the model's 1999-2013 history, the 1999 version's reliability sits between the 2005 low of one complaint and the 2006 peak of 160 complaints.

Model year201320122008200720062004200320021999

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque69 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/19/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

Tail / brake / turnOFFOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length161.4 in
Overall width70.1 in
Overall height68.5 in
Wheelbase97.6 in
Curb weight3197 lb
Track (front / rear)59.1 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 19 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 69 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Power Steering FluidATF

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts69 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug17.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug17.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque18.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.09-1.31 lbs
Oil TypePAG
Oil Capacity4.05 oz

Service checks

Pressure Test16 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature179 °F

Brakes

Torque Caliper to BracketUPPER BOLT: 61.5, LOWER BOLT: 36.5 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle62 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.275; Rear: 0.275 specification
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.120
Rotor Runout Limit0.0059 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.866 in
Rotor Finish0.787 μin
Drum Maximum Machining8.668 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Large hex head bolts:

138.5 ft. lbs.38.5 ft. lbs
261 ft. lbs.61 ft. lbs
3Loosen
438.5 ft. lbs.38.5 ft. lbs
576 ft. lbs.; Small hex head bolt: 7.576 ft. lbs

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 60,000 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) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect)
Every 7,500 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Door Stop (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
At 60,000 miFuel Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Vehicle Wiring Harnesses (inspect)
At 90,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)
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 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara sits at the beginning of this generation's data record, and it shows the highest complaint volume of any year from 1999–2005 with 117 complaints—significantly more than the 88 in 2000 and 54 in 2001. The trend then declines steadily to just 8 complaints by 2004 and a mere 1 by 2005, suggesting early production issues were progressively addressed. Notably, a dramatic spike occurs in 2006 (160 complaints, 1 NHTSA investigation), indicating a major shift—likely a generation change—that introduced new problems. The 1999 model's top complaint areas are fuel system (20), engine/cooling (17), service brakes (10), and airbags (8), with 16 crash-related complaints and 2 fire complaints recorded. Given that 1999 represents the peak of early-generation complaints before the clear downward trend, and accounting for its age and the unresolved nature of those complaint areas, this is not the strongest model year to target within this generation—later years like 2004–2005 show markedly fewer issues.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
13
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
117
Owner complaints
16 involved a crash · 2 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 117 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline20
Engine & Engine Cooling17
Service Brakes, Hydraulic10
Air Bags8
Power Train8
Equipment8
Vehicle Speed Control7
Visibility5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

04V427000Fuel System, GasolineReported 30/08/2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, UNDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW -25 DEGREES CELSIUS, MOISTURE CAN FREEZE IN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. AS A RESULT, FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE MAY INCREASE AT THE TIME OF ENGINE START UP… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, THE FUEL DELIVER HOSE AND REPLACE THE HOSE CLAMP WITH AN IMPROVED CLAMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD…

01V146000Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection SystemReported 27/04/2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. UNDER TEMPERATURES BELOW -25 DEGREES, MOISTURE CAN FREEZE IN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE COULD INCREASE AT THE TIME OF ENGINE START UP, CAUSING FUEL… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED INTAKE MANIFOLD VACUUM UNION AND A NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 4, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 13 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SUZ_0160082022-07-08SuspensionReminder of the importance to conduct safety inspections for rust damage to suspension…
N-Q-G-0452018-11-20SuspensionThis Service Bulletin was sent by Suzuki Motor Corporation to its authorized Suzuki…
0602244R22004-01-01Engine And Engine CoolingOIL LEAKING FROM LEFT FRONT OF ENGINE. *TT
09031432003-01-01Engine And Engine CoolingOIL LEVEL READS AT LOW MARK ON OIL LEVEL DIP STICK. 1999 - 2003 VITARA/GRAND VITARA/XL-7…
03022703R2003-01-01EquipmentREVISED REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR FREEZE-UP DURING USE. *TT

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 Grand Vitara. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

Does the 1999 Grand Vitara have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Grand Vitara get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 19 highway / 18 combined mpg.