SuzukiGrand Vitara2002Overview/suzuki/grand-vitara/2002/base/

2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2002 Grand Vitara.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara is an SUV equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission and EPA fuel economy ratings of 17 city, 19 highway, and 18 combined mpg. The model has accumulated 53 total owner complaints and 4 recalls, with Vehicle Speed Control standing out as the top complaint area — figures that place this model year in a relatively moderate position within the Grand Vitara's 1999–2013 complaint history, well below the 2006 peak of 160 complaints but notably higher than the 2005 low of just 1 complaint. For researchers evaluating this model year, that positioning suggests a used 2002 Grand Vitara represents middle-of-the-road reliability risk: not the most problematic year in the generation, but one where the speed-control concerns and multiple recalls merit careful scrutiny.

Model year201320122008200720062004200320022001

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque73 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 height67.7 in
Wheelbase97.6 in
Curb weight3219 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 73 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Power Steering FluidATF

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts73 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 Capacity.99-1.21 lbs
Oil TypePAG
Oil Capacity3.38 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 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 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect)
Every 30,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Drive Belt (replace) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (replace)
Every 90,000 miTransfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 120,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister (replace)
At 142,500 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

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

In the context of the generation's federal records, the 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara sits at the tail end of an early downward trend in complaints, which dropped from 117 in 1999 to 53 in 2002. While its 53 complaints and 4 recalls represent a slight improvement over the 2001 model's 54 complaints and 6 recalls, it carries a substantially higher complaint volume than the subsequent 2003-2005 models, which saw complaints plummet to as low as 1. The 2002 model's primary concerns are Vehicle Speed Control (16 complaints), Fuel System, Gasoline (7), and Service Brakes, Hydraulic (5), contributing to 7 crash and 4 fire complaints, though the data does not specify root causes. Its position in the arc implies that while early-generation teething issues were subsiding, it lacks the reliability maturity found in the 2003-2005 models prior to the major 2006 complaint spike. Consequently, the 2002 model is not the optimal year to buy; shoppers should prioritize a 2003-2005 model to bypass this elevated early-generation complaint volume.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
12
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
53
Owner complaints
7 involved a crash · 4 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 53 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Vehicle Speed Control16
Fuel System, Gasoline7
Service Brakes, Hydraulic5
Power Train3
Seat Belts3
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Electrical System2
Air Bags,Seat Belts1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 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…

03V223000Visibility:WindshieldReported 16/06/2003

CERTAIN PASSENGER (111 MY 2002 ESTEEM, 777 MY 2002 AERIO, 2,368 MY 2003 AERIO) AND SPORT UTILITY (324 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA, 274 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA, 684 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA XL-7, AND 781 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA XL-7)… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES. VEHICLES THAT ARE FOUND TO HAVE INSUFFICIENT PAINT ADHESION WILL EITHER HAVE THE PROBLEM REMEDIED BY REPAINTING, OR WILL BE REPLACED, OR…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 12 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…
05022442004-01-01EquipmentREVISED REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR REPLACEMENT. *TT
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…

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 2002 Grand Vitara have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 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.