SuzukiGrand Vitara20092.4L/suzuki/grand-vitara/2009/2-4l/

2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara — 2.4L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 Grand Vitara 2.4L.

Body SUVEngine 2.4LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara blends traditional SUV ruggedness with a unibody platform, powered by a 2.4L four-cylinder engine paired with a four-speed automatic transmission that delivers a respectable 25 mpg on the highway—modest by today’s standards but a practical balance for its era. With just 14 owner complaints recorded, this model year stands as one of the most trouble-free iterations in the Grand Vitara’s 1999–2013 lineage, a notable contrast to the 160 complaints logged for the 2006 version. While four recalls were issued, the focus on minor issues like exterior lighting underscores a broader trend of reliability refinement in this generation. For researchers, the 2009 model represents a dependable midpoint in the nameplate’s history, offering a snapshot of Suzuki’s efforts to address earlier quality concerns.

Model year201120102009

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque73 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/25/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 700 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 24F · 700 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnOFFOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length168.9 in
Overall width71.3 in
Overall height66.5 in
Wheelbase103.9 in
Curb weight3607 lb
Track (front / rear)60.6 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)50/50

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 25 / 21 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 holds 5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 73 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 26.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-6-5-4-3-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity2.6
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.7 Pints
Engine Coolant16
Engine Coolant Capacity16
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs8.5 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts52 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/StudsM8 Bolts: 19 ft-lbs, M10 Bolts: 41 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts73 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug17.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug17.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub160 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub160 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-6-5-4-3-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)680 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Timing5, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance3 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.11-1.25 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.07 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance700 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test16 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)54.3-55.8 psi
Injector Primary Resistance11.6-12.4 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression160
Engine Oil Pressure44-72 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM4000 rpm

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket26 ft-lbs / 32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle61.5 ft-lbs / 63 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.080; Rear: 0.060 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness.120
Rotor Runout Limit0.004 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.984 in / 0.63 in
Rotor Finish0.905 μin / 0.551 μin

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45 degrees, Step 3: 4511 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
189 ft. lbs., step 2: 720 degrees, step 3: 74 ft lbs., step 4: +15089 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages
115 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
229.5 ft. lbs.29.5 ft. lbs
360 degrees.60 degrees
480 degrees.; Lubricate bolt threads with clean engine oil.80 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
137 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 360 degrees, Step 3: 15 ft. lbs., Step 4: 26 ft. lbs., Step 5: 40 degrees, Step 6: 4037 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 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 7,500 miBrake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
At 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 30,000 miDifferential (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Transmission Oil Cooler Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEmission Control System (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
At 90,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & 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.

The 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara sits within a generally favorable arc of the federal record, registering just 14 complaints—well below the 160-complaint spike of 2006 (likely a new-generation launch year) and beneath the 58 and 42 logged in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The trend across the second-generation run (2006–2013) is one of steady improvement, with complaints declining to 20 in 2010, 11 in 2011, and only 4 by 2013, positioning 2009 as an early beneficiary of post-launch refinement. The 4 recalls that year are slightly elevated relative to the 2007–2008 stretch (3 and 2), and 15 TSBs indicate above-average manufacturer service activity, though neither figure is alarming for the segment. Notably, the 2009 file contains zero crash and zero fire complaints, and the top issue areas—exterior lighting (2), steering, airbags/ESC, and brakes (1 each)—are low-volume and not concentrated around any single high-severity defect. Taken together, 2009 represents a solid, mid-cycle choice in this generation, and buyers should find it a defensible year to target provided the open recalls have been addressed.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
15
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
14
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 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 14 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Exterior Lighting2
Steering,Unknown Or Other1
Air Bags,Electronic Stability Control (Esc)1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Electrical System1
Unknown Or Other1
Engine1
Air Bags,Unknown Or Other,Electronic Stability Control (Esc)1
Electrical System,Electronic Stability Control (Esc),Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V187000SeatsReported 07/03/2019

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kizashi and 2006-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles. The front passenger leather seat may shrink due to high humidity and high temperature. As a result, the… Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat bottom cushion, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2019. All second letters…

17V085000Power Train:Manual TransmissionReported 09/02/2017

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The gear shift rear shaft on these vehicles may break, preventing the gears from being… Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the gear shift rear shaft, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 15 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SUZ_0160082022-07-08SuspensionReminder of the importance to conduct safety inspections for rust damage to suspension…
SI-26R2022-05-18Engine And Engine CoolingService update of cylinder block warranty extension (revision of original notice). Note…
ZF Owner Letter2019-05-17Engine And Engine CoolingThis letter was sent to owners of vehicles included in a warranty extension campaign for…
SI-26R2019-04-24Engine And Engine CoolingThis communication is a revised Service Bulletin concerning an extended warranty for a…
ZF-12019-02-20Engine And Engine CoolingThis letter was sent to owners of 2009 Grand Vitara and certain 2010 Grand Vitara and…

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.

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 2009 Grand Vitara 2.4L take?

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

Does the 2009 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 2.4L get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 25 highway / 21 combined mpg.