SuzukiSidekick1993Overview/suzuki/sidekick/1993/base/

1993 Suzuki Sidekick

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Sidekick.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1993 Suzuki Sidekick is a compact SUV built on a body-on-frame platform, powered by a four-cylinder engine that requires 4.5 quarts of oil with a recommended viscosity of 15W-40, 15W-50, or 10W-40 API-grade oil, paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission and achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 20/22/21 mpg across city/highway/combined cycles. This model year falls within a period of relatively strong owner satisfaction, as the 14 recorded complaints for the 1993 Sidekick represent one of the lower complaint totals in the nameplate's decade-long history from 1990 to 2000—significantly below the peak of 81 complaints logged in 1996 and above only the final year 2000's tally of 1, suggesting that while the electrical system emerged as the primary concern, the 1993 model-year iteration held up reasonably well compared to its successors.

Model year1995199419931992199119901989

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 15W-50 / 10W-40 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy20/22/21 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length142.5 in
Overall width64.2 in
Overall height65.4 in
Wheelbase86.6 in
Curb weight2282 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 22 / 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 4.5 qt of 15W-40 / 15W-50 / 10W-40 API engine oil, 75W-80 · 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-80 · 75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2 Pints
Engine Oil15W-40 · 15W-50 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-50 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Power Steering FluidATF
Transfer Case Fluid75W-80 · 75W-90 · GL-4
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity3.6 Pints

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; 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) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 7,500 miDifferential (inspect fluid level) · Door Stop (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 30,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEGR Valve (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Emission Control System (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Ignition Timing (inspect)
At 90,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 miCatalytic Converter (inspect)
At 105,000 miFuel Filter (replace)

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 1993 Suzuki Sidekick sits in a relatively quiet early phase of the generation’s federal record. With 14 complaints, one recall, one investigation, and five TSBs, it is nearly identical to 1992 (13 complaints, zero recalls, zero investigations, five TSBs) and well below the escalation seen from 1994 onward, when complaints jumped to 29 and eventually peaked at 81 in 1996. Compared with 1991’s 17 complaints and three investigations, 1993 is slightly calmer on the regulatory front, while the later 1996–1997 model years show far higher complaint volume and additional recalls. The top complaint areas for 1993 were the electrical system (3), engine and engine cooling (2), vehicle speed control (1), and tires (1), with one crash-related and one fire-related complaint each; the data does not specify root causes. Overall, 1993 looks like one of the better years to buy in this run, provided any open recall has been completed and the electrical and cooling systems are inspected closely.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
5
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
14
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 14 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System3
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Vehicle Speed Control1
Tires1
Latches/Locks/Linkages1
Seat Belts1
Visibility1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

94V073002Suspension:RearReported 16/04/1994

THE RIGHT REAR AND LEFT AXLE SHAFT HOUSING TUBES WERE INCORRECTLY WELDED AND CAN FRACTURE. FRACTURE OF THE REAR AXLE SHAFT HOUSING CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE AFFECTED WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND SEPARATION OF THE BRAKE LINE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WELDS OF THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLIES ON INVOLVED VEHICLES AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE COMPLETE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 5 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
N-Q-G-0452018-11-20SuspensionThis Service Bulletin was sent by Suzuki Motor Corporation to its authorized Suzuki…
9573L30011995-04-01Power TrainTORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH (TCC) CHUGGLE/HUNTING CONDITION.*SD
TS30505113R1993-01-01Power TrainMODIFICATION OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERNAL PARTS. *TW
TS41304063R1993-01-01Engine And Engine CoolingMODIFICATION OF INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THERMOSTAT. *TW
0204145Engine And Engine CoolingCORRECT COOLANT USAGE. *EH

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 Sidekick. 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 1993 Sidekick take?

4.5 qt of ABOVE 0 degrees F: 15W-40 OR 15W-50 API, ABOVE -4 degrees F: 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API, -4 degrees F TO 86 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 86 degrees F: 5W-30 API (STARBURS, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 Sidekick have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Sidekick get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 22 highway / 21 combined mpg.