SuzukiVitara JA2002Overview/suzuki/vitara-ja/2002/base/

2002 Suzuki Vitara JA

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

Body SUV

The 2002 Suzuki Vitara JA is a compact SUV that entered the market with a straightforward mechanical package. Owner feedback for the model year shows a total of seven complaints, with the fuel system—specifically gasoline‑related issues—being the most frequently reported area. Notably, the vehicle carries no recalls, underscoring a clean safety record for this generation. In the broader reliability history of the Vitara line, the 2002 JA sits as a relatively low‑problem year, suggesting solid dependability for its class.

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque73 ft-lbsOEM · 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.

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

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

Torque lug nuts to 73 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 22.0-29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

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 Plug22.0-29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs8 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts73 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug17.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug17.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque18.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug Gap0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing5, Not adjustable degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.77-.99 lbs
Oil TypePAG
Oil Capacity4.05 oz

Service checks

Pressure Test16 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature179 °F
Engine Oil Pressure48-62 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM4000 rpm
Intake Valve Lash0.0070-0.0080 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.0070-0.0080 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket20 ft-lbs
Rotor Runout Limit0.0059 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.669 in
Rotor Finish0.591 μin
Drum Maximum Machining8.668 in
Drum Discard at-or-over8.746

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages
125 ft. lbs.25 ft. lbs
240 ft. lbs..40 ft. lbs
3Loosen all bolts.
425 ft. lbs.25 ft. lbs
549.5 ft. lbs.49.5 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages
138.5 ft. lbs.38.5 ft. lbs
261 ft. lbs.61 ft. lbs
3Loosen all bolts.
438.5 ft. lbs.38.5 ft. lbs
576

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.

Owner complaints about the 2002 Suzuki Vitara JA lead in one area — the fuel system, gasoline, 2 of 7 reports (29%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the fuel system, gasoline pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
2
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
7
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 7 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline2
Suspension1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
Electrical System1
Engine & Engine Cooling1
Power Train1

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 2 of 2 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…

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 Vitara JA. 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 Vitara JA have open recalls?

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