SuzukiVitara2002Overview/suzuki/vitara/2002/base/

2002 Suzuki Vitara

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

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2002 Suzuki Vitara is a compact SUV paired with a four-speed automatic transmission and an EPA fuel economy rating of 20 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. It logged a notably light seven owner complaints with no recalls on file, though the fuel system — specifically the gasoline subsystem — still surfaced as the standout area of concern in an otherwise quiet year. Within the 1999–2004 complaint window covered for the nameplate, that figure sits well below the high-water mark of 50 complaints posted by the 1999 model and only modestly above the all-time low of a single complaint recorded for 2003. For a researcher mapping the Vitara's reliability arc, the 2002 model year reads as one of the calmest points in the documented complaint record.

Model year200420032002

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque73 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy20/23/21 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 / combined20 / 23 / 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.

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.

The 2002 Suzuki Vitara shows a sharp decline in federal complaints, dropping to just 7 from 29 the year before and 35 two years earlier, while recalls fell to zero after a single recall in 2001. Technical Service Bulletins also fell dramatically, from 9 in 2001 to only 2 in 2002, matching the low complaint count. Compared with the surrounding years, 2003 maintains the low‑complaint trend (1 complaint, 0 recalls) but 2004 sees a slight uptick in recalls (1) and TSBs (7). The limited complaint categories for 2002—fuel system (2 reports), suspension, service brakes, and electrical system (each 1)—plus a single fire complaint and no crash complaints, suggest few systemic issues were identified. Overall, the 2002 model sits at the bottom of the generation’s problem curve, indicating it is a comparatively safe year to purchase.

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 by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

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. 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 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Vitara get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 23 highway / 21 combined mpg.