The 2010 Suzuki Kizashi is a solid mid-size sedan with Suzuki's 2.4L I4, but owners face expensive CVT transmission failures, premature engine oil consumption leading to catastrophic internal damage, and a handful of less common but safety-relevant recalls.
CVT Transmission Failure and Oil Cooler Leaks
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Whining or grinding noise during acceleration, Slipping or hesitation when accelerating from stop, Transmission fluid leaking from oil cooler lines or cooler itself, Check engine light with CVT-related codes (P0868, P0841)
Fix: CVT oil cooler lines and cooler fail, contaminating fluid and accelerating belt wear. If caught early, cooler replacement (3-4 hours labor) prevents total CVT failure. Once CVT is damaged, expect remanufactured unit replacement at 8-12 hours labor plus core charge.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200 for cooler alone; $3,500-5,500 for full CVT replacement
Excessive Oil Consumption and Piston Ring Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Burning more than 1 quart of oil every 1,000-1,500 miles, Blue smoke from exhaust on startup or acceleration, Fouled spark plugs and misfires, Engine knock or rod bearing noise if oil level drops critically low
Fix: Piston ring land design allows oil to burn past rings. Requires short block replacement or full engine rebuild with updated pistons and rings. 16-22 hours labor depending on AWD vs FWD, plus machine work if heads need resurfacing.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500 for short block; $6,000-9,000 for full rebuild
Transmission Mount Collapse
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive engine/transmission movement felt through shifter, Vibration at idle that worsens with AC on
Fix: Rubber transmission mount deteriorates, especially on AWD models with additional drivetrain weight. Replacement is straightforward but requires supporting transmission. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $300-550
Fuel Filter Clogging and Fuel System Issues
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Hard starting or extended cranking, especially when hot, Loss of power under load or uphill, Rough idle and hesitation, Check engine light with fuel trim codes
Fix: In-tank fuel filter not serviceable separately; requires fuel pump module replacement. NHTSA recalls covered some fuel system issues, but clogging from contaminated gas still occurs. 2-3 hours labor to drop tank and replace module.
Estimated cost: $450-750
Recall-Related Door Hinge and Seat Issues
Rare · medium severity
Symptoms: Front door sagging or difficult to close properly, Seat back recline mechanism failure or unexpected seat movement
Fix: NHTSA recalls covered door hinge reinforcement and seat frame issues. If not already performed, check VIN for open recalls. Dealer-only repair, typically 1-3 hours depending on issue.
Estimated cost: $0 if recall applies; $300-800 otherwise
Passenger Airbag Inflator (Takata Recall)
Rare · high severity
Symptoms: No symptoms until deployment, Recall notice from Suzuki/NHTSA
Fix: Part of widespread Takata airbag recall. Inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into cabin. Dealer replaces inflator, 1-2 hours. Check VIN immediately if not already completed.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall repair)
Owner tips
Check oil level every 500 miles religiously — this engine will burn oil, and low oil kills rod bearings fast
Service CVT fluid every 30,000 miles with Suzuki CVT-F or equivalent to extend transmission life
Inspect transmission oil cooler lines during every oil change for seepage — catching leaks early prevents $4k+ CVT replacement
Verify all recalls completed before purchase, especially Takata airbag and door hinge recalls
Budget $1,000-1,500/year for repairs after 80,000 miles — this platform is orphaned and parts aren't cheap
Pass unless you're getting a screaming deal under $3,000 — the CVT and oil consumption issues are expensive time bombs, and Suzuki's exit from the US market makes parts sourcing difficult.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 19V343000
2019-05-02
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling 2010-2013 Kizashi vehicles. The front passenger seat Occupant Classification System (OCS) may misclassify an adult occupant as child and deactivate the front air bag.
Consequence: The deactivated front air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and service providers will replace the front passenger seat cushion, which includes a new OCS mat assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed on October 29, 2021. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is C5.
SEATS · 19V187000
2019-03-07
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 occupant classification system (OCS) sensor mat may not accurately detect if an adult or child is occupying the seat.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, an incorrect classification may result in the passenger frontal air bag deploying even if there is a child in the front passenger seat, increasing their risk of injury.
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 notifying owners of the remedy were mailed by April 10, 2020. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's numbers for this recall are 4011 and 4012.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · 18V769000
2018-10-31
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Suzuki Kizashi vehicles. Dust can enter the vent line that provides fresh air to the carbon canister, restricting its air flow and possibly creating excessive negative pressure in the fuel tank which may result in the fuel tank cracking.
Consequence: A cracked tank may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Suzuki has sent owners an initial notification to inform them of the recall. When parts are available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will install a cover over the opening near the suction pipe inlet, and relocate the suction filter. The fuel cap and fuel tank will also be replaced with improved parts. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) · 14V811000
2014-12-22
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 SX4 vehicles manufactured July 16, 2009, to November 1, 2012, and 2010-2013 Kizashi vehicles manufactured October 13, 2009, to October 31, 2012. The shift selector can be moved out of the "Park" position without depressing the brake pedal.
Consequence: If the shift selector is moved out of the "Park" position while the brake pedal is not depressed, the vehicle may unexpectedly roll, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shift selector assembly and inspect, and if necessary, replace the shift knob, free of charge. The recall began January 16, 2015. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-714-996-7040. Suzuki's number for this recall is VL.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · 14V464000
2014-07-30
Suzuki Motor Of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Kizashi vehicles manufactured October 2009 through July 2012. In the affected vehicles, spiders may weave a web in the evaporative canister vent hose, blocking it and causing the fuel tank to have an excessive amount of negative pressure.
Consequence: Negative pressure could cause the fuel tank to crack resulting in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Suzuki is in the process of notifying owners, and dealers will replace the evaporative canister vent line on the affected vehicles with a vent line that has a filter on the end. If the canister vent line is found to be obstructed by a spider web, the fuel tank will also be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 12, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is VG.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS · 10V287000
2010-06-28
SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 KIZASHI PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 13, 2009 THROUGH MAY 31, 2010. THE HINGED DOOR OF THE CENTER LOWER BOX LOCATED IN THE FRONT DASHBOARD AREA FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT."
Consequence: THE DOOR MAY OPEN IN A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANTS.
Remedy: SUZUKI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CENTER LOWER BOX OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH A NEW PART FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-714-996-7040.
Vehicle Info — 2010 Suzuki Kizashi
Performance
Horsepower
185hp
Torque
170lb-ft
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
23mpg
Highway
30mpg
Combined
25mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
Capability & size
Seating
5seats
EPA class
Compact Cars
Wiper blades
Sedan body style, no rear wiper. Standard hook-type attachment.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi 2.4L I4 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Built by master technician Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years.