Japan · NHTSA recalls & complaints
Suzuki VIN decoder
Suzuki Motor Corporation is a Japanese maker of cars, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and outboard motors. In the United States it no longer sells cars. Its US subsidiary, American Suzuki Motor Corporation, filed for Chapter 11 on November 5, 2012 and wound down car sales in the continental US while keeping its motorcycle, ATV and marine businesses.
Enter all 17 characters to see the build details NHTSA holds and the recalls for that model year.
- 73 model pages
- 103 recall campaigns
- 4,603 owner complaints
- model years 1995–2026
- 21 WMI codes in vPIC
- origin: Japan
| Country of origin | Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Asia |
| NHTSA recall and complaint data | Yes, model years 1995–2026 |
| WMI codes in NHTSA vPIC | 21 |
| Model pages | 73 |
| Other model names in NHTSA data | 59 |
| Vehicle recall campaigns | 103 |
| Owner complaints | 4,603 |
| Complaints reporting a crash | 381 (8.3%) |
| Complaints reporting a fire | 145 (3.2%) |
| Complaints reporting an injury | 275 (6.0%) |
| Complaints reporting a death | 7 (0.2%) |
| Data updated | September 25, 2026 |
Today Suzuki Motor USA, LLC sells Suzuki motorcycles, ATVs and scooters in the US, and it files Suzuki's VIN information with NHTSA. Its model-year 2027 filing lists three manufacturer codes: JS1 for motorcycles built in Japan, RFD for motorcycles and ATVs built in Taiwan, and 5SA for ATVs built in the US. Suzuki cars sold in the US before the exit, such as the SX4, Kizashi and Grand Vitara, still appear in NHTSA's vPIC model lists, and vPIC keeps separate car WMIs for them.
Every Suzuki from model year 1981 onward uses the 17-character VIN, whether it is a car, a motorcycle or an ATV. That matters for owners of older Suzuki cars, because not every Suzuki car WMI points to a Suzuki plant: one of them, KL5, uses the KL prefix that GM's VIN standard assigns to GM Korea. NHTSA's recall records for Suzuki cars, motorcycles and ATVs remain searchable by model and year. For GM's Korean-built models, see Chevrolet.
NHTSA’s files hold 103 vehicle recall campaigns and 4,603 owner complaints for Suzuki vehicles from model years 1995 to 2026, summarised here on 73 model pages. The Forenza has the most complaints (907), followed by the Grand Vitara (639) and the XL7 (380). Of those complaints, 381 report a crash, 145 a fire, 275 at least one injury and 7 at least one death; the figures count complaints, not people.
The World Manufacturer Identifier is the first three characters of the VIN. NHTSA’s vPIC database decodes 21 WMIs to Suzuki; this is the complete list, with the manufacturer name, country and vehicle type vPIC records for each.
| WMI | Manufacturer (vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type | Also decoded as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2S2 | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | Japan | Passenger Car | – |
| 2S3 | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | Not stated | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 5SA | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | United States | Motorcycle | – |
| 5Z6 | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | United States | Truck | – |
| JG7 | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | Japan | Passenger Car | – |
| JGC | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Truck | – |
| JGT | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Truck | GMC |
| JKS | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | Japan | Motorcycle | – |
| JS1 | SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION | Japan | Motorcycle | – |
| JS2 | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | Not stated | Passenger Car | – |
Show the other 11 WMIsHide the rest
| WMI | Manufacturer (vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type | Also decoded as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JS3 | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | Not stated | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| JS4 | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | Japan | Truck | – |
| JSA | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | Japan | Motorcycle | – |
| KL5 | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | South Korea | Passenger Car | – |
| LC6 | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | China | Motorcycle | – |
| LM1 | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | Taiwan | Motorcycle | – |
| LM4 | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | Taiwan | Motorcycle | – |
| LN1 | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | Japan | Motorcycle | – |
| MLC | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | Not stated | Motorcycle | – |
| RFD | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | Not stated | Motorcycle | – |
| VTT | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | Spain | Motorcycle | – |
Some codes are shared across a manufacturer’s brands; the last column names the other brands in our catalog that vPIC links to the same code. See the WMI code guide for how the codes are assigned.
Each model page lists NHTSA’s recall campaigns and owner complaints for that model name, by model year and component. Models are sorted by complaints; the data covers model years 1995–2026.
| Model | Model years | Recall campaigns | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forenza | 2004–2008 | 6 | 907 |
| Grand Vitara | 1999–2013 | 15 | 639 |
| XL7 | 2001–2009 | 5 | 380 |
| SX4 | 2000–2013 | 9 | 312 |
| Verona | 2004–2006 | 6 | 216 |
| Reno | 2004–2008 | 4 | 173 |
| Sidekick | 1995–2000 | 2 | 149 |
| VZR1800 | 2006–2023 | 1 | 146 |
| Boulevard M109R | 2006–2011 | – | 130 |
| Esteem | 1995–2002 | 1 | 121 |
| Vitara | 1999–2004 | 5 | 115 |
| Aerio | 2002–2007 | 2 | 115 |
| GSX-R600 | 1997–2013 | 5 | 109 |
| GSX-R750 | 1996–2025 | 6 | 94 |
| Motorcycle | 1995–2003 | – | 94 |
| Intruder | 1995–2002 | – | 88 |
| Kizashi | 2010–2013 | 7 | 73 |
| Grand Vitara XL-7 | 2001–2005 | 3 | 73 |
| GSX-R1000 | 2001–2021 | 7 | 62 |
| VL1500 | 1998–2008 | 1 | 42 |
| SV1000S | 2003–2007 | 1 | 41 |
| GSX1300R | 1999–2024 | 5 | 38 |
| VL800 | 2003–2010 | 2 | 31 |
| Hayabusa | 1999–2023 | 1 | 30 |
| DL1000 | 2002–2016 | 5 | 23 |
| AN650 | 2005–2015 | 3 | 21 |
| DL650 | 2004–2018 | 4 | 18 |
| AN400 | 2004–2025 | 5 | 15 |
| Equator | 2009–2012 | 5 | 15 |
| Swift | 1995–2002 | 2 | 14 |
Show 43 more Suzuki modelsHide the other models
| Model | Model years | Recall campaigns | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| SV650 | 2000–2009 | 2 | 12 |
| SV1000 | 2003–2007 | 1 | 11 |
| TL1000SV | 1997–1998 | 2 | 7 |
| VZ800 | 1999–2009 | 2 | 7 |
| AN650 Burgman | 2003–2004 | 1 | 7 |
| DL800 | 2023–2026 | 1 | 6 |
| GSX600FW | 1998–2000 | 1 | 5 |
| VL1500T | 2005–2006 | 1 | 5 |
| DR-Z400S | 2000–2026 | 2 | 4 |
| VZ1500 | 2009–2013 | 2 | 4 |
| GS500 | 2002–2009 | 1 | 4 |
| GSX750FW | 1998–2000 | 1 | 4 |
| Katana | 1998–2006 | 1 | 4 |
| SFV650 | 2009–2015 | 4 | 3 |
| DR-Z400SM | 2007–2025 | 2 | 3 |
| VLR1800 | 2008–2010 | 2 | 3 |
| GSX-1300RK8 | 2008 | 1 | 3 |
| GZ250 | 2002–2009 | 1 | 3 |
| SV650S | 2003–2006 | 1 | 3 |
| GSF1250S | 2008–2009 | 2 | 2 |
| DL650A V-Strom | 2014 | 1 | 2 |
| GSX-600FK4 | 2004 | 1 | 2 |
| GSX-S750 | 2015–2018 | 1 | 2 |
| TL1000SW | 1997–2002 | 1 | 2 |
| AN400 Burgman | 2003–2004 | 1 | 1 |
| GSX-8R | 2024–2026 | 1 | 1 |
| GSX-S1000 | 2016–2023 | 1 | 1 |
| Hayabusa GSX1300RA | 2013 | 1 | 1 |
| TL1000RW | 1998 | 1 | 1 |
| GSX1300BK | 2008 | 2 | – |
| GSX250R | 2018–2019 | 2 | – |
| GSX650F | 2008–2010 | 2 | – |
| UH200 | 2019–2020 | 2 | – |
| Burgman 200 | 2018–2019 | 1 | – |
| DL1050 | 2020–2025 | 1 | – |
| GSX-R750W | 1998 | 1 | – |
| GSX-S1000A | 2016 | 1 | – |
| GSX-S1000FA | 2016 | 1 | – |
| GSX-S1000S | 2020–2024 | 1 | – |
| GSX1300RRQ | 2022 | 1 | – |
| GSX1300RX | 1999 | 1 | – |
| GSX250RZ | 2018 | 1 | – |
| GW250 | 2013–2017 | 1 | – |
– means NHTSA has no records of that kind under the model name.
Other Suzuki models in NHTSA data
NHTSA also lists these Suzuki model names, but with no recall campaign and fewer than 25 complaints each, so they have no page of their own: AN400K7, B-King, Boulevard C50, Burgman, C50 (Boulevard), C90, C90T, C109R, DL650A, DR200SE, DR350SE, DR650, Eiger, GS500F, GS650, GS1100, GSF1200, GSF1200S, GSF1250, GSX-1250FA, GSX-R750X, GSX-S1000GT, GSX750F, GSX1300, GSX1300B, GSX1300RAL8, Kazashi, LS650, LS650P, LT-A700, LT-F250, LT-R450K8, M109R, S83, Samurai, Sidekick Sport, TL1000, TL1000R, TL1000S, TU250X, TZ250, V-Strom 800, V-Strom 1000, V-Strom 1050XT, Vinson, VL800K7, VL800TL, VL1500BL, VL1500K7, Volusia, VS 1400, VS700, VS800GL, VS800K7, VS1400GL, VS1400GL Intruder, VS1400GLPK4, VZR1800K9, X-90.
Which WMI codes appear on Suzuki VINs?
Motorcycle and ATV WMIs come from Suzuki's 2027 filing; the car codes are from NHTSA's vPIC database, which registers them to Suzuki Motor of America.
| WMI | Manufacturer (NHTSA vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| JS1 | SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION | Japan | Motorcycle |
| RFD | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | Taiwan | Motorcycle |
| 5SA | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | United States | Motorcycle (ATV) |
| JS2 | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | Japan | Passenger car |
| JS3 | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | Japan | MPV |
| KL5 | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | South Korea | Passenger car |
| 5Z6 | SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC | United States | Truck |
KL5 starts with KL, which GM's VIN standard assigns to GM Korea (K for South Korea, L for GM Korea). 5Z6 marks a US-built Suzuki truck; vPIC's 2013 model list for Suzuki includes the Equator pickup.
How is a Suzuki motorcycle VIN structured?
Suzuki's model-year 2027 VIN coding system for motorcycles and ATVs (NHTSA Manufacturer Information Database file ORG26728, July 2026) uses its example VIN JS1SK43A?V7100001 to explain the layout:
- Positions 1 to 3: WMI (JS1, RFD or 5SA)
- Positions 4 to 8: model identifier; for example, the filing lists ET11B for the SV-7GX and GN7FA for the GSX-R600
- Position 9: check digit
- Position 10: model year, V for 2027
- Position 11: manufacturing plant, 1 for China and Taiwan, 7 for Japan and the USA
- Positions 12 to 17: serial number, starting from 100001
Does Suzuki still sell cars in the US?
No. American Suzuki Motor Corporation filed for Chapter 11 on November 5, 2012 and ended car sales in the continental US, keeping its motorcycle, ATV and marine businesses. Suzuki Motor USA, LLC sells motorcycles, ATVs and scooters today.
Where is the VIN on a Suzuki motorcycle?
The exact location depends on the model, so check the owner's manual for your motorcycle or ATV. The same 17-character VIN is printed on the title and registration, and our guide to where to find your VIN covers the usual places to look.
Can I check recalls for a Suzuki car or motorcycle?
Yes. The decoder lists recalls NHTSA has issued for your Suzuki's make, model and model year, including older cars, using NHTSA's public data for US-market vehicles. For one VIN's open-recall status, use NHTSA's VIN search. See recalls.
Does a Suzuki VIN decode show theft or title history?
No. It shows factory data such as model, model year and plant. Theft, title and ownership records come from state agencies, law enforcement and licensed history providers, which this site does not connect to.
Brands mentioned in the notes above, then other Asian brands, each with its own VIN notes and WMI list.
- Chevrolet (172) United States · 751 recall campaigns
- Acura (22) Japan · 117 recall campaigns
- Genesis (12) South Korea · 34 recall campaigns
- Honda (127) Japan · 363 recall campaigns
- Hyundai (49) South Korea · 285 recall campaigns
- Infiniti (36) Japan · 104 recall campaigns
Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files and NHTSA vPIC, updated September 25, 2026.