Suzuki Vitara

Issue: 
On certain vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) may not work properly. This could cause the airbag system not to turn off the airbag when an infant or child is seated in the front passenger seat. This could also cause the passenger seat belt reminder to activate when the seat is empty. Note: This problem only affects vehicles with leather seats. 
 
Safety Risk:
In a crash, an airbag that deploys in front of an infant or child increases the risk of injury.
 
Corrective Actions: 
The company will notify owners by mail. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicle to a Suzuki service provider to have the front passenger seat cushion replaced.

On certain vehicles, the tension adjuster pulley for the drive belt which operates the power steering pump and air conditioner compressor (if equipped) has an outer portion that is made of plastic.  Repeated heat stress can cause the plastic material to deteriorate and pieces of the pulley can break off.  Broken pieces of the pulley can get caught between the pulley and the drive belt, causing the drive belt to come off and resulting in the driver needing increased effort to steer the vehicle.  This situation could result in a crash causing property damage, personal injury or death.  Correction: Dealers will replace the power steering pump drive belt tension adjuster pulley. Note: This is an expansion of recall 2010-197.

On certain vehicles, the gear shift rear shaft could break due to repeated right to left and left to right movement of the shifter lever. If this occurs, the driver would not be able to switch gear which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the gear shift rear shaft with an improved part.

On certain vehicles, the Occupant Classification System may malfunction, causing the airbag warning lamp to illuminate, and could fail to disable the passenger airbag if a child were seated in the front passenger seating position. This could result in an unwarranted airbag deployment in a crash, increasing the risk of injury to a child seated in the front passenger seat. Note: In this situation, the "PASS AIR BAG OFF" light would fail to illuminate, regardless of if a child or adult is seated in the front passenger seat. Correction: Vehicles will receive special extended warranty coverage of 10 years or 200,000 kilometers (whichever comes first) from the date the vehicle was originally placed into service.  Under this special coverage program, vehicles which experience this condition will have the occupant detection mat replaced.

On certain vehicles, the tension adjuster pulley for the drive belt, which operates the alternator, water pump, air conditioner compressor and power steering pump, may contain an improperly manufactured internal spring that can break due to repeated stress.  Should the spring break, this would cause the drive belt tension to be maladjusted, allowing the belt to slip.  If the belt comes off, the loss of steering power assist would require the driver to exert increased effort to steer the vehicle.  This could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury.  Additionally, the loss of water pump function would cause the coolant temperature to rise, which can lead to engine overheating, while the loss of alternator charging ability would lead to battery discharge and eventual engine stall.  Correction: Dealers will replace the drive belt tension adjuster pulley.