Suzuki is recalling a record 2 million vehicles to replace ignition switches amid reports of smoke and fumes being emitted from the part.
The recall adds 1,873,000 vehicles to the 168,000 previously recalled late last month, Reuters reports. Both figures apply to nine models made in Japan, including the Chevrolet Cruze, Mazda AZ-Wagon, Mazda Carol, and Suzuki’s own Alto, Wagon R and Swift. The recall for the latter three covers vehicles built between 1998 and 2009.
Another 133,700 models in the new recall were sold overseas in Australia and Europe, including the aforementioned Swift, Alto and Cruze.
Thus far, 67 reports of smoking switches have been reported, including 18 in police cars. The reports have all come from Japan.
[Photo credit: Kuha455405/Wikipedia]
I TOLD those switches that smoking was bad. Now look. They’ve been recalled. Serves them right.
Beat me to it. I was going to complain that “they” are trying to make the entire world non-smoking.
Smoking ignition systems?
What, are they Volkswagen now?
Nope, VWs smoke something else. He, he…
That’s a neat looking Suzuki thing.
I like it, too, but I’m afraid it’s a generation or two old and the current Wagon Rs have a much slope-ier front clip with the mandatory ridiculously elongated headlights stretching to the A-pillar.
Top Gear:
Clarkson: “And it is like the menu at a Scottish restaurant. Not much in it, and nothing you want. Look at this, Suzuki Wagon R +.”
*Hammond makes disgusted face.*
LOL
I like boxy designs, but this one is a step too far in that it is tall and very narrow. However, I do like the general idea of the design.
“Smoking Ignitions” was the name of my college garage band!
The big news is that Suzuki has sold 2 million cars.
Suzuki does really well in a few markets: Japan and India. They do not quite as well, but still acceptably all throughout EMEA.
Only in North America did they bomb utterly, and a lot of that has to do with their making cars that would never, ever federalize. So they had to sell warmed-over GM-DATs (nee Daewoos) and the occasional platform-sharing travesty with GM or Fiat.
I was thinking their sales in India have to be partnered with another company, and it’s known as Maruti Suzuki.
But I dunno how that works exactly.
Suzuki does well in Mexico. They are all over the place here. I believe that they are still selling well in Canada too. It is not North America where they bombed utterly. It is the US where they bombed utterly.
Is it now? Of the Asian “independents” (Honda possibly aside due to size and other businesses), Suzuki with its CUV/SUV tradition and know-how, India, small cars and that little motorcycle business is the cream of the crop. Of the top brands scrambling for six million global sales, few would not reach that having Suzuki under its belt. Oh well. To know what you speak of is so hard!
They’ve had plenty of practice. The GT750 2-stroke street bike I once had smoked plenty too.
Nothing here to see, move along folks…
I like the Honda Kei vehicles better. They have the N-box I think it’s called, I like that one. It even has special editions like “1950’s America” and “Wood Panel Library” and stuff.
And you can buy an N-Camp!
http://blog.caranddriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/nbox_ncamp-1.jpg
No box or One? Are we talking the same car? Like a modern take on an old Honda? If so agreed, looks very sweet.
The One looks a bit too campy for me, trying too hard. This N-box is what I like (and is in that link there with the awesome camper trailer).
By some strange coincidence, the Smoking Ignitions is the name of my son’s new band.