Automatic Transmission Control Module Problems of Suzuki Forenza

My transmission range sensor has been replaced twice, both within a 12 months time frame. Both times my car jerks at low and high speeds and my engine light is invoked. The second time the dealership replaced my transmission range sensor. . . The very same week my vehicle is still experiencing the same exact issues, inclusive of my engine light coming on and staying on for 3 days. Upon return, the dealership says my jerking, hard gear shifting and on board engine light is being caused due to an engine skipping issue, which is "possibly" due to the electronic control module not communicating with the transmission control module. I'll have to pay the dealership $210 to see if the connector between the ecm and the tcm is bad, and if its not bad, I still pay the $210, but then they'll tell me what the next possible step would be?? I feel I'm in a no win situation, it sounds like, just keep writing checks. My issue sounds the same as the countless others that have been documented, my issue should be covered since Suzuki is more than aware that these are known issues.

See all problems of the 2008 Suzuki Forenza 🔎.

In less than 2 months, I've had to replace several parts of my car that I don't believe is part of regular service maintenance. Thermostat, coolant hose, spark plugs (twice in a year), brake lights and headlight bulbs (replaced twice in a year), transmission control module and motor mounts because of the tcm that made my car jerk all the time whenever I accelerate. Either at a traffic light or on the freeway, my car hesitates to accelerate and jerks every time I shift gears. Now, possibly the transmission range sensor needs to be replaced (I am currently in the process with this one). I'm afraid in the next few months, I'll be spending more on car repairs than the car is worth and it's only a 2008!.

The tcm switch on my 2008 Suzuki Forenza was replaced in November of 2010 and was found by an authorized service center for Suzuki as being defected. I was told that it caused the transmission to switch itself into neutral, which caused the car to fail attempts to accelerate at times. I had taken the car to the Suzuki dealership where I purchased the car within 30 days of buying the car and complained about acceleration. I was told the was new and would take a little while for the parts to work out their newness. Within the next two years this issue persisted and would cease to happen after taking the car in and being told there was no problem found. The issue seemed to go away and would return again within 90 days. I was even told that I was used to driving cars with better performance and my perception of how the car drives was the issue. It was only after going to different service center that I was told the tcms are often replaced but the failure to accelerate issue could also be the engine or transmission. Failure to accelerate could happen after coming to a complete stop or acceleration above 40mph. The issue returned after having the tcm switch replaced within 90 days as it had done after each visit where I was told there was no problem found. The incidents were intermittent and if left past 90 days would increase in frequency. My latest visit was to the original dealership on 7/14/12 where I was told that no problems were found with the tcm switch. When asked to see the read out for the test, I was denied and given $1,500 in estimates to clean my engine and general maintenance that was due. The engine light came on this time, so, I could have errors read. I found out in September that the tcm switch is failing. This complaint is the first step to getting this addressed.

2008 Suzuki Forenza auto transmission code 783 3 4 malfunction 100,666 miles cost $1300. 00 out of warranty by 666 miles service bulletin written in Jan 2008 for all Suzuki transmissions to dealers had to replace tcm module at 55,000 miles for not shifting gears. What a joke that Suzuki would help with $525 dollars of repair. Not full $1300. 00 . This transmission is sealed and you can not service fluid levels unless you are a dealer no user level checks possible. They will only give a 12,000 mile or 12 month warranty only on clutches and drums replaced not total trans.

Purchased a 2008 Suzuki Forenza on 9/8/2008. Acceleration concerns, a ringing noise from the engine and my passenger side air-bag notification light was reported 9/16/08. Told by phone the car was new and would need to be driven for a couple of weeks to warn up. 9/16/08 ringing noise was louder had acceleration concerns, timing cover had melted due to friction from the belts sliding. Invoice reflects electrical body work as such: “ side airbag light not on tension on wire harness connector under the driver or passengers seat could cause high resistance - relocate both harness and secure them. " 10/27/08 reported tapping noise at engine when starting car, acceleration was dragging and air bag light. Invoice findings - no problem found - told not to expect performance on acceleration. 1/17/09 (car released 1/23/09) side air bag light indicates it is off, cruise control dropping, transmission not accelerating, engine running loud until warmed resolution - timing cover replaced other issues found to be working to factory specs. 6/18/2009 -acceleration is slow, car downshifting at high speeds, transmission not shifting well while coasting, must come to a complete stop to switch into gear: resolution - Suzuki helpdesk ticket 175996598 suggested to re-initialize tcm (transmission switch). 10/1/09 - same issue as 6/19/09 - revving higher and loud in cold and damp weather told no new info: issue seemed to subside – no work done to my knowledge. 12/30/09 same issues as 6/19 & 10/1 timing cover adjusted told acceleration was normal. Fix for timing cover January 5, 2010. 8/1/10 & 10/26/10 taken in for acceleration & maint. After near accidents and problems driving between the speeds of 15 and 60 mph: nothing addressed. 1/4/11 - transmission switch was replaced by a different Suzuki center. Told transmission or engine can go out. Acceleration issues have returned side airbag still shows off when occupied by person 120 plus pounds.

I brought this vehicle used and it now has 37,500 miles. I barely drive it and keep it garaged and regularly maintained. After the bumper to bumper warranty expired and when it past the 36,000 miles (warranty expired before mileage reached) I started to experience hard downshift and hesitating shifts upward (reaches or goes above 3000 rpms before it shifts). These hard shifts are mostly between 30-20 mph and also occur between 5-20 mph but somewhat softer but still easily notable. The powertrain warranty is for 100,000miles/7yrs so I took it the dealer and told him my complaint. Right off the back they told me that they didn't have enough time to really check it out and that all they could do is drive. Also, he told me that my warranty (bumper to bumper) expired and that if the guy had experience with this type of complaint that he might be able to tell me what it was otherwise I was going to have to pay $80+$8 tax for diagnosis and that if it is anything electrical with the transmission that it wasn't covered. Of course as I expected he didn't see what the problem was and told me to schedule the $88 diagnosis. He also told me that Suzuki Forenzas are known for downshifting hard but I told him that it wasn't like that before the 36,000 mile marker. I came back home though without making the diagnosis appointment and read my warranty details. Under ". . . What is not covered" for powertrain, no where did it say transmission electronics, infact it covers 'transmission control module' which is an electrical component of the transmission, along with many other transmission parts! I guess they obviously know that this is a common problem since he tried to convince that is normal and that he right off the back told me that they don't cover transmission electronics and that there is a charge of $88 for diagnosis. After reading some of the powertrain complaints online, it seems like Suzuki knows that they have a big problem on their hands and are waiting until warranties exp.

See all problems of the 2005 Suzuki Forenza 🔎.

I bought my car 3-29-09. At 4,000 mi. I began having problems. At 57,059 mi. 4-9-13 was the 18th time my car has been in for svc. I'm on my 3rd dealer (orig. Out of svc. ) I am having my 3rd trans installed. Can someone say "lemon law ?" 1st they could not find the problem as no codes were shown by the computer. My car at one point was at the dealer for 34 days straight! at times it would not even go into gear or would just die. I have had the tcm,ecm,& trans range switch replaced multiple times. Since oct 2012 have getting an intermittent ck eng light, I was finally able to bring it in on 3-29-13 & the ecm was replaced. On 4-8-13 I was barely able to make it in to the shop as my car was stuck in 3rd gear and I was on the hwy the ck eng, light was on. It was the trans range switch again! it was just replaced oct 2012. Mon. Eve. The car would stall in neutral when in drive, slam into gear, the ck eng light remained lit, it was stuck in 3rd gear and the newest development was that as I was driving on the hwy, the lit d (drive) by the odometer was flashing normal & then with a line through it. I got to the dealer, pulled the code & the trans needs to be replaced again! I have absolutely had it with this car and am attempting to re-instate my arbi- tration with them (I dropped it when the supposedly fixed the prob. Last yr). 14 of visits were major. Suzuki's tech explained to me that there is an engineering design flaw. My car is dangerous and I no longer want my life in Suzuki's hands. I cannot continue to drive a care that can become faulty at any time, especially when I am driving 55-65 mph on the hwy and the car gets stuck in third gear! my husband has also had the engine die on him while driving. (I took a short video with my phone that shows the ck eng light on and the d flashing with a line through it. Every time that the ck eng light comes on lately, it's a new code.

Transmision computer fail to work properly at a moutain. Cars temp. Went high. Vehicle was stuck in 4 gear.

The contact stated the engine revved, it was racing, and the rpm gauge ran higher than normal. The vehicle will hesitate at any speed. There will be a loss of power, and the vehicle jerked when power went back into the vehicle. There was no prior warning. This happened every time when driving the vehicle. He took the vehicle to the dealer. They said the ecm had to be reflashed. Dealer did the work. The vehicle is still having the same problem since then. Engine check liht came on, and vehicle seemed to run higher when cold outside.

See all problems of the 2004 Suzuki Forenza 🔎.