Suzuki dealership and its customer service argue not to have the engine problem covered by the 5 year power train warranty. They concluded the "valves" are bent and that this could only be caused by a timing belt issue and that I voided my warranty because I did not provide the maintenance schedule of the timing belt in the 4 years period. A third party mechanic concluded it is not the timing belt. The timing belt according to the mechanic and even according to Suzuki is in good conditions but they still denied coverage.

This is a fragment from the letter of the National Manager Service:

"The most common cause for valve-to-piston contact results from engine mistiming between the

pistons and the valves.Jumped engine timing is not limited to broken belts, and can result from a

belt simply being loose. Though the belt may have been visually in good condition,...A review of the vehicle’s maintenance history indicates that the 48-month service, which would include a timing belt replacement, was not performed"

Suzuki has come again and again to the only conclusion that would void my warranty. They want firmly to conclude it is the timing belt, when it's not, because since I didn't change it, it is the only way that warranty is not in place.

I thought I had planned well. In 2007 I bought a new 4 wheel-drive Suzuki Swift for my son. It had the best Michelin Alpine winter tires. This gave me peace of mind, as sometimes he had to drive late in the night into the Austrian countryside for concerts. He is the leader of the string section, and also a med. student.

However, 4 wheel drive, Alpine tires or not, on his way home late one night last week, in sub-zero temps. and with light snow, the engine warning light came on. The engine started to splutter and misfire, stalled, restarted. He had to decide whether to immediately switch off the engine as, as the manual states, and freeze to death(!!) or attempt to continue. He staggered home with a misfiring, stalling engine.

Next day I gently struggled the car to local agent.

Their analyzer showed that BOTH crankshaft sensors had failed. That meant that there was no input to the computer so as that it could give out the correct fuel and ignition instructions. Any more driving would have wrecked the engine, they claimed.

I asked, as the car has only done 17,000 miles, (26,000Kms), how could 2 sensors fail. They didn't know, they didn't care. All they were worried about was whether I would immediately pay the 300€ (350$) cost of two tiny sensors, plus one hour labor. The time guarantee had expired by 5 months.

Suzuki Austria was only concerned about the MONEY. Guarantee out, OK, PAY UP. The cause of the catastrophic double failure was of NO interest. I asked if the sensors could be checked by them. No, they said they are yours, take them. Am I meant to send them to a lab, and find out why 2 sensors failed, at maybe the same time? First complaint to Suzuki Austria handled by presumed junior staff, responded.. guarantee out, PAY UP! 3 further letters/emails to different managers/directors Suzuki Austria met with S I L E N C E!!

Moral to the story. 4 wheel drive and winter tires do not give you peace of mind if you drive a car with a faulty design or with shoddy components; and with agents and importer that re simply NOT interested about this almost catastrophic failure.

This car IS NOT recommended for any trip more than half a kilometer to the local supermarket, IN SUMMER!

Also, very expensive spare parts, much more than on my Merc. 300E, (that only needed one minor sensor in 20 years). Poor lumbar support, back-ache in 20 mins. Flimsy, brittle plastic front and rear bumpers that splinter and crack wirh anything more than a nudge!

Would I ever buy or recommend another car with the S. Swift or after this incident with Suzuki brand on it. Sick Q.