Thinking about buying a used Suzuki Ignis (2000–2017) in New Zealand? We've documented 9 known faults for this model spanning electrical, engine, suspension, and body & rust. Each researched and verified before it's published. The most serious issues here are rated critical. Two are set out in full below — the rest, with the symptoms, repair costs and checks for each, are free with an account.
9
Documented faults
Critical
Most serious
$350–$800
Typical repair
4
Systems covered
Known Suzuki Ignis faults
Every fault below is documented specifically for this model — researched and verified before it’s published.
01Ignition switch overheating — smoke from the steering column
CriticalOccasionalElectrical $200–$900 to fix
This fault is peculiar to Ignis models built between 2000 and 2004 and it is unusual enough to be worth knowing by name: the ignition switch overheats and smokes. The causes reported are an electrical cable bridge inside the ignition and, more commonly, grease inside the switch that has carbonised over the years and started conducting where it should insulate. Owners describe smoke coming from around the steering column. This is not a fault to note and move on from — a smoking switch behind the dashboard, surrounded by plastic and wiring, can start a fire if it gets worse. The part is inexpensive. The reason it belongs in a buyer's report is that a smell of hot plastic when you turn the key is very easy to dismiss as an old car being an old car.
Symptoms to notice
Smoke, or a smell of hot plastic or burning, from around the steering column
Key becoming hot, or difficult to turn
Electrical items cutting out when the key is turned or moved
Car failing to start intermittently, or cutting out while driving
Discolouration or melting on the plastic around the ignition
What to check
Pay attention at the moment you turn the key, which is when this shows. Sit in the driver's seat with the doors closed and turn the ignition on and then start the engine, and use your nose immediately — any smell of hot plastic, burning or scorching from the steering column area is the finding, and it is far more likely than visible smoke. Turn the key back off and on several times, and note whether anything on the dash flickers or cuts out as you do. Feel the key itself after a few cycles and check it is not unusually warm. Look closely at the plastic shroud around the ignition barrel for discolouration, browning or any sign of melting, and look for a repair or replacement that has been done cheaply. Ask the seller directly whether they have ever smelled anything odd when starting it, or whether the car has ever cut out while driving. Given the fire risk, treat any hot-plastic smell as a reason to stop rather than negotiate. If a workshop inspection is possible: ask for the ignition switch to be inspected directly.
Where to look: Steering column — ignition switch behind the barrel
Ask the seller
“Have you ever smelled hot plastic or burning when starting it?”
“Has the ignition switch ever been replaced?”
“Does anything electrical cut out when you turn or move the key?”
The current Ignis with SHVS mild-hybrid uses a small lithium-ion battery and an integrated starter-generator (ISG) belt-driven off the engine to give a mild boost and smooth stop-start. Failures are not frequent but are expensive: owners occasionally see a hybrid warning with no electric assist, and a failed lithium battery costs several hundred dollars to replace at a Suzuki agent. The ISG drive belt is cheap but must be fitted correctly. A car that no longer does its smooth auto stop-start may have a tired hybrid battery.
Symptoms to notice
Hybrid or battery warning light with no electric assist
Stop-start no longer working smoothly or at all
Extra crank or shudder restarting at the lights
What to check
Check the dash for hybrid/battery warnings on start-up and confirm the auto stop-start engages and restarts smoothly when warm. Ask the age of the small hybrid (lithium) battery and whether the ISG belt has been done. Genuine hybrid faults are best confirmed with a Suzuki scan.
Where to look: Lithium-ion battery (under a seat/boot area) and ISG unit on the engine
Ask the seller
“Does the stop-start and mild-hybrid assist still work?”
“Has the hybrid battery or ISG belt ever been replaced?”
“Has a hybrid warning light ever appeared?”
ElectricalCritical
ElectricalMajor
EngineMajor
SuspensionMajor
Body & RustMinor
EngineMinor
EngineMinor
7 more documented faults on the Suzuki Ignis
Symptoms, what to check, where to look and what to ask the seller — for every fault above. Free with an account, no card needed. One account covers one vehicle, so make it the car you’re actually looking at.
This page covers the model. Enter the plate of the actual car you’re looking at and see its year, engine, safety rating and register flags — free, no account needed.
Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 9 documented faults for the Suzuki Ignis, the recurring problem areas are electrical, engine, and suspension. A Suzuki Ignis with a full service history and no signs of the issues listed on this page can be a sound buy but each one needs to be checked individually before you commit.
What are the most common problems with a used Suzuki Ignis?
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We've catalogued 9 known faults for the Suzuki Ignis, covering electrical, engine, and suspension. Two are written out in full on this page. The rest — with the symptoms to notice, what to inspect, and typical repair costs for each — are free once you create an account.
How much do repairs cost on a Suzuki Ignis?
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Most single repairs on the Suzuki Ignis fall between $350–$800 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 9 documented faults cost less and a few cost considerably more, and no one car needs them all. Knowing which ones to look for before you view is what lets you negotiate the price down or walk away.
Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a Suzuki Ignis?
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Yes. A Suzuki Ignis inspection focused on its known weak points is the single best way to avoid an expensive mistake. KickTyres gives you a guided, model-specific inspection plus a market valuation and negotiation figure for $17.90 far less than the cost of missing one of the faults on this page.