Rear Shock failure issue and TSB & Warranty Repair

murcod · Mon Jan 06, 2014 7:31 am

I'm also wondering if dark yellow= bad, light yellow = good? Perhaps they've been made that way deliberately for easy inspection of which type is fitted?

SamirD · Mon Jan 06, 2014 3:24 pm

Great pictures murcod! Now it's really easy to see which someone has.

I don't think color has anything to do with it as mine are the same color as KuroNekko's and yet have the design of yours (pre-tsb).

But one thing I will say is this--if you're really worried about it becoming an issue, changing over to the new stops yourself doesn't seem that hard. Even the tightening torques aren't that high. You can re-use your existing still good shock and just change the stop and the nuts that need to be replaced when removed. Then you don't even have to worry about this becoming an issue.

Mon Jan 06, 2014 6:49 pm

If I recall correctly, my pre-service bumper stoppers were a bright yellow, much like murcod's. Since the service, they are that light, cream color shown in the photo I uploaded. However, the grooves are what you need to look for to make sure you have the "countermeasure" part to prevent the problem.

Doing it yourself may not be a bad idea, but good luck finding the parts!

SamirD · Mon Jan 06, 2014 7:09 pm

KuroNekko wrote:Doing it yourself may not be a bad idea, but good luck finding the parts!

Why would it be hard to find the parts? We have the corrected part number.

I'm sure it would be a matter of just going to a Suzuki dealership and telling them this is the part number to order.

Mon Jan 06, 2014 7:56 pm

SamirD wrote:
KuroNekko wrote:Doing it yourself may not be a bad idea, but good luck finding the parts!
Why would it be hard to find the parts? We have the corrected part number. I'm sure it would be a matter of just going to a Suzuki dealership and telling them this is the part number to order.

Well, people are having a hard enough time trying to find an accessory roof rack for the car.
A TSB-related part that's not even in stock at dealerships may be harder.

BxKizashiS · Mon Jan 06, 2014 8:35 pm

thank God none of my shocks are out, and i have my car lowered on h&r springs too.. But as soon as KYB or another provider comes out with performance shocks for us, ima goin to change them anyway. I live in NY too, its pothole city over here, i just try to dodge every single one lol

SamirD · Mon Jan 06, 2014 9:02 pm

KuroNekko wrote:Well, people are having a hard enough time trying to find an accessory roof rack for the car.
A TSB-related part that's not even in stock at dealerships may be harder.

True, but most everything can be ordered if it's still being produced, which I would hope the updated stops would be.

SamirD · Mon Jan 06, 2014 9:04 pm

BxKizashiS wrote:thank God none of my shocks are out, and i have my car lowered on h&r springs too.. But as soon as KYB or another provider comes out with performance shocks for us, ima goin to change them anyway. I live in NY too, its pothole city over here, i just try to dodge every single one lol

It may take a few years for that as this is going to be one rare application unless they can design one that can fit multiple applications.

But I hear you on the potholes. We just moved from there and oddly enough it's about the same here in MKE.

krell · Mon Jan 06, 2014 10:19 pm

KuroNekko wrote:Well, people are having a hard enough time trying to find an accessory roof rack for the car.
A TSB-related part that's not even in stock at dealerships may be harder.

Dunno...it don't look too promising holding on to my Kizashi, what gonna happen two years down the road i bought this car to keep when i retire two years from now, you got dealers gouging prices on repairs i'm thinking of getting rid of my 2013 SLS before i retire i can't be stock with a car note when my income is fixed two years time. I love the car but the way it look now i better get rid of it and save myself a whole lot mess later.

Mon Jan 06, 2014 11:31 pm

krell wrote:KuroNekko wrote:Well, people are having a hard enough time trying to find an accessory roof rack for the car.
A TSB-related part that's not even in stock at dealerships may be harder.

Dunno...it don't look too promising holding on to my Kizashi, what gonna happen two years down the road i bought this car to keep when i retire two years from now, you got dealers gouging prices on repairs i'm thinking of getting rid of my 2013 SLS before i retire i can't be stock with a car note when my income is fixed two years time. I love the car but the way it look now i better get rid of it and save myself a whole lot mess later.

I agree somewhat. As I've said before, the car is great, but the circumstances around it are not. With the Suzuki pull out and their hard-to-find service dealers, ownership is not as reassuring as those of popular cars like from Honda, Toyota, Ford, GM, etc.

However, the car itself is pretty good. It's rather reliable and while this rear shock issue was a smudge on the car's reputation, it was addressed rather swiftly and competently by Suzuki. I paid nothing. Let's also not forget Suzuki has one of the best powertrain warranties in the business. You won't get that from the big names.

In the end, I come from a background of buying used cars out of warranty. I fix what I can and if it's over my level, I take it to a pro. For longevity, choosing a quality and reliable car is what matters. I believe the Suzuki Kizashi fits that bill. Compared to many other cars especially in their first generation, this car has very few issues. Others have fire risks, air bag defects, or faulty electronics. Stay on top of auto news and you see recall after recall of all kinds of cars. The Kizashi is very low profile in comparison.

While long term ownership of the Kizashi may feel like you are driving into oblivion, I think the car speaks for itself. It's fun to drive, comfortable, economical, and reliable.
As a gearhead, I can see that this car has good build quality. It's better than my late Mazda and on par with the trusty Subarus I've owned.
While it's often criticized for not having new technology, that's also a plus in terms of reliability and durability. It doesn't have a new turbocharged engine or direct injection which have yet to prove themselves hundreds of thousands of miles down the road.
The Kizashi runs on older, proven technology. The CVT may be a little iffy, but many cars have CVTs now including the acclaimed Nissan Altimas.

I'm keeping my Kizashi for these reasons, but I can't really fault you if you unload yours.