Suzuki Rollovers

The Suzuki Samurai gained an infamous reputation of being an unsafe car and prone to a rollover after Consumer Reports, the magazine arm of Consumers Union, reported that during a 1988 test on the short course avoidance maneuver (Consumer Union Short Course Double Lane Change, or CUSC for short), the Samurai experienced what they deemed as an unacceptable amount of rollover while undertaking the severe turn. The rollover which CU deemed unacceptable stemmed from the sudden swerve simulation part of the test where, for example, a car backs out of a driveway or drives forward from a side street or intersection and into traffic, causing the driver to unexpectedly swerve to avoid hitting the object that is obstructing the drivers path. - wikipedia

At least 213 people have died and 8,200 have suffered injuries in rollover accidents in the Suzuki Samurai. Suzuki has settled at least 176 lawsuits for monetary damages. Although the records of these settlements have been kept secret, it is believed that the amounts have been in the tens of millions.

Of the 118 vehicles that Consumer Reports has tested on its short-course emergency-avoidance maneuver in the past 13 years, only the Suzuki Samurai, in 1988; the Isuzu Trooper and its twin, the Acura SLX, in 1996; and now the Mitsubishi Montero Limited tipped up so severely as to be judged "Not Acceptable." It is highly unusual for a vehicle in our tests to tip up on two wheels.
- Consumer Reports

For most cars, the chance of rollover in an accident is less than 10%. Some cars, such as the Chevrolet Metro and the Suzuki Swift, can roll over about 20% of the time — as often as some SUVs. - USA Today

The leading cause of death in SUV accidents is rollovers. Because of the speed involved in the accidents, untested environments, such as uneven or slick surfaces and the actual design of the vehicles themselves, crash and rollover tests do not meet real world circumstances. The current standards are simply not enough to replicate what happens on the highways that we drive on.

Faulty design is a leading contributor to rollover accidents, some even single car accidents. Here's a list of some safety issues that are common with SUVs, trucks and vans:

Weak roof structure - does not prevent roof crush - allows driver/passenger ejection
High center of gravity
Faulty Seat Belts
Seat back failures
Narrow wheelbase
Top heavy design with high center of gravity
Weak window glass that allows driver/passenger ejection

Suzuki hasn't done enough to prevent Suzuki rollovers. If you or a loved one have suffered a serious injury or death due to a rollover, contact us using the link below.