Suzuki Jimny Reliability & Common Problems

Is the Suzuki Jimny reliable?

Suzuki has a strong reliabilty record, and overall the Jimny should not be a cause for concern. If you stay on top of servicing and maintenance and make sure the oils for the engine and diff are changed and aviod any rust by wax-oiling the underside you shouldn't have any problems with the Jimny. Parts are easy to source, too, thanks to Suzuki's solid UK presence.

Engine: Any oil underneath the car or a burning oil smell could indicate a leak. Make sure to inspect the engine and feel that it runs smoothly on a test drive.

Gearbox: In a manual model, difficulty changing gear or a high biting point could suggest the clutch is on its way out. Gears slipping can also be a sign that the clutch is worn. A replacement isn’t cheap, so make sure you take the car on a long test drive to run it up through the gears. Automatic models can suffer from rough gearchanges; replacing the gearbox oil is often the cure.

Body: Most Jimnys will have been used off road at some point, so check the underside for any damage and the bumpers and wheels for scuffs. Rust can build up on the chassis if it isn’t regularly cleared or is left untreated, so get underneath the car to have a look at the chassis and suspension. For future peace of mind, it’s worth getting the underside wax-oiled to prevent corrosion.

Suspension: Noises when travelling over bumps indicate suspension issues. Listen for any unusual sounds and inspect suspension components like the springs and shock absorbers.

Infotainment: Ensure the touchscreen system works properly and there are no phone connection issues.

An owner’s view

Hannah Best: “I was lucky enough to get hold of one of the first Mk4 Jimnys back in 2019, having instantly fallen for its rugged, boxy look, and I haven’t looked back since. I love everything about it. It’s small but mighty enough to go anywhere, super-reliable and a proper head-turner. There were a few recalls, but Suzuki sorted things straight away, and I haven’t had to pay a fortune on servicing either. Overall, the Jimny is perfect for off-road terrain and city driving. Just don’t expect to fit the whole family in!”

Also worth knowing

Several firms offer bodykits that can transform your Jimny’s look. For instance, Liberty Walk can turn it into a miniature Mercedes G-Wagen for anywhere between £2000 and £6000. Others offer mechanical upgrades. Check, though, that any modifications are from reputable companies and understand that they may well invalidate the car’s warranty.

The Jimny has a braked towing capacity of 1300kg and just 100bhp, so it isn’t the best car for pulling trailers. It received a three-star Euro NCAP safety rating, scoring 84% for child occupant safety and 73% for adult occupant safety.

Sam Phillips

Title: Staff Writer

Sam joined the Autocar team in summer 2024 and has been a contributor since 2021. He is tasked with writing used reviews and first drives as well as updating top 10s and evergreen content on the Autocar website.

He previously led sister-title Move Electric, which covers the entire spectrum of electric vehicles, from cars to boats – and even trucks. He is an expert in new car news, used cars, electric cars, microbility, classic cars and motorsport.

Sam graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2021 with a BA in Journalism. In his final year he produced an in-depth feature on the automotive industry’s transition to electric cars and interviewed a number of leading experts to assess our readiness for the impending ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars.

Matt Saunders

Title: Road test editor

As Autocar’s chief car tester and reviewer, it’s Matt’s job to ensure the quality, objectivity, relevance and rigour of the entirety of Autocar’s reviews output, as well contributing a great many detailed road tests, group tests and drive reviews himself.

Matt has been an Autocar staffer since the autumn of 2003, and has been lucky enough to work alongside some of the magazine’s best-known writers and contributors over that time. He served as staff writer, features editor, assistant editor and digital editor, before joining the road test desk in 2011.

Since then he’s driven, measured, lap-timed, figured, and reported on cars as varied as the Bugatti Veyron, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Tesla Roadster, Ariel Hipercar, Tata Nano, McLaren Senna, Renault Twizy and Toyota Mirai. Among his wider personal highlights of the job have been covering Sebastien Loeb’s record-breaking run at Pikes Peak in 2013; doing 190mph on derestricted German autobahn in a Brabus Rocket; and driving McLaren’s legendary ‘XP5’ F1 prototype. His own car is a trusty Mazda CX-5.