Suzuki SX4 Sport with Garmin navigation system – Click above for high-res image gallery
When Garminissued a recall on its Nuvi portable navigation system a couple of weeks ago, Japanese automaker Suzuki informed us that it would need to issue a follow-up recall for a few vehicles in its lineup. After all, Suzuki offers dashboard-mounted Garmin GPS units in its Equator, Grand Vitara and SX4 models, and unfortunately, the Nuvi navis supplied to Suzuki are among the ones that need repair.
Approximately 20,692 Suzuki vehicles are affected by this recall – specifically the 2008-2010 SX4, 2010 Grand Vitara and 2009-2010 Equator equipped with Garmin Nuvi 750, 760 and 765 navigation systems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that the batteries in these nav units can potentially overheat which could result in a fire.
Garmin technicians will replace the existing batteries free of charge and owners will be notified within the next few weeks. The official recall notice from NHTSA is available after the jump.
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Photos Copyright ©2010 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL
[Source: NHTSA]
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Vehicle Make / Model:
SUZUKI / EQUATOR
SUZUKI / GRAND VITARA
SUZUKI / SX4
Model Year(s):
2009-2010
2010
2008-2010
Manufacturer: AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP.
Mfr’s Report Date: SEP 01, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V392000
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: EQUIPMENT
Potential Number of Units Affected: 20692
Summary
SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 SX4, 2010 GRAND VITARA, AND 2009 THROUGH 2010 EQUATOR VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750, 760, AND 765 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
Consequence
OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy
SUZUKI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR SUZUKI AT 1-887-697-8985. OWNERS MAY ALSO VISIT GARMIN¿S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
Notes
SUZUKI’S RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS SJ. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .