SuzukiEsteem GL1996Overview/suzuki/esteem-gl/1996/base/

1996 Suzuki Esteem GL

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Esteem GL.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1996 Suzuki Esteem GL was specified with a four-speed automatic and an EPA rating of 23/31/26 mpg, while its maintenance routine calls for 3.5 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil. Its reliability record is notable for scarcity rather than severity: zero recalls and only five total owner complaints, with tires registering as the top reported area of concern. That minimal paper trail places the 1996 model year at the cleaner end of the Esteem’s reliability history, meaning it functions more as a baseline reference than a pattern source for researchers tracing systemic defects.

Model year2001199819971996

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque62 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy23/31/26 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 26R · 440 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 26R · 440 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLIGHTOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length165.4 in
Overall width65.7 in
Overall height53.9 in
Wheelbase98 in
Curb weight2143 lb
Track (front / rear)56.7 / 57.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 31 / 26 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume86 cu ft
Cargo volume12 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 62 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 26.0-29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs8 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings26 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts57-58 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17 ft-lbs
Main Bearings39-40 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug26.0-29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs8 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts62 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub127 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub127 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)MT: 750, AT: 800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance11,100-15,000 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing5, Not adjustable degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.31 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeND 8 oil
Standard BCI Group Number26R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance440 cca

Service checks

Pressure TestSedan 12.8 psi; wagon, 15.6 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief13 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature179 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)38.0-44.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance12-13 @ 68 degreesF MFI ohms
Engine Oil Pressure48-62 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM4000 rpm
Intake Valve Lash0.0050-0.0070 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket16 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle62 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.040 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.120
Rotor Runout Limit0.0039 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.788 in
Rotor Finish0.709 μin
Drum Maximum Machining7.88 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages
125 ft. lbs.25 ft. lbs
240 ft. lbs..40 ft. lbs
3Loosen all bolts.
425 ft. lbs.25 ft. lbs
549.5 ft. lbs.49.5 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
125 ft. lbs. Step 2: 40 ft. lbs.. Step 3: Loosen all bolts. Step 4: 25 ft. lbs. Step 5: 49.525 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miBrake System (inspect)
Every 7,500 miDoor Stop (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Shift Linkage (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Timing Belt (replace) · Vehicle Wiring Harnesses (inspect)
At 90,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 105,000 miFuel Filter (replace)
At 120,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 1996 Suzuki Esteem GL lead in one area — the tires, 1 of 5 reports (20%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the tires pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
5
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
5
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 5 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Tires1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Power Train,Electrical System1
Engine & Engine Cooling1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Air Bags1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 5 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
N-Q-G-0452018-11-20SuspensionThis Service Bulletin was sent by Suzuki Motor Corporation to its authorized Suzuki…
01091932003-09-11Service Brakes, HydraulicSERVICE MANUAL UPDATE - IMPROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. *TT
SW072000-05-04Electrical SystemTHIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE REVISED CLAIMS SUBMISSION PROCEDURES FOR REPLACEMENT BATTERIES…
0210063Electrical SystemSERVICE MANUAL UPDATE-INCORRECT WIRING DIAGRAM OF THE WIPER/WASHER COMBINATION SWITCH. *SC
0204145Engine And Engine CoolingCORRECT COOLANT USAGE. *EH

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1996 Esteem GL take?

3.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1996 Esteem GL have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Esteem GL get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 31 highway / 26 combined mpg.