SuzukiGrand Vitara EX2005Overview/suzuki/grand-vitara-ex/2005/base/

2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara EX

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2005 Grand Vitara EX.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara EX is an SUV equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission, offering EPA-estimated fuel economy of 17 mpg in the city, 20 mpg on the highway, and 18 mpg combined. This model year recorded only one owner complaint on file, with the documented issues centering on the electrical system and latches/locks/linkages, alongside a single recall. The minimal complaint volume positions this particular model year among the more trouble-free iterations of the Grand Vitara lineup, suggesting fewer widespread issues compared to other years. For researchers evaluating this vehicle, the combination of modest fuel efficiency and low complaint frequency indicates a model that has demonstrated reasonable dependability in real-world ownership scenarios.

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque73 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/20/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

Tail / brake / turnCPUOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length161.4 in
Overall width70.1 in
Overall height67.7 in
Wheelbase97.6 in
Curb weight3230 lb
Track (front / rear)59.1 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 20 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

Torque lug nuts to 73 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 26.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-6-5-4-3-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.2
Manual Transmission Fluid75W-90 · GL-4
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity4.0-5.0
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug26.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts73 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug17.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug17.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-6-5-4-3-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque18.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.25 lbs
Oil GroupPAG

Service checks

Pressure Test16 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature179 °F

Brakes

Torque Caliper to BracketUPPER BOLT: 61.5, LOWER BOLT: 36.5 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle62 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.275; Rear: 0.275 specification
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.120
Rotor Runout Limit0.0059 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.866 in
Rotor Finish0.787 μin
Drum Maximum Machining8.668 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Large Hex Head Bolts:

138.5 ft. lbs.38.5 ft. lbs
261 ft. lbs.61 ft. lbs
3Loosen
438.5-38 ft. lbs.38.5–38 ft. lbs
576 ft. lbs.; Small Hex Head Bolt; 7.5 ft. lbs.76 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 60,000 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 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level)
At 30,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Drive Belt (replace) · Emission Control System (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 120,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister (replace) · Fuel 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 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara EX dominate in one area — the electrical system,latches/locks/linkages, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 1 recall campaigns target the electrical system,latches/locks/linkages, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the electrical system,latches/locks/linkages 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.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
10
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Electrical System,Latches/Locks/Linkages1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

05V452000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:RotorReported 05/10/2005

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 16-INCH WHEELS, THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS MAY BREAK UNDER SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR IN CONDITIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON A REGULAR BASIS ON… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS ON THESE VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2005. THESE VEHICLES ARE LOCATED ON ST. THOMAS ISLAND (VIRGIN ISLANDS). OWNERS MAY…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 10 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SUZ_0160082022-07-08SuspensionReminder of the importance to conduct safety inspections for rust damage to suspension…
N-Q-G-0452018-11-20SuspensionThis Service Bulletin was sent by Suzuki Motor Corporation to its authorized Suzuki…
ABE-ZA-1204182012-07-25Air BagsSUZUKI: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR 'AIR BAG'…
1511075Engine And Engine CoolingECM REPROGRAMMING FOR POOR COLD START. *TT
1208085EquipmentSERVICE MANUAL UPDATE, A/C WIRING DIAGRAM CORRECTION GRAND VITARA SQ625W/XL-7 JA627 *SC

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

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Grand Vitara EX. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

Does the 2005 Grand Vitara EX have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Grand Vitara EX get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 20 highway / 18 combined mpg.