Suzuki Ignis, which was first produced in 2000, is a crossover-styled light weighted city car of the Suzuki Japanese car brand and an A-Segment Car. Although it is designed to have an ultra-compact size, the Suzuki Ignis prides itself on being comfortably spacious, with an incredible fuel economy.

While the Ignis is a go-to car for day-to-day getaways within the city, it lacks the sophistication of other rival brands when on an open highway. As a result, it faces common issues like a smoking and bad ignition switch, an EGR valve blockage fault, and regular creaking or squeaky noise. In more peculiar cases, you may encounter problems like engine management warning light issues and self-centering steering problems. We will further explain these issues in this article. 

Even if you don’t own a Suzuki Ignis car yet, it will be worthwhile to get some valuable knowledge of these problems ahead of a future purchase. Now, let’s take a look at 5 significant Suzuki Ignis common faults and quick fixes

A Smoking and Bad Ignition Switch

The smoking fault is peculiar to Ignis models produced between 2000 and 2004. In some cases, it is caused by an electrical cable bridge in the ignition. Most other times, it is a result of carbonized grease that is within the ignition switch. If not properly taken care of, this fault can lead to a bad ignition. More precisely, a smoking switch is a fault that can lead to a fire outbreak if ignored. 

A bad ignition switch can be identified by the following,

• Your Ignis stalling on the road.
• The engine starts once you hit the starter, but dies when you release the key.
•   Complete loss of engine power.
• Battery draining.

Fix: Once you notice smoke from the ignition compartment or any of the symptoms of a bad ignition switch, reach out to a well-trained mechanic to remove it and replace it with a better switch.

Regular Creaking or Squeaky Noise

When your Suzuki Ignis car has a faulty roll bar, expect regular creaking or squeaky noise. It happens mainly when you go over bumps or turn the steering to some degree. Sometimes this noise comes from the suspension area when you drive around. The Suzuki Ignis usually have numerous bearings, and if they are damaged or rusty, a rolling wheel triggers a fairly identifiable squeaking noise.

Fix: A fast way to get rid of this squeaky or creaky noise is to, first of all, apply some grease to the roll bars in a way that lubricates the bearings. If it persists, the mechanic should change the bearing or shock absorber of the vehicle based on where the constant noise is coming from. This is a fault that the Ignis brand is yet to find a lasting solution to.

EGR Valve Blockage Fault (The P0401 Code)

If your Suzuki Ignis is not developing so squeaky noise, then it might be experiencing a major EGR fault. To be more precise, such a fault is traceable to EGR valve blockage occurring when the EGR valve is clogged up with carbon. For clarity’s sake, the EGR – Exhaust Gas Recirculation system on a vehicle has the responsibility of ensuring the recirculation of exhaust gas to lower the vehicle’s emission output. It usually has 3 components, the EGR Valve, the Actuator Solenoid, and the Differential Pressure Sensor.

Any fault from the EGR system displays a PO401 code for easy identification. A blocked EGR valve causes misfiring, poor engine idling, and poor acceleration.

FIX: To resolve the EGR valve blockage issue, quickly clean the valve with some carb cleaner and a toothbrush. The such cleaning process removes the carbon build-up and gets the valve working very well again.

Engine Management Warning Light Issue

A dashboard warning light comes on when an issue is dictated in the car’s engine, emissions system, or exhaust. The light color could be amber, a flashing light, or red colored indicating the severity of the issue, with red showing a higher concern. The engine warning light in your Suzuki Ignis could be caused by a faulty oxygen sensor, an ignition problem, a blocked fuel pump, a damaged catalytic converter, or a loose fuel cap.

FIX: Once you discover the signal light is on if the intensity is little, check for a loose fuel cap and fix it. If it doesn’t stop, then your best bet is to get over to your auto-mechanic store and request a diagnostic check. The technician should be able to run a quick On-Board Diagnosis (OBD) to identify the problem through the light code and then fix it.

Self-Centering Steering Problems

The first-generation version of the Suzuki Ignis hatchback seems to blaze the tale of woes associated with self-centering steering fault. Due to the peculiarity of the design of its steering geometry, it makes it difficult for the steering to return automatically to a straight position after a U-turn. Though the Suzuki manufacturer is improving on this setback, it still happens in a few recent versions before the 2020 models.

FIX: If you are having this issue, the solution will be to take it to a Suzuki specialist technician to make alterations to the caster angle of the car. Some tweaks to improve the behavior of the steering will be applied alongside working on the steering motor.

Final Thoughts

Just like every other brand out there, the Suzuki Ignis setbacks are constantly disappearing with recent versions. Plus, you can easily find service centers for fixing them. More importantly, the vehicle value outweighs the issues that have been discussed so far. Hence, the Suzuki Ignis remains your best choice if you need a family light-weighed comfortable car for your outings, errands, and even distant journeys.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the Cargo capacity of the Suzuki Ignis?

Asides from having a spacious interior, the Ignis model without a sliding rear seat, has a cargo volume of 267l. The four-wheel drive models have a capacity of 204liters, but you can extend the capacity to 1,100liters if the back seat is folded

Are Suzuki Ignis cars reliable?

In the 2021 What Car? Reliability Survey, the Suzuki Ignis placed eight out of 20 cars in the small SUVs category award. That shows the reliability of the brand.

Where can I fix Suzuki Ignis common faults?

The best place to fix your Suzuki Ignis faults is in the garage of a trained Suzuki Auto Mechanic. Make use of the Suzuki Service Centers closest to you.