1986 Suzuki Samurai review from North America

Replaced Distributer/Rotor/Sparkplugs (1997)

Headlight cut-out relays (1998) - added these slaved off of the accessories from the ignition circuit as I kept running down the battery; not a car defect, but a forgetful driver defect.

Battery (1998) - replaced.

Starter (1999) - replaced.

Rear-end collsion (1999) - with a Jeep Wrangler. Reardoor punched in and replaced. Samuri was driveable, Wrangler was not, it gullitiened its front end suspension on the Samuri's deck.

4 wheel to 2 wheel drive shift lever swash plate jammed. Required lifting shift lever cover plate a freeing up with a screwdriver. (1999)

Timing belt replacment (2000), not a problem as the Samuri engine is non-interference.

Valve cover plate (2001) - resealing and regasketing.

Carburetor overhaul (2001) - kitchen table overhaul after experiencing flooding and cold start problems.

Water-pump (2002) - replaced.

Another rear-end collision, other car (Aerostar van) had to be towed, the Samuri's rear bumper was pushed in, but no frame damage - easy replacement repair and drivable from the accident. (2001)

Clutch replaced at 220,000 miles (2002)

Changed oil and filters about every 4 months.

This car has extremely good reliability and is easy to work on, very unintimidating. There is plenty of space around the engine to work.

The Samuri is extremely cheaply built in terms of accerssories and stuff that isn't critical - broken door handles, window cranks, seats (replaced mine with Toyota truck seats), etc. Expect to patch a lot of holes in the chitzy sheet metal of the body

BUT the Samuri has a very high quality of build in the critical systems: suspension, engine, transmission, and power train.

Underpowered on long uphill grades on the highway it labors along in the right lane.

Tight turn radius, just keep it restrained at high speeds as it has a high suspension and short-wheel base - recall those 1986 Consumer Reports furor over the Samuri.

I feel this is a very safe vehicle having been in two collisions. It is so light it just kinda is picked and thrown rather than smashed, also the occupants are up high so they aren't in the likely crushing plane.

Excellent low-speed torque, though, and this Jeep can make it through puddles and mudholes that will grab Landrovers and CJ's; it's so light and has enough torque to float over the mire... I passed many another off-roader stuck.

Nice and small, no small advantage in Honolulu - the footprint of this car allows you to park it in almost any cranny that is open.

Suspension does not allow for a smooth ride, but what due you expect for a lightweight, leaf spring suspention.

Really good fuel economy - I could get about 40-45 mpg out of mine, although I think I had a cream-puff of a car.

The hardtop version I had was really small in back, the rear two passangers are going to be jacknifed in, but the rear seat nicely removes to make for more cargo space, if needed.