1997 Suzuki Sidekick JX from North America - Comments

A rod is knocking. Estimated cost to replace the short block is $3,000.00. The tires out lasted the motor.

Very poor acceleration.

We waited 3 months for parts to come in.

Rod knocks only come from the oil being run low or used for too long without being changed. I have a 1994 Sidekick with 164,000 miles with no problem.

Rod knocks will happen to any engine if you run it out of oil.. Your poor Sidekick is not to blame.. It's operator error, I'm afraid.. Impressive.. The light would have gone on, when the oil pressure dropped, and it still didn't stop you from hammering on it, did it?

I drive a Suzuki Sidekick at the bone yard I work for, I also drive a Geo Tracker which is the same thing.. Both of these cars are great, they run superbly! Especially the Sidekick! Lots of power! I can do 4 wheel burnouts on the hard-packed dirt in 4 high.. The only reason the Tracker can't is because the air filter is dirty. I hammer on them both all the time and I will tie leaf springs onto the bumpers when the other yard guys and I decide to have little demo derbys.. The body is screwed on my poor, old Tracker, but even through all of that, it still rocks on.. I have driven longer on more flat tires. I have driven right over other cars and slammed into more crap with this thing than most of you readers will in yours, and your lives.. And this thing keeps kicking.. I have a deep rooted respect for this car. Suzuki did a wonderful job on making one TOUGH little off-roader.

The rod knocking is caused by poor maintenance - either running it low on oil or not changing the oil properly. It's not the truck's fault. Any engine will die an early death if not properly cared for.

I have a 97 Suzuki Sidekick JX. its been a great car. I have over 200 000 km on it and the has not been one problem other than a slow leak in one of the tires. even though it has a small engine its still capable of pulling our seadoo boat. the lack of power can be easily remedied by not getting an auto in a vehicle with a small engine.

Another thing too, this sidekick gets driven offroad on a weekly basis on poorly maintained access road to oil wells. it is great for off road.

I have had a 1997 Suzuki Sidekick for three years and 1995 Geo Tracker for 2. They both have many miles and not one problem. If anyone has trouble remembering to change the oil just go to a local Grease Monkey or similar operation. They put a sticker right on the windshield to remind you of the proper time for the next oil change. I put a rod through a block when I was a young woman by never checking or changing the oil. I didn't know any better then. Maintenance is #1.

Don't blame the car. - Colorado.

I drive a 97 jx with auto trans, sure it's poor on acceleration, but you still can't complain about the economy especially with gas prices these days and guys driving around in big suv's. love this little thing especially off-road, I can take my sidekick anywhere. about the rod knock, try doing a routine oil change next time.

$3000.00 is too much. You could buy a new one for the price. A scrap yard would cost you a fraction when installed.

My '97 JX has 150K...been through a lot of off road. Not great on highway energy, but what do you expect from a 4X that get 25mpg? (and it prevents me from getting speeding tickets.)

It is getting rust-through around the bottom (mostly where after market body work was done) and is starting to burn a little oil, but it is a GREAT RIG and has put up with a lot of abuse, heavy cargo and minimal maintenance.

The only problem is the Oxygen Sensor engine light code that I have now spent $500+ with 4 mechanics and can't get repaired.

Not possible. I have seen Sidekicks that were abused by lady drivers that think "don't you only put gas in them?" that have gone 60,000 miles before rod knocking. the suzuki engines are some of the most reliable and best built out there. I think only honda bests them.

If you redline it all the time you can spin the bearing and the way most people drive today they think you must get up to 90mph in 3 seconds or you need to make the quartermile in 8 seconds or they lose their mind. Maybe the origional post got a junker that already had 250,000 miles on it and was abused, he left no details so we need to assume he bought a junker and not new.