Suzuki Swift 2012 Problems

Are you having problems with your 2012 Suzuki Swift? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest 2012 Suzuki Swift issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the 2012 Suzuki Swift in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Used Suzuki Swift review: 2005-2016
By Ewan Kennedy · 20 Jan 2017
Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Suzuki Swift as a used buy.
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Used Suzuki Swift review: 2005-2012
By Ewan Kennedy · 29 Jul 2013
Suzuki Swift was a big seller in Australia in the 1980s and '90s, but was inexplicably discontinued in 2000. Realising they had made a mistake, the importers introduced an all-new Swift in February 2005. The older Swifts, which incidentally were also imported by Holden and badged as Barinas are also worth a
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Used Suzuki Swift review: 2011-2013
By Graham Smith · 16 Jun 2015
The FZ Swift released in 2011 was an evolutionary model explained Suzuki executives when trying to justify the little apparent visual change from the EZ model that preceded it. So successful had the EZ been that they simply wanted to build on it rather than reinvent the wheel with an entirely new model was their very
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Used Suzuki Swift review: 2005-2015
By Ewan Kennedy · 20 Nov 2015
Suzuki Swift was a big seller in Australia in the 1980s and '90s. Many were rebadged as Holdens and carried Barina badges. For some strange reason imports were stopped in 2000.Thankfully an all-new Swift was imported downunder beginning in February 2005 and is the subject of this week's used-car report.The chunky lines of the body pleased many and the new Swift was a hit from day one. Note that there are no Holden versions of these later models.The Suzuki Swift is a tough little machine that's well know for reliability and long life and has long been popular on the Australian used-car scene.They hold there value well and dealers complain they often can't get their hands on enough of them.Swift has a better sorted suspension and steering than most cars in its class and is appreciated by keen drivers.Good throttle response from the engines is another fun factor. Swift has good interior space for a car in this class.Obviously there isn't space for large adults, but the little Suzuki lets you juggle the seats to get the best from the interior space. The front seats have a good spread of fore-and-aft adjustment and the driver's seat can be raised and lowered.Boot space is good for a car of this size, though small in absolute terms. There's the usual option of folding down the seat back in various configurations to make it a better luggage carrier.A major model change in June 2011 retained the same cheeky look as the 2005 model, but is a little larger, with more space in the back seat.Power comes from a twin-cam, multi-valve engine, with a capacity of 1.5 litres in most of the original Swifts. The engine size on these standard cars was reduced to 1.4 litres in the 2011 Swift, but the new design of engine provides similar performance, uses less petrol and creates fewer emissions than the old 1.5.Unlike many so-called 'sports' models, the Suzuki Swift Sport has better engine and suspension performance than the standard Swifts. It has a larger engine, at 1.6 litres, to back up its firmer suspension, sporty body kit and enhanced interior. The Sport isn't what you would term a hot hatch but it gives you plenty of driving pleasure at a very modest price.Many Swifts in Australia have a five-speed manual gearbox, there's also the option of a four-speed automatic transmission. The auto doesn't take too much away from the performance of this relatively light car. The Swift Sport came only as a manual, a five-speed, until it was discontinued in 2011.There were no imports of the Swift Sport from June 2011 until February 2012 when the new series was introduced with a six-speed manual transmission and the option of a CVT, the latter has seven preset ratios so drivers can make their own choices.Though this is a small car there's quite good under-bonnet space so you can do your own basic servicing without knocking off too much skin.Buy a workshop manual before opening that bonnet, though. Leave anything that could affect safety to the professional mechanics.There are a reasonable number of Suzuki dealers in Australia, though they tend to be concentrated in the metropolitan and major country cities.We have heard of no real problems with spare parts supply and the prices aren't too bad for a fully imported car.Insurance costs are towards the lower end of the scale and we don't know of any companies that charge significantly more for the Sport versions.Be wary of a Swift that has been modified in the body and mechanicals as these may indicate it has had a hammering by a look-at-me driver. Big, noisy exhausts are a prime candidate for caution.Look for body damage and/or signs of it having been repaired.Check that the engine starts within a second of you turning the key, even if it's completely cold in the morning.If the engine hesitates on acceleration or during hard cornering there may be some water in the fuel rails causing a misfire.Fuel filler hoses and clamps were the subject of recalls in March and May 2012. Give a Suzuki dealer a call with the Swift's VIN and they can advise if it has been modified.Manual gear changes should be light, easy and quiet. If not there may be gearbox troubles, or it may be the clutch needs adjusting.Make sure the sound system work correctly. If there's no life from it there's a good chance it has been stolen in the past and the PIN security system has shut it down.
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Suzuki Swift 2012: Transmission "slipping" when going up hills
Answered by David Morley · 08 Feb 2020

While the less sporty versions of Suzuki’s Swift of this era used a conventional automatic transmission, the Swift Sport used a CVT transmission. And I’m wondering if maybe that’s all there is to your question. The CVT is quite capable of feeling like its slipping when you use lots of throttle, such as when going up a hill or accelerating to overtake. It’s actually quite normal and is the method a CVT uses to maximise fuel-economy by keeping the engine operating in its most efficient zone.

But if you’ve owned the car for some time and its behaviour has changed, then it could be that the CVT is beginning to wear internally. Or perhaps it’s the torque-converter (that links the engine to the transmission) that is starting to wear out and allowing the engine to rev harder than it used to for a given road speed.

Suzuki did recall this model (and conventional automatic versions) to check for loose bolts that secured the torque converter to the transmission. But if these became loose and fell out, you’d have no drive at all, so I don’t think that’s the problem here.

Fun and reliable first cars
Answered by Graham Smith · 23 Jun 2017

Both are fun cars to drive, they’re relatively new, so should be reliable. I would prefer the Swift; I reckon you’ll get a better run out of it.

Best first car options?
Answered by Graham Smith · 11 Nov 2016

Do not buy a Cruze, or buy a European brand. They will prove costly. It's best to go for the cars that are well proven over many years. The Lancer is a good one, but so too is the Toyota Yaris or Corolla, Suzuki Swift, Mazda2 or 3, or Mitsubishi Colt.

Why does my 2012 Suzuki Swift struggle going up hills?
Answered by David Morley · 01 Oct 2021

This model Swift was recalled to check and tighten, if necessary, the bolts that connect the torque converter to the car’s engine. However, if these were to fail or fall out (as happened in some cases) it would be a one-off event and the car then wouldn’t work at all.

Your problem sounds more like a worn transmission which is not accepting the load you put on it when you try to accelerate. This could be worn bands or some other component inside the transmission. CVTs are pretty complex things and rely on physical parts like bands and pulleys as well as hydraulic bits and pieces to take drive to the wheels. It would also be worth checking the torque converter, as a damaged or worn unit can also produce the symptoms you’re seeing. I’d start with checking that the recall was carried out and work backwards from there.

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.
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