The problem was first reported following tests by Autocar.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/suzuki-ignis-suspension-upgraded-enhance-ride-quality

There was subsequently a recall but Suzuki didn't advertise the fact! - they only responded if you complained to the dealer. The modification is essentially replacing the front and rear shock absorbers + bump-stops with upgraded units - not cheap!. These new units were fitted to production cars from early 2018. Before the upgrade - my car would bang and clatter over bumps when fully laden. It was like driving with the suspension against the bump-stops. The upgrade transforms the car - visually the only difference is that the rear shock absorbers are significantly bigger in diameter than the original puny units.

 

Mine's production spring 2019 and the rear shocks seem to have the same view as per photo but the bottom part tube of the absorber i see is arround 4cm diameter and not 2,5 which stated.
Seem to be the upgraded ones?

I haven't yet used car fully laded yet but i notice some clunks/and intense car's shaking even only driver or 3-4 persons..
Actually is a lot lightweight so part of expecting a little due to this?

Thanks

 

Any way of seeing if it’s been done? Ours is in on Monday. I want that sorted if it needs doing.

 

A Suzuki dealer should be able to check the warranty / service record for the car. Have a quick look at the rear shock absorbers. If they’re around an inch in diameter - the suspension hasn’t been upgraded - the upgraded units are much beefier. When I complained about the suspension bottoming out with the car fully laden, the dealer recognised the problem straight away and ordered the parts. The upgrade is probably £400+ parts and labour so well worth getting done.

 

These are rear shock absorbers from a 2017 Ignis fwd. These are pre upgrade - the body diameter is less than that of the bottom mounting.

 

Do you have a pic of the beefier ones at all. I find mine doesn't like things like railway line crossings so I need to check what I have fitted.

 

Very helpful! Just spoke to Suzuki CS and they were incredibly evasive. It's clear that they are trying to avoid having to shell out where possible. They will only sort them on a "case by case basis."

Waiting for a call back from the dealer to see if they'll sort it.

 

Suzuki Customer Services are programmed to refute complaints, deny the existence of issues with other owners and claim to disregard owners forums etc. Essentially they will only deal with problems and issues via their dealers. Dealers complain that they have difficulty obtaining guidance etc from Suzuki and they will often disregard issues on the basis that it's a characteristic of the car etc etc. In the case of the suspension issue - it's pretty clear cut - the suspension design was upgraded on production cars. When I raised the suspension issue with the dealer - it was obvious that I wasn't the first to complain and they knew exactly what needed to be done.

I can understand that Suzuki won't want to be proactive - potentially 20000+ vehicles are affected. I didn't become aware of the issue for quite some time and it came to light on the rare occasion I drove the car fully laden. For many owners - the issue will never arise. However, being aware of the issue - I 'd be very wary of buying an used 16 / 17 Ignis that hadn't had the suspension upgraded!

I think that if you were to complain - you've got more chance of an upgrade if the complaint centres on the suspension bottoming out, banging over bumps etc. It would probably be difficult if you centred your complaint on the fact that you were aware that an upgrade was available, but that you're not reporting a fault with the car.

 

I pretty understand you well and i think you're right!
I don't see any problem or issue in the suspension generally in my car, but just is a matter of preferences that the car shakes a lot sometimes.. (not botomming the shocks..).
The handling i find to be reasonably good for this car - not taiolored any issue also..

Surely my "preferences" locate in the fact that the car weighs only 900kg so yes, it shakes more than the 2009 Octavia i have which goes much smoother but which is 1280kg...

I can't compare those 2 of course...
But the suspension in general terms is good.
Had lately a trip of 900km and we can't say the family we got tired or bothered generally.

Then yes - there is no issue really with the car.
This is how it is and it is very good.
And the shocks are the upgraded ones already - stiffer ones.

But i think as per article link, the 4WD were the ones more suffering as the rear suspension with rigid shaft is harder and for rear passengers more uncorfortable than the 2WD..

 

Fairly grumpy reply to an email to Suzuki UK; it needs checking by a dealer as only certain VINs are affected; surely Suzuki UK should know these VINs more than the dealers?!

Definitely vague and evasive. Not a huge issue, I think it handles pretty well. But if beefier shocks are available, I want them.

 

I'd have said that the ride is hard not soft.

It will also vary depending on Alldrive or not. Mine's not and pretty hard...

 

I think it’s firmish too. It’s a fun little car to drive that’s for sure; I’ve had all sorts of quick cars, the last being a BMW M135i (335d before that) and while this is a lot slower, the way it goes around corners is great fun. Light weight rules for good handling!

 

I would describe the ride as `choppy` and quite firm. Whatever pressures I try in the tyres it doesn`t change so it`s a characteristic of the suspension / shocks.

I had a little Citreon C1 which was light - that was a little firm but did not have that quick bounce which can be a little uncomfortable on bad roads with the Ignis.

 

does anyone have a photo of the post-upgrade shocks?

 

I’ll take a photo tomorrow.

 

This is the uprated rear shock absorber. Diameter 39mm. My Ignis is a sz-t - uprated shock absorber may well be different on the AWD model.

Original for comparison

 

Just looked at mine. They appear to be the "new" ones. The dealer said my car was built in February 2018. Autocar reported the matter on 23 February 2018 - https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/suzuki-ignis-suspension-upgraded-enhance-ride-quality - but implied it was only a modification to the Allgrip model.

 

Thanks guys, mines on the latest shockers too. Reg June 2018

FYI had my tyres rotated a couple thou ago, and have noticed on checking shocks, that the rears now have worn on the inside very significantly (these were the front before rotation) and look illegal to me now.

Anyone else had this problem at the rear? we recently did a long fully laden trip, so maybe I should have inflated harder.

 

Im going to try those Nangkang AW6's

 

Mine is in tomorrow; I’ve asked for the upgrade. We shall see what happens.

 

Noticed yesterday that the rear tyres are wearing on the inside - around 0.8mm more wear than the rest of the tyre so not too drastic. They were rotated from the front at around 4mm tread. Tyres are about to be replaced and I'm most disappointed that I've only got 21000 miles or so from the set - I would have expected closer to 30000miles.

 

My first set of front tyres on our 4wd VW California (bought new) managed a mere 6700 miles before they needed replacing! Rear tyres on my old BMW 335d only managed about 8000. Uneven wear every time; really annoying.
I get ours laser aligned which helps but doesn’t solve it completely.

 

interesting. im at 12000 miles on the Ignis, and looking at replacing tyres. the set that were on the rear are only half worn, but the set that were on the front, now on the back and worn on the inside edges are sHoT

 

Well ours is in - we have a Swift SHVS which I thought had the same engine as ours (only the AllGrip version does - this is FWD) - I couldn't work out why it felt so much livelier than our Ignis; checked the specs and it has the 1.0 Boosterjet engine with a lot more torque and a fair bit more power. No I want that engine in our Ignis! On the downside, it's definitely more sluggish at low revs before the turbo kicks in. I do liken the linearity of the power delivery in non turbos. Better throttle response too.

Sounds like the shocks might get done - they're going to have a look and see. We pick it up tomorrow.

 

Smells me like camper settings change for the abnormal inside part wear of tyres when vehicle loaded or fully laden and make long trips. It depends how often of course..

It's critical to inspect and add more air pressure in tyres prior travelling loaded.

As this is tall and low-weight car and maybe the kind of suspension (soft for loadind..) and that the shocks have longer motion to play, it may affect the camper easily and have such results...

 

Well I'm getting mine fitted when we're back from our trip (28th July to 29th August) - hooray!

 

Well, looking for suspension impressions after summer holiday is off with our Ignis?
Well that dammed bounce in the back shaft got tired somehow our back passengers...
I'll have to visit a suspension garage to stay investigating what can be done....

 

Well, looking for suspension impressions after summer holiday is off with our Ignis?
Well that dammed bounce in the back shaft got tired somehow our back passengers...
I'll have to visit a suspension garage to start investigating what can be done....