2018 Suzuki Jimny Problems: 3 Issues Every Owner Should Know
2018 model year · NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports · Updated May 2026
According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 2018 Suzuki Jimny has 3 documented known issues, with 1 rated critical. The most serious is Jimny Mk3 Chassis / Sill Corrosion (Salt-Belt) ($400-$1,500 repair). Across all issues, repair costs range from $300 to $1,500. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
All 3 Known Issues
When Issues Typically Appear
On the 1998-2018 Suzuki Jimny 1.3 M13A, the 1998-2018 Jimny (G/3rd gen) suffers chassis rail and sill corrosion in salt-belt markets. UK MOT failures common at 10+ years for rotted chassis sections, especially around rear axle mounts and sill structural sections. Otherwise drivetrain is famously reliable.
Common Symptoms
- MOT failure
- visible chassis rust
- sill corrosion
How to Fix
Annual chassis inspection from year 7 in salt regions. Underseal/wax-cavity treatment is worth the cost. Chassis patch welding £400-£900 depending on extent. Rotted sills failing MOT can be repaired but full chassis replacement is rarely economical.
On the 2018-2024 Suzuki Jimny 1.5 K15B, the 4th-generation Jimny (2018+) shows surprisingly early rear wheel arch and tailgate corrosion, especially in salt-belt markets. Rear arches start bubbling at 3-5 years; tailgate inner skin shows blistering from inside out. UK owner forums and Honest John writeups document repeated cases under 5 years old.
Common Symptoms
- rust bubbling
- paint blistering
- tailgate skin bubbling
How to Fix
Inspect arches and tailgate inner skin annually after year 2. Underseal proactively at year 3 in salt regions. Suzuki UK has done some goodwill repairs for in-warranty cases — request inspection at dealer. Patch repair £300-£600 per arch; tailgate replacement £800-£1,500.
On the 1998-2018 Suzuki Jimny all, the Jimny Mk3 solid front axle uses king-pin bearings that wear, leading to vague steering, MOT failures for excessive play, and clunking from the front end. Typically presents at 80,000-150,000 km, earlier with serious off-road use. Symptoms are easy to confuse with track-rod-end or wheel-bearing wear.
Common Symptoms
- steering vague
- clunking front end
- MOT failure
- tire scrub
How to Fix
King-pin bearing kit (both sides) £100-£200 in parts; £350-£600 labor at a specialist. Use Suzuki/OEM bearings — pattern parts wear faster. Replace tracking-related components at same time (track-rod ends, drag link) since the front end is opened up.