Suzuki Australia has issued a voluntary safety recall for the Fronx Hybrid following a serious seatbelt component failure discovered during independent crash testing that resulted in a one-star ANCAP safety rating.
The recall affects approximately 1300 vehicles sold in Australia, with owners advised to immediately cease using the rear seats until the issue is resolved.
ANCAP testing revealed that the rear seatbelt retractor failed during a full-width frontal crash test, resulting in an uncontrolled seatbelt release where the rear dummy became unrestrained and struck the rear of the front seat.
“The seatbelt component failure is rare and serious. ANCAP exists to give consumers confidence, and when our tests reveal results of this nature, we will act in their best interest by communicating our findings promptly and transparently,” ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg says.
“What concerns us is that this particular vehicle could have been purchased by an ordinary consumer, and in an on-road crash this failure could have had serious consequences for the person sitting in the back seat.”
Poor crash test performance
The Suzuki Fronx narrowly reached the threshold for a one-star ANCAP safety rating following poor performance across multiple crash tests. The vehicle scored 48% for adult occupant protection, 40% for child occupant protection, 65% for vulnerable road user protection, and 55% for safety assist.
During the full-width frontal test, excessive chest loads were recorded for the rear passenger, exceeding ANCAP performance thresholds. Key body regions of both the 10-year-old and 6-year-old child occupants were capped at zero points due to high head acceleration and excessive neck tension.
ANCAP notes that the one-star rating reflects the Fronx’s overall crash performance and is not solely a consequence of the seatbelt component failure, as the vehicle had already received zero points in the full-width frontal test before the failure occurred.
Immediate customer action required
Suzuki Australia says it has identified a VIN range of potentially affected vehicles and will contact all Fronx Hybrid customers directly. The company states that the functionality of the rear seatbelt retractor mechanism may not perform as designed, and as a potential consequence excessive belt length may release in the event of collision, which may result in injury.
“Customer safety is non-negotiable and remains Suzuki’s highest priority across Australia and New Zealand,” the company says in a statement.
“We continue to undertake immediate and urgent investigations of this phenomenon. Upon the completion of the investigation Suzuki Motor Corporation and Suzuki Australia will facilitate further activities to ensure the safety of all listed vehicles.”
A further 1000 Fronx vehicles have been sold in New Zealand, with similar safety concerns applying to that market.
Regulatory response
The component failure has been reported to Australian and New Zealand vehicle safety regulators. ANCAP advises consumers to be aware of this component failure if considering purchasing a Suzuki Fronx prior to Suzuki demonstrating that the issue has been investigated and addressed.
“ANCAP’s view is that adult and child passengers should not travel in the rear seats of the Suzuki Fronx until the reason for the failure has been determined and relevant rectifications have been carried out,” Hoorweg says.
“Consumers expect, and deserve, vehicles that meet the fundamental standards of occupant protection. We are calling on Suzuki to act quickly and decisively to ensure that all affected vehicles are identified and rectified without delay.”
ANCAP notes this is the third component failure revealed through independent safety testing in recent months, encouraging all manufacturers to bring their vehicles forward for testing ahead of market release.
Customers with concerns can contact Suzuki Australia’s Customer Call Centre, with full recall details available under reference number REC-006520 through the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s vehicle recalls database.
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