1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M) engine: faults and reliability

• 1.3 M13A 83-92 CV (Swift, Ignis and Jimny, 2003-2018)

  2003–2018 · 83–92 hp · M13A

  Buy

  Gebrauchtwagenberater.de describes the M-series engines of the 2005-2010 Swift as simple four-cylinders with a reputation for being very reliable, and Diariomotor presents the Jimny's 1.3 as a proven engine that is cheap to maintain, with many examples over 200,000 km for sale. The most repeated complaint on the Swift 1.3s on fiches-auto.fr is the manual gearbox and clutch, not the engine.^[2][3][6]

• 1.5 M15A 99-109 CV (Swift, SX4 and Ignis, 2003-2012)

  2003–2012 · 99–109 hp · M15A

  Buy

  Gebrauchtwagenberater.de considers the SX4's M engines unremarkable in terms of durability and free of common problems if they are serviced regularly. On an SX4 built in 2006-2007 you only need to check that the free catalytic converter inspection that Suzuki called in 2008 was carried out.^[4][8]

• 1.6 M16A 107-125 CV (Swift Sport, SX4, Sedici and Grand Vitara, 2005-2009)

  2005–2009 · 107–125 hp · M16A

  With caution

  The documented warnings are concentrated in this period: gebrauchtwagenberater.de notes that the Swift's catalytic converter often fails at around 50,000 km (on the Sport it is integrated with the manifold) and 1.6 owners mainly cite the lambda sensor; in addition, in 2008 Suzuki recalled the 2006-2007 SX4 1.5 and 1.6 to inspect the catalytic converter. It is worth asking for the history of those parts.^[2][3][4]

• 1.6 M16A 120-136 CV (SX4, Sedici, S-Cross, Vitara and Swift Sport, 2009-2018)

  2009–2018 · 120–136 hp · M16A

  Buy

  We have found no fault specific to this period: gebrauchtwagenberater.de calls the Vitara's 1.6 simple and particularly robust and lists no M16A weaknesses on the S-Cross, and the testimonies for the 2010-2017 Swift on fiches-auto.fr record no sensor, timing or gasket failures on the 1.6 engines.^[9][10][11]

Buy: No known serious faults, or they have already been corrected, in this version. With caution: Worth buying if something specific is verified: history, a replaced part or a completed campaign. Avoid: High risk of a serious fault that is hard to check for or prevent.

1. 1Medium severityFrequency: CommonEmissions controlFaulty catalytic converter and lambda sensors on the 2005-2010 Swift (engine warning light)On the 2005-2010 Swift the catalytic converter often fails at around 50,000 km according to gebrauchtwagenberater.de, and several 1.6 owners cite the lambda sensor. The warning is the engine light; on the Sport the catalytic converter is integrated with the manifold.
2. 2Medium severityFrequency: RareOtherAccessory belt tensioner pulley on the Grand Vitara 1.6 and Jimny 1.3 (2010 campaign)In 2010 Suzuki recalled the Jimny 1.3 and the Grand Vitara (1.6 included) because of the tensioner pulley for the power steering pump belt, whose plastic coating could come off and cause noise and, in the worst case, the belt to slip off.
3. 3Medium severityFrequency: RareFuelFuel hose damaged by rubbing on the Swift 1.3 and 1.5 (2005-2008)Gebrauchtwagenberater.de records a recall of the 2005-2008 Swift 1.3 and 1.5: the fuel hose can be damaged in its outer layer by rubbing against the throttle body. We have found only this source.
4. 4Low severityFrequency: RareEmissions controlLoose catalytic converter substrate on the SX4 1.5 and 1.6 (2008 campaign)In April 2008 Suzuki recalled the 1.5 and 1.6 petrol SX4s built between January 2006 and December 2007 to inspect the catalytic converter, whose substrate could come loose and cause rattling noises and higher emissions. The inspection was free.

Severity colours: low, medium, high, critical. How we rate them

Manufacturer

Suzuki Motor Corporation

Family

Serie M de Suzuki

Fuel

Petrol

Displacement

—

Cylinders

4

Fuel system

Naturally aspirated

Injection

Indirect injection

Timing

Chain

Power

83–136 hp

Peak torque

160 Nm

Production

since 1999

Makes

Suzuki and Fiat

Technical data^[1][2][7]

1. 2003–2018

   1.3 M13A 83-92 CV (Swift, Ignis and Jimny, 2003-2018)

   1.3-litre block (1,328 cc), four cylinders and 16 valves, with or without variable valve timing depending on the variant. Power varies from car to car: about 83 hp in the export Ignis, 85 hp in the Jimny and 92 hp in the 2005-2010 Swift.^{[1][6][12][14]}

2. 2003–2012

   1.5 M15A 99-109 CV (Swift, SX4 and Ignis, 2003-2012)

   1.5-litre version (1,490 cc) with variable valve timing. It produces about 102 hp in the 2005-2010 Swift, 99 hp in the SX4 (2006-2012) and 109 hp in the 2003-2005 Ignis Sport.^{[1][12][13][14]}

3. 2005–2009

   1.6 M16A 107-125 CV (Swift Sport, SX4, Sedici and Grand Vitara, 2005-2009)

   1.6-litre block (1,586 cc) with variable valve timing and a timing chain. It produces 107 hp in the SX4 and Fiat Sedici before the 2009 Euro 5 update and 125 hp in the 2005-2010 Swift Sport; it was also fitted to the entry-level Grand Vitara.^{[1][12][13][16][17]}

4. 2009–2018

   1.6 M16A 120-136 CV (SX4, Sedici, S-Cross, Vitara and Swift Sport, 2009-2018)

   The Euro 5 update raises the 1.6 from 107 to 120 hp in the SX4 and Sedici (2009-2014); the same 120 hp powers the S-Cross from 2013 and the Vitara from 2015, and the Swift Sport goes to 136 hp in 2012. In Europe the Boosterjet engines replace it: in the S-Cross from September 2016 and in the Vitara with the 2018 facelift.^{[10][12][13][17][18]}