No word from Suzuki as to possible remedy for safety fault or when car can come back on sale

TWO full months on from its withdrawal from sale, customers test drives appear to be continuing for the Fronx, a compact Suzuki sports utility in disgrace.

But none have been delivered and prospect of when the five-seater blighted by a safety issue might return to purchase availability remains clouded.

The high hopes model kicked off strongly last June in a market where Suzuki has a solid following.

However, the brand’s happiness in respect to the long-awaited replacement for its Baleno, also a compact crossover that left the market in 2022, was short-lived.

A seat belt failure during a subsequent crash test Fronx flunked brought its market involvement to a crashing halt.

It is still not clear when, or even if, Fronx can return to sale.

The make has been asked for fresh comment, including inkling to what remedy it can provide, but nothing has no far been forthcoming.

That leaves Fronx is a car in curious limbo.

Though Wanganui-based Suzuki New Zealand curtailed sales on December 22, the same day NZTA Waka Kotahi warned Fronx owners not to carry passengers in the back seat, stock seems to still be at dealerships.

One has shared it is continuing test drives for interested brand fans.

But that’s as far as public involvement goes.

The Government transport department’s call resulted from an outcome of a crash test conducted by national auditor, the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP).

A retractor for one of the rear seat belts failed during the full-width frontal test, which simulates a head-on collision.

This resulted in an uncontrolled seatbelt release where the rear dummy became unrestrained and struck the rear of the front seat.

Waka Kotahi warned a similar failure in an on-road crash could cause serious injury or even death.

Officials then encouraged Suzuki NZ to urgently address the problem including considering recalling the cars, saying then that: “Whether further regulatory action is required will depend on what steps Suzuki takes to address the issue.”

Suzuki NZ stopped sales and contacted owners to provide further information, including advice that passengers do not travel in the rear seats.

By then, 1115 Fronx had been registered.

ANCAP safety ratings run from zero stars to an optimal five. It gave the car a one-star safety rating, but not just due to the seatbelt failure, also citing poor performance across all aspects of its range of tests.

In December Suzuki NZ said a “thorough and disciplined’ would be conducted and vowed to take “any actions required to uphold our safety standards and the trust our customers place in our brand.”

The company said it would be urgently reviewing the ANCAP testing outcomes “at the highest levels of the organisation” with Suzuki in Australia and also with Suzuki Motor Corporation, which headquarters in Japan.

The Fronx is built in India, by Suzuki’s domestic partner there, Maruti. That collaboration also provides the Jimny small off-roader to Suzuki NZ.

Suzuki has enforced Fronx went on sale with certification it met Australia and New Zealand safety standards.