Owners of the Suzuki Fronx have been warned not to carry passengers in the rear seats after crash testing uncovered a serious safety fault, including a rear seatbelt failure.
According to a report in legacy media, the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme gave the model a one-star safety rating following poor crash performance and low occupant protection, with testers identifying a rare but serious seatbelt component failure in a frontal crash that could have severe consequences for rear passengers.
Sales of the vehicle have been halted in New Zealand, where more than 1,100 Fronx cars are already on the road, and owners are being contacted and advised that no adults or children should sit in the back seats until the issue is resolved.
Transport authorities have met with Suzuki to push for urgent action, including the possibility of a recall, while the manufacturer says a thorough investigation is underway and maintains customer safety is its top priority.
Image credit: Vusudhavan T
