Suzuki Across
Toyota 2.5-litre PHEV drivetrain from the RAV4 Prime, carried over unchanged into the Suzuki Across. The combustion engine itself is reliable; the weaknesses are in the high-voltage system. Recall in 2023 due to DC-DC converter fire risk.
RAV4 hardware under a Suzuki badge
The Across is essentially a Toyota RAV4 PHEV with different badges — meaning: competent, efficient, and pleasant to drive, but without any Suzuki driving character DNA.
Engine Weaknesses 3
A manufacturing defect in the Denso DC-DC converter can cause a short circuit and fire risk, particularly when charging below 5 °C ambient temperature. Recall affects approximately 43,000 vehicles from model years 2021–2022.
Symptoms: No perceptible advance warning; in the worst case, heat buildup and fire during charging
A software fault during vehicle start-up can prevent the speedometer and warning lights from displaying. Affects model years 2023–2025.
Symptoms: Instrument cluster shows no speed reading or warning indicators on start-up
The battery management system frequently starts the combustion engine for system protection, even when the HV battery is fully charged.
Symptoms: Engine starts despite full battery charge, EV mode unavailable
Vehicle Weaknesses 6
The platform-shared Toyota RAV4 PHEV was subject to a recall for possible brake booster pump failure. Longer stopping distances and increased accident risk. The Across shares this architecture.
A software fault in the eCall emergency module can disable the emergency call system if the ignition has been off for more than 10 minutes. Around 3,566 vehicles in Germany affected (production 2020–2022).
After manually deactivating ESP and restarting the engine with the brake pedal pressed, the stability programme does not reactivate automatically. Around 513 Across vehicles in Germany affected (all up to March 2022).
After around four weeks of standstill the Across/RAV4 PHEV 12 V battery goes flat. The extensive electronics system draws current continuously from the small starter battery even in sleep mode.
DAB+ radio reception is unreliable across large parts of Europe. Only the smartphone-charging USB port is recognised by the system; other USB ports in the vehicle do not work for media access.
The combined regenerative and friction braking system of the plug-in hybrid feels imprecise: the pedal is spongy and dosing requires an adaptation period. Typical of PHEV architecture.