On 10/17/2007 Cutler Bay, FL (South Miami) had 6.5" of rain. The streets were flooded. Other cars were going through the water so I followed. My Aerio just shut off on me without any warning. If anyone had been behind me, I could have been hit. I was stranded in about 11" of water. It was just up to the bottom of the door. When I opened the door, the water did not come in but was right there. I was only 4 houses away from my home and didn't know what to do. I called the Roadside Service that I got with the new purchase but they said they would only tow to a dealer for service, they would charge me to tow anywhere else. I called my dealer in Ft. Myers, FL where I bought the car, and asked them if when I got the car home, would it just dry out and start ok later. I got a quick answer that if the water was sucked up into the engine, I would have major repairs. He told me if my air filter got wet, it would mean a big problem. I asked him for a rough estimate of how much it might cost for repairs and he said upwards to $7,000!

Some neighbors pushed me home and some friends came out to look at my car. The air filter was FULL of water and the oil has water in it. I called my insurance company who said my comprehensive would cover it with my $500 deductible. I had to get a rental car which my insurance will cover except for the $3.00 a day taxes which I will have to pay out of pocket. So here I sit, missing one day of work, waiting for an adjuster to call me who knows when, and worrying about a new car that I purchased for my own security. My friends have told me that the engine will probably have to be replaced! Why in the world would Suzuki place an air intake and computer chips just one foot above ground? Where is Suzuki's responsibility in this? I called them and asked about recalls and they said it wasn't a safety issue! It would have been if someone had been behind me! Several cars went through before me and several went through as I sat there, and several went through later. Why was my car the only one that couldn't take it?

I am so upset. I am a single woman trying to get by on a State salary, living in a small efficiency apartment so I can afford to drive a new car and look where it got me! I have cried all night last night and all day today. Now my insurance will either go up or cancel me! Miami is known for high insurance rates because of flooding from hurricanes. Even if they replace the engine, I will be afraid to drive in any rain now, knowing it could blow up through that intake! Lord only knows how long this might have already been going on! I loved my car until now. It has been the most favorite car I have ever owned but I would tell anyone to think twice about buying a Suzuki Aerio, especially if you live in the south where it rains a lot!