Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

16 reports

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95,000 miles · Feb 1, 2006

Engine And Engine Cooling

1998 ISUZU AMIGO WITH 95000 MILES HAD THE OIL PUMP SHELL OUT DESTROYING THE CRANK AND BLOCK UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS WITH CLEAN OIL AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10149171

53,000 miles · Nov 10, 2005

Engine And Engine Cooling

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. A LOCAL MECHANIC SAID THE VALVES WERE KNOCKING ,AND IT COULD POSSIBLY BE THE LIFTERS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10142410

101,660 miles · May 6, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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TO START OFF I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED REGARDING THE RECALL FOR THE TIMING BELT. I JUST HAPPEN TO FIND IT MYSELF ON THE INTERNET DOING A SEARCH FOR RECALLS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ISUZU AND HAD 2 OF THE RECALLS FIXED. (TIMING BET "BELT KIT" AND REAR AXLE "BOLT KIT") THIS WAS ON FEB, 5 2003 AT 88803 MILES. ON APRIL, 30 2004 AT 101660 MILES I WAS DRIVING MY HUSBAND TO THE AIRPORT AND THE CAR DIED AT A TURN. "IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD" NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE CAR FAILED AND IT WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. I WAS THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE BEEN BAD GAS "WATER IN THE GAS" DUE TO THE FACT I HAD JUST FILLED UP 15 MILES PRIOR. TO SUM IT ALL UP THE MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT AS IT WAS IN SHREDS. (PART IS STILL AVAILABLE IF NEEDED) NOW $226.00 + RENTAL CAR OUT OF MY POCKET TO FIX SOMETHING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ALREADY FIXED? I ONLY DROVE 12,857 BEFORE IT GAVE OUT AND WAS TOLD YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE A TIMING BELT BUT EVERY 60,000 MILES. . THIS SEEMS TO A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE 98 AMIGOS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT! PS. CONTACTING ISUZU CUSTOMER RELATIONS TOMORROW TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER AS I FEEL I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS.*SKL

NHTSA ODI #10068426

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10066996

117,000 miles · Feb 16, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY FELL OFF ----- THE SECOUND TIME------ COOLING FAN SUPPORT BOLTS BROKE. ALUMINUN HOUSING AT BOTTOM OF SUPPORT BROKE-OUT. COOLING FAN CLUTCH BROKE. FAN BELT TORE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10058240

115,055 miles · Feb 16, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY SUPPORT AND FAN FELL OFF WHEN DRIVING. COOLING FAN SUPPORT BROKE IN HALF, COOLING FAN SUPPORT BOLTS BROKE, FAN BELT TORE, PARTS OF THE ALUMINUM HOUSINGS OF MOTOR CRACKED AND BROKE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10058237

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED TIME CHAIN BELT BLEW OUT FORCING THE VEHICLE TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10022775

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2003

Engine And Engine CoolingTires

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SUNFOOF - CLAMP HAS BROKEN OFF. SEATBELTS- DRIVER SIDE LATCHES AND COMES UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING, PASSANGER SIDE LOCKS WHEN PUTTING ON AND WHILE IN A SITTING POSITION WITH OUT CAR MOVING. STEERING & CONTROL- CAR VIBRATES, DRIVES ROUGH, PULLS AND CONSUMES A LOT OF GAS WHEN AT HWY MILES. GAS GAUGE- NOT ACCURATE, GIVES FALSE READINGS DURING DRIVES. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM- SEVERAL SWITCHES NOT WORKING OR HAVE STOPED WORKING SUCH AS THE DOME LIGHT STAYING ON WHEN IN THE MIDDLE POSITION AND THE BULB IS NOT BLOWN, INTERIOR LIGHTS DIM WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN AC/HEAT SWITCHES ARE CHANGED ALONG WITH THE STEREO LIGHT THAT NO LONGER WORKS BUT OTHER BUTTONS DO. ENGINE/TRANSMISION- LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF DURING DRIVES, STARTED BLINKING AFTER CAR WAS STARTED WHILE CAR WAS MOVING, CAME ON A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND HASN'T GONE OFF YET. COOLING & ENGINE- LOSING RADIATOR FLUIDS, OVERHEATING AFTER 2 DAYS OF REFILING SYSTEM. HAVE HAD A TUNE UP, OIL CHANGE AND SYSTEMS CHECK AND NOTHING WAS FOUND? MAKING AN APPOINTMENT WITH ISUZU ASAP! SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS I CAN LIVE WITH BUT SOME COULD BE VARY DANGEROUS AND I WANT THEM FIXED FOR MY SAFTY AND AS WELL AS OTHERS.

NHTSA ODI #10002934

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #757689

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2001

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

VEHICLE DECELERATED, AND WHEN APPLYING CLUTCH VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. AFTER INSPECTION BY DEALER. IT WAS DETEERMINED THAT THERE WAS A TOOTH ERROR IN COMPUTER PROGRAM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #897035

Official recalls

12V306000 · Suspension:rear

Jun 29, 2012

ISUZU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2000 AMIGO AND MODEL YEAR 2001-2002 RODEO SPORT VEHICLES, THAT WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED, IN THE STATES OF MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WEST VIRGINIA, OHIO, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, IOWA, MISSOURI, AND KENTUCKY. THESE VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CORROSION IN THE VICINITY OF THE FORWARD MOUNTING POINT BRACKET FOR THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: EXCESSIVE CORROSION MAY RESULT IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE FRAME, WHICH CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET AREA. FOR VEHICLES IN WHICH LITTLE OR NO CORROSION IS FOUND, THE AREA WILL BE TREATED WITH AN ANTI-CORROSIVE COMPOUND. FOR VEHICLES IN WHICH CORROSION HAS DAMAGED THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET AND AFFECTED ITS CONNECTION TO THE VEHICLE FRAME, A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET WILL BE INSTALLED. IN THE RARE EVENT THE CORROSION IS SO SEVERE THAT THE REINFORCEMENT BRACKET REMEDY WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE, ISUZU WILL OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE FOR AN AMOUNT BASED ON THE KELLEY BLUE BOOK PRIVATE PARTY PRICE. ALL INSPECTIONS AND REMEDIES WILL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE 10 YEARS OLD OR LESS. FOR VEHICLES OLDER THAN 10 YEARS, ISUZU WILL OFFER A FREE REMEDY, BUT ONLY IF THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTED TO AN ISUZU SERVICE FACILITY DEALER WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF WHEN OWNER NOTIFICATIONS WERE ISSUED. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING JULY 2012. ISUZU OWNERS MAY CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.

00V058000 · Suspension:rear

Mar 2, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. PAINT WAS APPLIED UNEVENLY ON THE REAR AXLES, RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT PAINT HARDNESS. SHOULD THIS OCCUR ON THE SURFACE THAT CONTACTS THE REAR AXLE LOWER LINK BRACKET BOLT HEAD AND/OR NUT, THE NUT MAY LOOSEN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BOLT COULD DETACH FULLY, CAUSING SEPARATION OF THE LOWER LINK FROM THE REAR AXLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR AXLE LOWER LINK JOINT NUT AND BOLT.

98V260000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Oct 20, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A SUNROOF SUNSHADE. THE PRIMER APPLIED TO PREPARE THE SURFACE PRIOR TO BONDING THE SUNSHADE HOLDERS TO THE SUNROOF WEAKENED THE BONDING STRENGTH OF THE ADHESIVE, RESULTING IN AN UNSATISFACTORY BOND OF THE HOLDER TO THE SUNROOF.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE HOLDER, CAUSING THE SUNSHADE TO FALL, POSSIBLY STRIKING A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE ALL FOUR SUNSHADE HOLDERS AND RE-BOND THEM TO THE SUNROOF GLASS.

98V170000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Jul 24, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. A GROUND CONNECTION TERMINAL WAS NOT PROPERLY CRIMPED IN THE SUPPLIER'S ENGINE WIRING HARNESS MANUFACTURING LINE. THIS IMPROPER CRIMPING PROCESS CAN LEAVE AN IMPRESSION ON THE TERMINAL THAT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A STRESS FRACTURE. S

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF A TERMINAL IS FRACTURED, THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) CAN RECEIVE AN ERRONEOUS SIGNAL INDICATING A HIGH VEHICLE SPEED, THEREBY CAUSING THE PCM TO CUT THE FUEL, CAUSING A 'NO-START' CONDITION, OR A POSSIBLE ENGINE STALL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE VEHICLES.

98V111000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

May 26, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE STRENGTH OF THE REAR SEAT BELT SHOULDER ANCHORAGE IS NOT TO DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS AND DOES NOT FULLY COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE REAR SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW RIGHT AND LEFT REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA99008 · Braking System/abs

Opened Mar 31, 1999 · Closed Jul 31, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

PE98046 · Sunshade Retainer Failure

Opened Aug 19, 1998 · Closed Oct 28, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

CONSUMERS ALLEGE THE INTERIOR SUNSHADE FOR THE SUNROOF DROPPED ONTO THEM WHILE DRIVING THEIR VEHICLE