VehicleVerdict

1998 Isuzu Amigo problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 99 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 49.5 times the median Amigo year — the 1998 model ranks #1 of 15 Amigo years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 10 injuries in total across these filings.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across brakes (23), engine (18), and fuel system (12), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

99

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

2

Investigations

15

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

10

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 1998 compare to other Amigo years?

Amigo NHTSA complaints by model year, 1998 highlighted99 complaints1985: 0 complaints1986: 0 complaints1987: 1 complaints1989: 1 complaints1990: 9 complaints1991: 5 complaints1992: 6 complaints1993: 2 complaints1994: 6 complaints1997: 1 complaints1998: 99 complaints1999: 77 complaints2000: 12 complaints2001: 0 complaints2002: 1 complaints
Amigo NHTSA complaints by model year, 1998 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Amigo years to avoid →

What are the most common 1998 Isuzu Amigo problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes2323%
Engine1818%
Fuel System1212%
Visibility & Wipers77%
Airbags66%
Electrical System55%
Body & Structure55%
Steering44%
Tires & Wheels44%
Transmission44%
Speed Control33%
Other22%
Suspension22%
Seat Belts22%
Latches & Locks11%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)11%

Does the 1998 Isuzu Amigo have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

12V306000SuspensionJune 29, 2012 · 14,756 units

Defect

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

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.

02I002000BrakesJune 3, 2002 · 161,927 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS), THE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES IN CERTAIN TYPES OF BRAKING EVENTS.

Consequence

EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT COMPUTER ALGORITHM FOR THE ABS THAT IS BASED ON THE ALGORITHM USED IN ISUZU'S MY 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES, WHICH HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM. THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES, WITH THE MY 1998 2WD VEHICLES COVERED FIRST, SINCE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE MOST PROBLEMS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 20, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-643-4070.

01I002000EngineMay 29, 2001

Defect

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1998-2000 RODEO (UE) AND AMIGO (UA) MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 2.2L 4-CYLINDER ENGINES. THE TIMING BELT COULD BREAK BEFORE THE RECOMMENDED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO CRANK BUT WILL NOT START OR THE ENGINE COULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT RESTART.

Remedy

DEALER WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CONDITION OF THE TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TIMING BELT. DEPENDING ON THE CONDITION OR MODEL OF THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER, THE TENSIONER MAY ALSO BE REPLACED. ISUZU HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 22, 2001. OWNERS CAN CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-643-4070, EXT. 426, CONCERNING THIS PROGRAM.

00V058000SuspensionMarch 2, 2000 · 213,736 units

Defect

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

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.

98V260000Visibility & WipersOctober 20, 1998 · 9,377 units

Defect

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

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.

98V170000Electrical SystemJuly 24, 1998 · 55,475 units

Defect

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

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.

98V111000Seat BeltsMay 26, 1998 · 3,044 units

Defect

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

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY DURING WET WEATHER OF WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A POTHOLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. THE CONSUMER HAS PAID OVER $200.00 TO GET BRAKES FIXED, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. CURRENTLY SPENT $250 FOR NEW…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · September 16, 1998 · crash

ON FEB 4 IT WAS SEND TO DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME. STILL TODAY, NO CONTACT BY THE DEALER AND NO CAR YET. IMMEDIATELY AFTER FIRST PROBLEM,CONTACTED ISUZU. TO PROVIDE ALL INFORMATION AS REQUESTED BY THEM AND NO CONTACT FROM THEIR PART. I WOULD LIKE WHAT I PAID FOR, A NEW CAR OR MONEY BACK. THANKS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 28, 1999

WHEN DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT AND UPON MAKING A NORMAL STOP, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. ALSO, GAS TANK HAS SEPARATED FROM BOTTOM OF VEHICLE, CAUSING A FUEL LEAKAGE, SUN ROOF COVER DOESN'T STAY INTACT, AND SEAT BELT AND GAS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · March 21, 1999

WHEN DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT AND UPON MAKING A NORMAL STOP, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. ALSO, GAS TANK HAS SEPARATED FROM BOTTOM OF VEHICLE, CAUSING A FUEL LEAKAGE, SUN ROOF COVER DOESN'T STAY INTACT, AND SEAT BELT AND GAS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · March 21, 1999

VEHICLE STRUCK REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT AT 35-40 MPH, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSEGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · crash

1998 Isuzu Amigo — common questions

Is the 1998 Isuzu Amigo reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 99 complaints put the 1998 model at #1 of 15 Amigo years. It is one of the Amigo years to avoid.

What are the most common 1998 Amigo problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (23 complaints), engine (18 complaints), fuel system (12 complaints).

Does the 1998 Isuzu Amigo have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 1998 Isuzu Amigo. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1998 Isuzu Amigo under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 2 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Isuzu Amigo years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Amigo years to avoid are 1998, 1999. The cleanest record among Amigo years belongs to 2001.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.