RoadVitals

1997 Isuzu Hombre

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
25
Latest Apr 21, 2016
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Jun 2, 2003
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
3
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 25 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Isuzu Hombre, most frequently naming the visibility, brakes and engine categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 30 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Visibility1348.1%
  • Brakes311.1%
  • Engine311.1%
  • Driver assistance27.4%
  • Suspension13.7%
  • Transmission13.7%
  • Fuel system13.7%
  • Electrical13.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

Jun 2, 2003
14,860 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
The risk: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 14, 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 1-800-255-6727.
ISUZU MOTORS LIMITEDView on NHTSA.gov

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Sep 11, 1997
684 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PASSENGER PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4.3L ENGINES. THE FRONT BRAKE LINE CAN CONTACT THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE ENGINE OIL PAN CAUSING THE BRAKE LINE TO WEAR TO THE POINT OF BRAKE FLUID LOSS DURING BRAKE APPLICATION.
The risk: BRAKE FLUID LOSS CAN REDUCE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE OIL PAN AND THE BRAKE LINE. IF THE CLEARANCE IS 6MM OR LESS, DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL BRAKE LINE CLIP AND IF THERE WAS CONTACT BETWEEN THE OIL PAN AND BRAKE LINE, THE FRONT BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED.
ISUZU MOTORS LIMITEDView on NHTSA.gov

SEAT BELTS

Jun 12, 1997
3,106 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 60/40 FRONT BENCH SEATS AND EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL LOCKING RECLINER BUCKET SEATS. THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE DRIVER'S AND/OR PASSENGER'S SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT.
The risk: IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THERE WERE SECONDARY CRASH EVENTS OR VEHICLE ROLLOVER, THERE WOULD BE NO BELT RESTRAINT OF THE OCCUPANT AND INCREASED INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.
ISUZU MOTORS LIMITEDView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

RQ04002ClosedRecall Query

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

Opened Feb 18, 2004
Closed May 27, 2004

ON FEBRUARY 18, 2004, ODI OPENED THIS RECALL QUERY (RQ) BASED ON TWO FATALITY REPORTS INVOLVING MY 1997 GM S-10 PICKUP TRUCKS.EACH REPORT ALLEGED THAT THE BELTED DRIVER OCCUPANT WAS EJECTED IN A MULTIPLE-ROTATION ROLLOVER CRASH.THE MY 1997 S/T SERIES PICKUPS USE AN ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP IN THE DRIVER SEAT BELT THAT ALLOWS THE WEBBING TO ELONGATE UP TO 10 INCHES (TO MITIGATE DRIVER INJURY IN FRONTAL CRASHES).GM ALSO USED THIS ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP SEAT BELT DESIGN IN MY1997 S/T SERIES UTILITY VEHICLES (CHEVROLET BLAZER, GMC JIMMY AND OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA).GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN (03V-117) TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SEAT BELT IN THESE UTILITY VEHILCES BASED ON A HIGHER FATALITY RATE OF EJECTED BELTED DRIVERS IN ROLLOVER CRASHES.BOTH FATAL CRASHES ARE SEVERE ROLLOVER CRASHES (MULTIPLE-ROTATION ROLLOVER) AND BOTH VEHICLES SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE ROOF STRUCTURE.ODI REVIEWED THE FIELD DATA PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND COMPARED THEM TO PEER VEHICLES USING NHTSA'S FATALITY ANALYSIS REPORTING SYSTEM (FARS) DATABASE.THE FARS DATA DID NOT INDICATE A FIELD PERFORMANCE TREND FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLE.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL MONITOR THIS ISSUE AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT
EA02006ClosedEngineering Analysis

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE

Opened May 31, 2002
Closed Jul 23, 2003

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTORLed to recall 03V159000
EA97004ClosedEngineering Analysis

SEAT BELT WEBBING SEPARATION

Opened Feb 28, 1997
Closed Aug 5, 1997

NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBINGLed to recall 97V096001

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Fuel systemPowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Apr 21, 2016

1ODI ID 825115, 2.ODI ID 542133, 3. ODI ID 721936, 4. ODI ID 829011, 5. ODI ID 829780

NHTSA ID
10860811
Incident
Jan 14, 2001
Mileage
12,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 3, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V210000, REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 05/02/06. *JB

NHTSA ID
10154432
Incident
Apr 3, 2006
Mileage
23,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 18, 2004

THE RIGHT TAILGATE CABLE ON MY 1997 ISUZU HOMBRE XS PICKUP TRUCK BROKE. THE LEFT TAILGATE CABLE ON MY PICKUP TRUCK BROKE LAST YEAR. LUCKILY, IT DID NOT CAUSE INJURY. THIS MODEL WAS MADE BY CHEVROLET (IT''S SISTER MODEL IS THE CHEVY S-10). I UNDERSTAND THE FULL-SIZE PICKUPS BY CHEVROLET HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10062508
Incident
Mar 17, 2004
Mileage
68,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 14, 2004

MY ISUZU WINDSHIELD WIPER RECALL. I HAVE GONE TO ISUZU MANY TIMES TO GET THESE WIPERS FIXED CAUSE THEY TURN OFF WHEN I HAVE THEM ON. THESE PEOPLE STATE THAT THEY DIDNT THINK THERE WERE A LOT OF CARS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED SO THEY DIDNT ORDER A LOT OF PARTS. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND IT STINKS THAT THE WIPERS DONT WORK HALF THE TIME. I WORK AT NIGHT SO IT GETS HARD TO SEE WHEN IT IS RAINING AND THE WIPERS ARE TURNING ON AND OFF. IT IS NOW FEBRUARY AND THEY STILL WONT HELP ME. THIS IS GETTING REDICULUS. IF THIS IS A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD THEN WHY ISNT IT FIXED YET?*AK

NHTSA ID
10058163
Incident
Oct 1, 2003
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT FANS THAT SPLIT AND BREAK APART. THIS OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. FANS WERE BEING REPLACED EVERY 30,000 MILES TO 40,000 MILES. MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE RADIATOR, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE THE FANS OR THE FAN CLUTCH. *AK 1997 ISUZU HOMBRE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE FAN AND ENGINE FAN CLUTCH. WHEN CONSUMER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE FAN FELL OFF THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE FAN FELL OFF BECAUSE THE TENSION PULLEY BROKE. THE DEALER MADE THE CONSUMER PAY FOR A NEW ONE IN ADDITION TO THE PAYMENT FOR THE FAN THAT WAS PURCHASED AND INSTALLED THE DAY BEFORE. *MR *NM

NHTSA ID
10050005
Incident
Mar 11, 2003
Visibility
Filed Dec 19, 2003

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY, AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. RECALL 03V210000 WAS ISSUED FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. *AK *MR

NHTSA ID
10051808
Incident
Dec 10, 2003
Mileage
110,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 2, 2003

THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ON RECALL. CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER WON'T HONOR RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. AFTER MANY PHONE CALLS, THE DEALER SENT SOMEONE TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND HAVE IT REPAIRED. RECALL# 03V210000 *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10031802
Incident
Jul 15, 2003
Mileage
46,500 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 15, 2003

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL 03V210000 REPAIRS CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED. CONSUMER HAD CALLED SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE PARTS WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10034024

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

IB13-R-001G

This bulletin outlines the procedures for using the Alpine Exchange Program (the "Exchange Program"). The Exchange Program must be used when any Alpine radio or other component covered by this bulletin is repaired under warranty and may also be used for radio and component repairs not covered under warranty. Contact Alpine directly for pricing and payment methods applicable to radio and component repairs not covered under warranty.

WB13-X-001B

EQUIPMENT

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural recommendations to improve dealer efficiency when submitting Parts Warranty claims. We strongly recommend dealers follow these procedures in order to avoid delays in Parts Warranty claim payments and/or claim chargeback. This bulletin was revised to add a Parts Warranty Form

WB13-X-001A

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural recommendations to improve dealer efficiency when submitting Parts Warranty claims. We strongly recommend dealers follow these procedures in order to avoid delays in Parts Warranty claim payments and/or claim chargeback.

0412S003

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

J44551 AIR CONDITIONER SUCTION SCREEN KIT REPAIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROCEDURES AFTER COMPRESSION FAILURES. *TT

0405S001

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

HARSH 1-2 UPSHIFT AND MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P1870 SET. *TT

0302S002

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT, SEQUENTIAL CENTRAL PORT FUEL INJECTION (SCPI) FAILURES IN CALIFORNIA ONLY. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Isuzu Hombre by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2007000
2006000
2002000
2001000
2000710
1999000
1998531044.0
1997Viewing253356.8
1996374261.4
1995000
1994000
1993000
1992000

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.