1997 Isuzu HOMBRE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
57,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data updated: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 25 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 12.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 5 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Visibility:Rear Window Wiper/Washer:Motor | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 5; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Visibility:Rear Window Wiper/Washer:Motor: 2; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 19 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 4 |
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
1997: 2; 1998: 4; 1999: 3; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 7; 2004: 3; 2006: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 714013 · 1999-10-28 (October 28, 1999)
BRAKES HAVE FAILED AT SIX OTHER TIMES, THE LAST BEING 10/22/99. I HAD TO CROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO AVOID A COLLISION. ALL THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WANT TO DO IS TELL ME TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE OR THAT THEY CAN'T FIX IT WITHOUT IT HAPPENING TO THEM WITHOUT ADMITTING RESPONSIBILITY. THEY STATED, "TO TAKE THE BRAKES APART AND LOOK AT THEM WOULD BE AN ADMISSION OF QUILT".
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 714013 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 819215 · 1997-11-18 (November 18, 1997)
DRIVING AT 40 MPH WENT APPLY BRAKES TO STOP, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, NO BRAKES. PUMPED BRAKES. TRIED TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKES COULD NOT STOP, ENDED UP HITTING 2 TREES AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH BECAUSE OF DEFECT. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 819215 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 542133 · 1998-10-20 (October 20, 1998)
TRANSMISSION VIBRATES CONTINUALLY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 542133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 812338 · 1997-05-19 (May 19, 1997)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND COMING TO A STOP DRIVER HEARD A CLICK AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE BELIEVED TO BE ELECTRICAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 812338 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 825115 · 1998-07-07 (July 7, 1998)
WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WOULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP FOR NO REASON. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 8 DIFFERENT TIMES. HAD SOME THINGS REPLACED, BUT NOTHING FIXED THE PROBLEM WHICH RETURNED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 825115 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
25 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 1129.7%ODI 10019863WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED SPORADICALLY. *JB | 520.0% | 815.1%ODI 10030166THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK WIPERS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING AND WOULDN'T COME ON UNTIL 2-3 HOURS LATER. *PH *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 718.9%ODI 10075623RECALL NOTICE REGARDING WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. *MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED. *SC | 520.0%ODI 10023263WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN WITHOUT ANY NOTICE AT ALL. HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND GET OUT IN THE RAIN AND TRAFFIC TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY THING I COULD DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. COULD NOT FIX THEM SO I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THEY WANTED TO WORK TO FINISH DRIVING TO WORK.. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN T H E Y WANT TO , THIS CAN BE VERY HAZARDOUS AT NIGHT OR DAY IN THE RAIN..I CHECKED ISUZU AND NO RECALLS AS OF 07-17-2003. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BY THE DEALERS IR COMPANY'S. *JB … | 917.0%ODI 10028461 · 40,000 miTHE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE MALFUNCTIONING -- THEY DON'T COME ON SOMETIMES AND STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING, TOO.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 38.1%ODI 710672RE: LOW HEAD RESTS.. THE SEAT WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR ANYONE WITH ANY HEIGHT. I AM 6'3". MY HEAD MISSES HEAD REST ENTIRELY. I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO BE AS TALL AS ME FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT, MY HEAD WILL HIT THE REAR-WINDOW. THIS WILL OCCUR WHETHER I AM HIT FROM BEHIND... OR IF THE AIR-BAG DEPLOYS AND THROWS ME BACK INTO IT. SEAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS NECK AND HEAD INJURY. VERY SCARY.******** RE: BRAKES... JUST REPORTING WHAT MY MECHANIC FOUND AT 21,000 MILES. THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE WAS FOUND TO BE 100% WORN. IT WAS FIXE… | 312.0%ODI 714013BRAKES HAVE FAILED AT SIX OTHER TIMES, THE LAST BEING 10/22/99. I HAD TO CROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO AVOID A COLLISION. ALL THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WANT TO DO IS TELL ME TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE OR THAT THEY CAN'T FIX IT WITHOUT IT HAPPENING TO THEM WITHOUT ADMITTING RESPONSIBILITY. THEY STATED, "TO TAKE THE BRAKES APART AND LOOK AT THEM WOULD BE AN ADMISSION OF QUILT". | 11.9%ODI 849852WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 35 MPH CONSUMER WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO CRASH. *AK | 114.3%ODI 856146WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 5 MPH WENT DOWN ROAD, APPLIED BRAKES , AND PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAD THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED. *AK |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 25.4%ODI 808019UPON IMPACT, DURING FRONTAL CRASH, AT APPROX. 60MPH, 12:30 ON FRONT BUMPER, HIT BARRIER HEAD ON, DRIVER'S AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK AND BACK INJURIES. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 35.7%ODI 720711HEAD-ON COLLISION AT APPROX 30 MPH. BOTH AIR BAGS (DRIVER AND PASSENGER) FAILED TO DEPLOY DESPITE THE SEVERITY OF THE IMPACT. BUMPER DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, ENGINE COLLAPSED, CAUSING AN OIL SPILL. | 114.3%ODI 8014011WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE INVOLVED IN FRONTAL AND SIDE COLLISIONS. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK |
| Visibility:Rear Window Wiper/Washer:Motor | 12.7%ODI 10032170CONSUMER STATES THAT WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING ,NO WARNING. DEALER STATES THAT MODULAR NEEDS REPLACING. *AK | 28.0%ODI 10024052THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL#03V210000 CONCERNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, DUE TO VIN. *AK *TS *JB | 35.7%ODI 10061885 · 5,700 miWINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED IN RAIN DURING HARD DOWNPOUR. I THINK THE CIRCUIT BOARD CRACKED LIKED THE RECALLED CHEVROLEROLET S-10S AND CHEVROLET TRUCK ALSO MADE BY GM.THEY RECALLED ALL CHEVY TRUCK MADE AT SAME PLANT AS MINE FOR WIPERS STOPPING.MY HOMBREE WAS MADE IN USA BY CHEVY. THIS IS APOX 100TH TIME THIS HAS FAILED. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 12.7%ODI 10021305 · 99,981 miVEHICLE FIRE 1996 ISUZU HOMBRE PICK UP TRUCK. ARRIVED HOME AND TRUCK ENGINE WAS SMOKING. THOUGHT LOSS OF RADIATOR, BUT ENGINE AREA WAS ON FIRE. *JB | 14.0%ODI 825115WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WOULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP FOR NO REASON. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 8 DIFFERENT TIMES. HAD SOME THINGS REPLACED, BUT NOTHING FIXED THE PROBLEM WHICH RETURNED. *AK | 23.8%ODI 10032508THE VEHICLE CONSUMED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE DEALER STATED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE WORKED ON. *JB | 114.3%ODI 10044648 · 44,327 miTHE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD DIMMED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY, WHICH CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS . *AK THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT IN FIRST GEAR. CATALYTIC CONVERTER, 2 GASKETS, AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR CLUTCH, POWER TRAIN MODULE, TPS SENSOR, ABS SENSOR AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH ELECTRICAL HARNESS UNDER THE DASH ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT *JB |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 25.4%ODI 553113THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, LOCAL DEALER UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. NLM | 14.0%ODI 701939WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, ENGINE INJESTED WATER THROUGH AIR INTAKE SYSTEM IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES TO CAUSE HYDRAULIC LOCK-UP OF THE PISTONS. THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AT APPROX 3-5 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. IT TRAVELLING THROUGH A PUDDLE OF APPROX 6"-12" IN DEPTH AND TURNING A CORNER. IT WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO FLOODING WATER AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT TO ISUZU (#98273035) AND TODATE HAVE NOT HAD ANYONE FROM ISUZU CONTACT ME TO COME TO REVIEW THE COMPLAINT NOR INVESTIGATE CAUSE OR EXPLAIN WHY OR HOW T… | 23.8%ODI 720711HEAD-ON COLLISION AT APPROX 30 MPH. BOTH AIR BAGS (DRIVER AND PASSENGER) FAILED TO DEPLOY DESPITE THE SEVERITY OF THE IMPACT. BUMPER DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, ENGINE COLLAPSED, CAUSING AN OIL SPILL. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 12.7%ODI 820928CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 70 MPH WHEN ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS DIED OUT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKES/STEERING, NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TO RESTART VEHICLE IN ORDER TO REGAIN CONTROL, AND PREVENT AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY COMPUTER. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 23.8%ODI 10136822 · 83,000 miWINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED ONLY WHEN ITS RAINING. REPLACE WIRING HARNESS AND WIPER SWITCH. NONE OF THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | Too few reports for a range | 66,750 mi | 2 (sparse) | ODI 10051808 · 110,000 miTHE 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 ODI 10154432 · 23,500 miDT*: 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 |
| Visibility:Rear Window Wiper/Washer:Motor | Too few reports for a range | 46,500 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10031802 · 46,500 miTHE 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 |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1998: 12 complaints · 2000: 6 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 3 | 10 | 12 |
| 2000 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 47 | 6 | 0 |
| 2000 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Visibility:Rear Window Wiper/Washer:Motor | Electrical System:Wiring | Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility:Rear Window Wiper/Washer:Motor | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.