Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Isuzu N SERIES: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

6 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

56,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 model year. Data updated: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 6 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior116.7%

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.

Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
3
Air Bags:Frontal
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer3
Air Bags:Frontal1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module1

Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 1 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.

2003
2
2004
2
2005
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20032
20042
20052

2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 2

Pattern summary

Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer leads the component reports. Braking behavior 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10000998 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES ON DRY PAVEMENT WHEN BRAKING IF A SLIGHT BUMP IS HIT. UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE SAFELY WHEN SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED. ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON PERIODICALLY.

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000998 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10047074 · 2003-11-17 (November 17, 2003)

WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORKING. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 60,598 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047074 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10064401 · 2004-04-02 (April 2, 2004)

1998 RODEO HAD 44,200 MILES AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR LOST OF HEAT AND BURNING SMELL AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED THERMOSTAT BUT PROBLEM WAS BACK WITHIN 2 WEEKS AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 44,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064401 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10102442 · 2004-12-09 (December 9, 2004)

WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING PROPERLY ON A 1998 IZUSU HOMBRE, GM REPORTS THAT THEIR IS NO PROBLEM OR RECALL ON MY TRUCK (VEN#).*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102442 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10107753 · 2005-01-23 (January 23, 2005)

WIPERS OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. EXACTLY LIKE PROBLEM IN 1996 ISUZU HOMBRE RECALL. AT TIMES WIPERS WONT GO OFF ONCE ACTIVATED. HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107753 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10138189 · 2005-09-29 (September 29, 2005)

ROLL OVER CRASH DOWN EMBANKMENT 160 FEET INTO RIVER UPSIDE DOWN AND HIT THREE TREES BEFORE LANDING. BOTH AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND MY SON WAS INJURED WITH A BROKEN PELVIS AND HUGE HEMOTOMA? I BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE ALL THE PRESSURE WAS ON HIS PELVIS WITH JUST THE SEAT BELT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10138189 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

6 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

83.3%Usable mileage5 / 6 records
100.0%Valid incident date6 / 6 records
100.0%Valid filing date6 / 6 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates6 / 6 records

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 complaint heatmap
Component199819992000200120022004
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
350.0%
ODI 10047074 · 60,598 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORKING. *LA

Look up ODI 10047074 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Engine And Engine Cooling
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

2100.0%
ODI 10110072 · 66,000 mi

I HAVE A 2001 RODEO, I WORKED VERY HARD TO GET THAT CAR I WAS VERY PROUD OF IT. IT HAD ONLY 66 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. I TOOK GOOD CARE OF IT. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3 THOUSAND MILES. ONE TIME AFTER THE OIL WAS CHANGED I CHECKED IT AND THE DIP STICK READ NO OIL SO I PUT A GALLON OF OIL IN IT AND TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE. THE GUY WAS LIKE WHAT DID YOU DO I BET YOU ARE A GALLON OVER. SURE ENOUGH I WAS. HE SAID SOME TIMES IT WILL SAY THERE IS NO OIL IN IT WHEN THERE IS. MY SON CHECKED IT FOR ME A FEW TIMES AND THOUGHT I WAS OUT AND PUT A QUART IN.…

Look up ODI 10110072 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
116.7%
ODI 10064401 · 44,200 mi

1998 RODEO HAD 44,200 MILES AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR LOST OF HEAT AND BURNING SMELL AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED THERMOSTAT BUT PROBLEM WAS BACK WITHIN 2 WEEKS AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. *JB

Look up ODI 10064401 at NHTSA ↗

133.3%
ODI 10130528 · 60,000 mi

STARTING AT AROUND 55K MILES, MY ISUZU 99 TROOPER HAS STARTED BURNING AROUND 1QT OF OIL PER 600-700 MILES. THIS CAUSES EXCESS WEAR ON THE ENGINE AND MOST DRIVERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SEIZED ENGINES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.. ISUZU HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2000 AND REDESIGNED THE RINGS ON THE PISTONS BUT DID NOT NOTIFY CUSTOMERS OR HELP OWNERS WHEN REPAIRS ARE REQUIRED. *JB

Look up ODI 10130528 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Air Bags:Frontal
116.7%
ODI 10138189

ROLL OVER CRASH DOWN EMBANKMENT 160 FEET INTO RIVER UPSIDE DOWN AND HIT THREE TREES BEFORE LANDING. BOTH AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND MY SON WAS INJURED WITH A BROKEN PELVIS AND HUGE HEMOTOMA? I BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE ALL THE PRESSURE WAS ON HIS PELVIS WITH JUST THE SEAT BELT. *JB

Look up ODI 10138189 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Electrical System
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

1100.0%
ODI 10118461 · 5,000 mi

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY 2004 ISUZU RODEO WILL NOT START. I WILL ATTEMPT TO START IT, AND IT WILL TURN OVER AND THEN WILL NOT START. I WILL THEN ATTEMPT TO START THE SUV AGAIN AND I GET NOTHING. I HAVE LEARNED THAT I HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE LOCK THE DOORS, UNLOCK THE DOORS GET BACK IN AND ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME SITTING IN TRAFFIC AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WILL JUST STALL OUT AND THEN WILL NOT START. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TROUBLE TO MY LOCAL ISUZU DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF…

Look up ODI 10118461 at NHTSA ↗

Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

1100.0%
ODI 10118461 · 5,000 mi

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY 2004 ISUZU RODEO WILL NOT START. I WILL ATTEMPT TO START IT, AND IT WILL TURN OVER AND THEN WILL NOT START. I WILL THEN ATTEMPT TO START THE SUV AGAIN AND I GET NOTHING. I HAVE LEARNED THAT I HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE LOCK THE DOORS, UNLOCK THE DOORS GET BACK IN AND ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME SITTING IN TRAFFIC AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WILL JUST STALL OUT AND THEN WILL NOT START. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TROUBLE TO MY LOCAL ISUZU DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF…

Look up ODI 10118461 at NHTSA ↗

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

133.3%
ODI 10072382 · 234,679 mi

FAN BLADE FAILURE ON NPR ISUZU TK YR. 2000-2003 WE HAD 5 BLADES EXPLODE IN TKS. THE BLADE CRACKS THEN FLIES APART THIS IS VERY BAD SOMEBOBY WILL GET KILLED IF WORKING AROUND BLADE WHEN THEY COME APART.

Look up ODI 10072382 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

133.3%
ODI 10189961

I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 ISUZU RODEO FROM FOX CHEVROLET ISUZU LOCATED AT 501 WASHINGTON BOULEVARD LAUREL, MARYLAND. IN 2004 THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THEIR BUSINESS AND NAME TO FOX OF LAUREL BECAUSE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THIS LOCATION I CONTINUED TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THEM FOR SERVICE. I QUESTIONED WHETHER THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE ,AND WAS ASSURED THAT THEY COULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO MY VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH THEY NO LONGER SOLD ISUZU CARS. ON JANUARY 23, 2007 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FOX OF LAUREL BECA…

Look up ODI 10189961 at NHTSA ↗

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 failure mileage distribution
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/WasherToo few reports for a range60,598 mi3 (sparse)
ODI 10047074 · 60,598 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORKING. *LA

Look up ODI 10047074 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10102442 · 56,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING PROPERLY ON A 1998 IZUSU HOMBRE, GM REPORTS THAT THEIR IS NO PROBLEM OR RECALL ON MY TRUCK (VEN#).*AK

Look up ODI 10102442 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10107753 · 65,000 mi

WIPERS OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. EXACTLY LIKE PROBLEM IN 1996 ISUZU HOMBRE RECALL. AT TIMES WIPERS WONT GO OFF ONCE ACTIVATED. HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *JB

Look up ODI 10107753 at NHTSA ↗

Engine And Engine Cooling:EngineToo few reports for a range44,200 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10064401 · 44,200 mi

1998 RODEO HAD 44,200 MILES AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR LOST OF HEAT AND BURNING SMELL AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED THERMOSTAT BUT PROBLEM WAS BACK WITHIN 2 WEEKS AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. *JB

Look up ODI 10064401 at NHTSA ↗

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/ModuleToo few reports for a range20,000 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10000998 · 20,000 mi

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES ON DRY PAVEMENT WHEN BRAKING IF A SLIGHT BUMP IS HIT. UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE SAFELY WHEN SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED. ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON PERIODICALLY.

Look up ODI 10000998 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

1 reports2024-112026-10

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
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

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.

Age 0Age 1Age 22 reports

2002: 2 complaints · 2004: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
2002002
2004011
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
2002300
2004100

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 co-occurrence matrix
ComponentVisibility:Windshield Wiper/WasherAir Bags:FrontalEngine And Engine Cooling:EngineService Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer—000
Air Bags:Frontal0—00
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine00—0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module000—

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.

1 patterns with matching reports.

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

1 mentions · 16.7% of complaints

Median mileage: 20,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10000998 · 20,000 mi

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES ON DRY PAVEMENT WHEN BRAKING IF A SLIGHT BUMP IS HIT. UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE SAFELY WHEN SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED. ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON PERIODICALLY.

Look up ODI 10000998 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b