1997 Isuzu OASIS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
111,196 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 9 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Steering behavior
2
22.2%
Electrical and battery issues
1
11.1%
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.
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
2
Air Bags
1
Electrical System
1
Electrical System:Ignition
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
1
Suspension:Front
1
Unknown Or Other
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
2
Air Bags
1
Electrical System
1
Electrical System:Ignition
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
1
Suspension:Front
1
Unknown Or Other
1
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl): 1; Suspension:Front: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 7 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.
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED WILL DRIVING DUE TO A DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL 02V120000, BUT THIS MAKE/ MODEL/YEAR, AND VIN NUMBER WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE QUITS, EVEN IF AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED, LOSS OF STEERING AS WELL. DASH LIGHTS REMAIN LIT AND ALL OTHER POWER STAYS ON, INCLUDING RADIO OR INTERIOR LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, ETC. PROBLEM IS INCREASING IN FREQUENCY. *JB
INTERMITENT FAILURE - INCREASED IN FREQUENCY. 03/31/2002 EXPERIENCED FAILURE WHILE ON EXPRESSWAY BRIDGE TRAVELING AT HIGH-RATE OF SPEED. ACCESSORY POWER ON, DASH LIGHTS&ENGINE OFF. HARD TO RESTART. LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST. FAMILY BADLY SHAKEN. NO FATALITIES. SUBMITTED REPORT TO INFORMAL WWW.VISUALIMPRESSIONS.CA/SWITCH TOO. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER MAKING AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR RECALL. UPON ARRIVAL, CONSUMERWAS INFORMED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. SINCE THEN, CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS EXCUSES AS TO WHY THE RECALL COULDN'T BE PERFORMED.*TS *JB
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, WITH THE IGNITION RUNNING, IT SLIPPED BACK INTO REVERSE. VEHICLE WENT DOWN A HILL AND ENDED UP IN A FIELD. VERY LITTLE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE WAS DONE. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
9 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
22.2%Usable mileage2 / 9 records
77.8%Valid incident date7 / 9 records
100.0%Valid filing date9 / 9 records
77.8%Ordered incident and filing dates7 / 9 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
Component
1996
1997
1998
1999
Electrical System
266.7%ODI 10234727 · 120,000 mi
PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH MY 1996 ISUZU OASIS (SAME AS HONDA ODYSSEY). 1. THE CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM HAS STARTED AT 120,000 MILES. MY FATHER-IN-LAW HAD HONDA ODYSSEY 1999 AND AT 120,000 MILES EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. MY WIFE AND I ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VAN AS IT MAY STALL AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING. I SEE AN ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEM SWITCH RECALL ON THE 1998 BUT NOT THE 1996. 2. THE SRS WARNING LAMP IS ILLUMINATED. I SEE A RECALL ON THE 1995'S BUT NOT THE 1996 MODELS. 3. A HUGE RATTLE NOISE WHEN IN PARKING AND WHEN…
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE QUITS, EVEN IF AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED, LOSS OF STEERING AS WELL. DASH LIGHTS REMAIN LIT AND ALL OTHER POWER STAYS ON, INCLUDING RADIO OR INTERIOR LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, ETC. PROBLEM IS INCREASING IN FREQUENCY. *JB
I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS SUDDENLY SHUTTING DOWN WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE, EVERYTHING WENT BLANK, THIS STARTED TO HAPPEN MORE AND MORE OFTEN UNTIL THE CAR COULD NOT START. I HAVE TRACKED IT TO THE IGNITION SWITCH WHERE I HAD TO SOMETIMES HOLD IT HALFWAY IN STARTING POSITION IN ORDER TO START THE CAR OTHERWISE IT WOULD NOT START (IT WOULD CRANK BUT WOULD NOT START) I HAVE CHECKED FOR RECALLS ON NHTSA.GOV WEBSITE AND IN FACT IN FOUND THAT THERE WERE RECALLS FOR IGNITION SWITCH, I CALLED HONDA DEALER FIRST AND THEY DENIED ANY RESPONSIB…
WHEN DRIVING THE 1999 ISUZU OASIS, THE VEHICLE JUST GOES DEAD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO A SHOP WHO CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND SAID THE STALL MAY BE RELATED TO THE IDLE AIR CONTROL. THE PROBLEM OF THE VEHICLE GOING DEAD WITHOUT WARNING HAS OCCURRED 10 TIMES IN 4 WEEKS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS BETWEEN 25 AND 55 MPH AND IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR
ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED WILL DRIVING DUE TO A DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL 02V120000, BUT THIS MAKE/ MODEL/YEAR, AND VIN NUMBER WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*AK
1998 ISUZU OASIS: CAR STALLED, WOULD NOT RESTART, REPAIRED AT LOCAL SERVICE STATION FOR IGNITION SWITCH, THIS SWITCH IS A RECALL CAMPAIGN #02V120000 ON 5-16-2002 (ISUZU DID NOT NOTIFY ME OF THIS RECALL). THE LOCAL REPAIR STATION IS WHO INFORMED ME OF THE RECALL. WHEN I CALLED A LOCAL ISUZU DEALER IN BEDFORD, OHIO, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE SWITCH UNDER THIS RECALL. THEREFORE I HAD TO GET IT REPAIRED AT THE LOCAL SERVICE STATION COSTING ME $334.16. I AM FILING A COMPLAINT AGAIN ISUZU AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED AS THIS SHOULD HAVE BEE…
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ISUZU OASIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, EVEN IF THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WAS NOT IN PARK. AS A RESULT, THE HIS VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD NOT OCCURRED UNTIL THE RECALL REPAIR FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000) WAS PERFORMED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK FAILED. AS OF OCTOBER 22, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAI…
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 ISUZU OASIS VAN. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED IF THE AIRBAG DOES NOT DEPLOY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 112,000.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ISUZU OASIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
1. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND HAD EXTREMELY DELAYED RESPONSE WHEN STARTING DECELERATING AND THEN IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATING LEAVING ME IN A PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC DUE TO DELAYED RESPONSE. 2. ULTIMATELY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS HAS FAILED AND I HAD TO GET IT REPAIRED FOR A COST OF AROUND $2000.00, FROM MY RESEARCH I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THERE HAS BEEN EXTREME AMOUNT OF FAILED TRANSMISSIONS IN ISUZU OASIS 1998, WHICH IS A RE BADGE OF HONDA ODYSSEY 1998 (EXACTLY THE SAME CAR) 3. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT. *TR
DESCRIPTION OF CAR SEAT PROTECTION (PP26-34 OWNERS MANUAL)AND PROCEDURES DOES NOT FIT ACTUAL CONFIGURATION OF SEATS AND SAFETY BELTS IN THE VEHICLE. ONLY CENTER LAP BELT WILL SECURELY HOLD A CHILD SEAT IN PLACE. INFANT IN A REAR FACING SEAT IS EXPOSED TO MOVEABLE ARMRESTS ON CENTER BACKREST. DEALER IN TUCSON AZ WAS UNABLE TO FASTEN SEATS. ISUZU OWNER RELATIONS [phone removed] SAYS THAT THEY DO NOT TEST CARSEATS IN THE OASIS. THIS IS RESPONSIBILITY OF MANUFACTURER: HONDA. PLEASE CALL ME ABOUT DETAILS AS I WANT TO TRANSPORT GRANDCHILDREN, …
INTERMITENT FAILURE - INCREASED IN FREQUENCY. 03/31/2002 EXPERIENCED FAILURE WHILE ON EXPRESSWAY BRIDGE TRAVELING AT HIGH-RATE OF SPEED. ACCESSORY POWER ON, DASH LIGHTS&ENGINE OFF. HARD TO RESTART. LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST. FAMILY BADLY SHAKEN. NO FATALITIES. SUBMITTED REPORT TO INFORMAL WWW.VISUALIMPRESSIONS.CA/SWITCH TOO. *AK
PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH MY 1996 ISUZU OASIS (SAME AS HONDA ODYSSEY). 1. THE CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM HAS STARTED AT 120,000 MILES. MY FATHER-IN-LAW HAD HONDA ODYSSEY 1999 AND AT 120,000 MILES EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. MY WIFE AND I ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VAN AS IT MAY STALL AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING. I SEE AN ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEM SWITCH RECALL ON THE 1998 BUT NOT THE 1996. 2. THE SRS WARNING LAMP IS ILLUMINATED. I SEE A RECALL ON THE 1995'S BUT NOT THE 1996 MODELS. 3. A HUGE RATTLE NOISE WHEN IN PARKING AND WHEN…
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
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Too few reports for a range
97,000 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 10084028 · 97,000 mi
ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED WILL DRIVING DUE TO A DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL 02V120000, BUT THIS MAKE/ MODEL/YEAR, AND VIN NUMBER WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE QUITS, EVEN IF AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED, LOSS OF STEERING AS WELL. DASH LIGHTS REMAIN LIT AND ALL OTHER POWER STAYS ON, INCLUDING RADIO OR INTERIOR LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, ETC. PROBLEM IS INCREASING IN FREQUENCY. *JB
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
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
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: 2 complaints · 1999: 0 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
1998
1
2
2
1999
0
0
0
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
1998
9
1
0
1999
3
0
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 co-occurrence matrix
Component
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Air Bags
Electrical System
Electrical System:Ignition
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
Suspension:Front
Unknown Or Other
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
—
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Air Bags
0
—
0
0
0
0
0
0
Electrical System
0
0
—
0
0
0
0
0
Electrical System:Ignition
0
0
0
—
0
0
0
0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
0
0
0
0
—
0
0
0
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
0
0
0
0
0
—
0
0
Suspension:Front
0
0
0
0
0
0
—
0
Unknown Or Other
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.
1 patterns with matching reports.
Steering assistance concerns
1 mentions · 11.1% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
ODI 760055
INTERMITENT FAILURE - INCREASED IN FREQUENCY. 03/31/2002 EXPERIENCED FAILURE WHILE ON EXPRESSWAY BRIDGE TRAVELING AT HIGH-RATE OF SPEED. ACCESSORY POWER ON, DASH LIGHTS&ENGINE OFF. HARD TO RESTART. LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST. FAMILY BADLY SHAKEN. NO FATALITIES. SUBMITTED REPORT TO INFORMAL WWW.VISUALIMPRESSIONS.CA/SWITCH TOO. *AK