ISUZU HOMBRE · model year

1998 ISUZU HOMBRE

58 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998ISUZUHOMBRE carries 58 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 0 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 HOMBRE is visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor with 9 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer (8) and air bags:frontal (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 1998 HOMBRE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

58
Complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

58 filings

Crashes Reported

6 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR9
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER8
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR3
EQUIPMENT3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
VISIBILITY2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY1

Recent Complaints

20160608TIRES

I HAVE HAD 3 TOYO TIRES BUBBLE AND SEPARATE IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS AND TOYO WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I FEEL THAT THEIR TIRES ARE DANGEROUS AND NEED TO BE TESTED.

Mileage: 140,000

20151124SERVICE BRAKES

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN GOING TO STOP AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, NO MATTER WHAT SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL GIVES RESISTANCE, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS GRINDING OF METAL, AND THE TRUCK DOES NOT STOP INSTEAD IT SLOWS DOWN UNTIL IT REACHES THE STOP. I HAVE REPLACED THE WHOLE BRAKING SYSTEM YET THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM VERY SIMILAR TO THE RECALL MADE ON THE 1998 ISUZU RODEO.

Mileage: 60,000

20140307ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

BETWEEN 96,000 AND 97000 MILES, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN 3 TIMES, AS IF SOMEONE HAD TURNED THE KEY OFF. FIRST TIME TURNING A CORNER. TWO OTHER TIMES, WHILE DRIVING 45 AND 60MPH. NO CONTROL OVER VEHICLE. VERY LUCKY NOBODY NEAR ME, OR SOMEONE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED. PROBLEM FIXED, BY BUTITTA AUTO 6765 MILL ROAD, ROCKFORD, IL 61108 IGNITION MODULE HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED. *TR

Mileage: 96,000

20111213VISIBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ISUZU HOMBRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL OF THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 80,000

20111213ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ISUZU HOMBRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL OF THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 80,000

20101020VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ISUZU HOMBRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT WOULD WORK AND OTHER TIMES, IT WOULD NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND COULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

20100916VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE WIPERS JUST STARTED STOPPING WHILE DRIVING. THEN IT WOULD GO BACK ON, BUT WHEN YOU ARE ON THE HWY AND IT IS RAINING; IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTINUE DRIVING HOPING THEY WILL GO BACK ON. I HAVE NOT GONE INTO HAVE IT REPAIRED. IT USED TO DO IT INTERMITTENTLY AND IF YOU GO OVER A BUMP IT WOULD START WORKING AGAIN. YESTERDAY, IT STOPPED ALTOGETHER. THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE FOR MODEL YR 1996 CAMPAIGN 98V150002. *TR

20100916VISIBILITY

THE WIPERS JUST STARTED STOPPING WHILE DRIVING. THEN IT WOULD GO BACK ON, BUT WHEN YOU ARE ON THE HWY AND IT IS RAINING; IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTINUE DRIVING HOPING THEY WILL GO BACK ON. I HAVE NOT GONE INTO HAVE IT REPAIRED. IT USED TO DO IT INTERMITTENTLY AND IF YOU GO OVER A BUMP IT WOULD START WORKING AGAIN. YESTERDAY, IT STOPPED ALTOGETHER. THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE FOR MODEL YR 1996 CAMPAIGN 98V150002. *TR

20080724VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ISUZU HOMBRE. IN STORMY OR HOT WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE REDUCES VISIBILITY AND INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS PARTICULAR YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V150002 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER); THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. HE FILED A COMPLAINT (CASE NUMBER 08206028) WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 09/16/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE WIPERS WORK 70% OF THE TIME. WHEN HE SHUTE THE SWITCH OFF, THE WIPERS CONTINUED TO RUN. UPDATED 09/19/08. *JB

Mileage: 4,000

20070925ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE

PASSLOCK PROBLEMS. *JB

20070319STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

TL*- THE CONTACT HAS A 1998 ISUZU HOMBRE AND STATED THAT EVERY TIME HE CLOSES THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OR IS PUMPING GAS HE GETS A STATIC SHOCK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC SHOCK WAS JUST NORMAL AND THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE CAUSE OF THE SHOCK HAD TO DO WITH THE FABRIC ON THE VEHICLE'S SEATS. HE ALSO HAD THE VEHICLE IN STORAGE FOR ABOUT 5.5 YEARS, BUT HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE BEFORE STORING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 MILES AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,600 MILES.

Mileage: 100

20060906VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON THE VEHICLE WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, THEN STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL# 03V210000, WHICH PERTAINED TO THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Mileage: 60,000

20060731EQUIPMENT

RED STICKER COPY OF DISAPPOINTMENT THAT NHTSA DID NOT RETURN HIS CALL. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPARE TIRE CABLE FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO FALL ONTO THE ROAD AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TIRE BOUNCED HIGH INTO THE AIR AND CRASHED ONTO THE ROOF OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE PART WAS REPLACED, IT FAILED AGAIN ONE YEAR LATER. *JB

20051011STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

FAILURE OF DRIVER SIDE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE. *NM

Mileage: 41,000

20050917ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED ONLY WHEN ITS RAINING. REPLACE WIRING HARNESS AND WIPER SWITCH. NONE OF THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 83,000

20050917EQUIPMENT

THE SPARE TIRE CABLE FAILED AND DROPPED MY TIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. NOTHING HAS BEEN REPLACED YET. *JB

Mileage: 85,535

20050622VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

DT: CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER UNIT WHICH CRACKED TWICE. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT MOISTURE GOT INTO THE UNIT AND CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THE UNIT JUST STOPPED WORKING WITH NO WARNING. WHEN REPLACING THE SWITCH THE WIPERS DIDN'T ALWAYS COME ON.*AK

Mileage: 60,000

20050614EQUIPMENT

DRIVING DOWN US RT 1 IN LAUREL MD, SPARE TIRE CABLE FAILED AND RELEASED TIRE. TIRE FLEW UP IN THE AIR AND CAME DOWN ON THE TOP OF ANOTHER CAR, BARELY MISSED GOING THROUGH DRIVERS WINDSHEILD

Mileage: 89,000

20041211VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING THEN STARTED WORKING AS IF THEY HAD A MIND OF THEIR OWN-- ONLY WHEN IT IS RAINING--THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THIS PROBLEM THE YEAR BEFORE MY VEHICLE. *JB

Mileage: 75,000

20041101ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB

Compare 1998ISUZUHOMBRE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 ISUZU HOMBRE have?
The 1998 ISUZU HOMBRE has 58 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 0 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 ISUZU HOMBRE?
The most-complained component for the 1998 ISUZU HOMBRE is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1998 ISUZU HOMBRE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.