Problems · NHTSA complaints
1997 Isuzu Hombre problems
Owners filed 25 complaints about the 1997 Isuzu Hombre with NHTSA between May 1997 and Apr 2016. The most-cited component is visibility (12).
Complaints
25
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Visibility12
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Power train2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Visibility/wiper1
- Structure1
- Suspension1
- Electrical system1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
4
3
1
1
2
7
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 4 |
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Visibility
12 reports1 related recall
“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”
Engine and engine cooling
3 reports
“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”
Service brakes, hydraulic
3 reports1 crash1 related recall
“ON-GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM; WHENEVER BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WENT BACK AND FORTH WHILE TRYING TO PRESS DOWN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO TEMPORARILY LOSE BRAKING UNTIL THE PULSATION IN PEDAL STOPPED. ALSO NOTICE DA LOUD GRINDING SOUND WHEN THIS OCCURRED DEALER NOTIFED AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK”
Power train
2 reports
“1ODI ID 825115, 2.ODI ID 542133, 3. ODI ID 721936, 4. ODI ID 829011, 5. ODI ID 829780”
Vehicle speed control
2 reports
“THROTTLE STUCK WHEN COMPONENT RIVETED TO THE THROTTLE PLATE BROKE AND LODGED ITSELF IN THE THROTTLE BODY. TRUCK WAS GOING AT 60 MPH. THROTTLE WAS STUCK AT THAT SPEED, DANGEROUS AS VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. HAD TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, TURN IGNITION OFF AND PULL TO SHOULDER/EXIT. *JB”
Fuel/propulsion system
1 report
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.