Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Isuzu Hombre problems
Owners filed 53 complaints about the 1998 Isuzu Hombre with NHTSA between Sep 1998 and Jun 2016. The most-cited component is visibility (23).
Complaints
53
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Visibility23
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Electrical system3
- Equipment3
- Parking brake3
- Air bags3
- Structure2
- Seats2
- Tires1
- Service brakes1
- Steering1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Power train1
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 Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
4
4
5
2
10
10
5
2
2
1
0
2
1
0
0
1
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 2 |
| 1999 | 4 |
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 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
23 reports
“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.”
Engine and engine cooling
8 reports1 crash
“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”
Service brakes, hydraulic
4 reports1 crash
“WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CLUTCH FAILED, PREVENTING VEHICLE TO SHIFT GEARS. *AK WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO LOW THE VEHICLE BUT THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE FROM FIFTH GEAR. UPON EXAMINATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SLAVE CYLINDER FAILED RENDERING THE CLUTCH INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMPONENT FAILURE NOT A RESULT OF EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO ISUZU BUT THEY DIDN'T EXPRESS ANY INTEREST IN THE SITUATION. *PH *NLM”
Electrical system
3 reports1 related recall
“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”
Equipment
3 reports
“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”
Parking brake
3 reports1 crash
“INTERMITTENTLY EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. *AK THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD BEGUN TO WORK AGAIN. *SCC *JB”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.