Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Isuzu I-280 problems

Owners filed 11 complaints about the 2006 Isuzu I-280 with NHTSA between Nov 2006 and Jan 2019. The most-cited component is exterior lighting (4).

Complaints
11
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Exterior lighting4
  2. Electrical system4
  3. Fuel/propulsion system1
  4. Air bags1
  5. Seat belts1
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic1
  7. Engine and engine cooling1
  8. Tires1
  9. Suspension1
  10. Other / unknown2

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 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20061
20071
20080
20091
20100
20112
20121
20131
20140
20151
20160
20172
20180
20191

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Exterior lighting

4 reports2 related recalls
“COUPLE OF WKS. AGO I HAD TO REPLACE FRONT LEFT HUB WHEEL ASSEMBLY WHICH AFFECTED DRIVE SHAFT, ABS, EMER. BRAKE. THAT WAS FIXED . NOW TONIGHT DRIVING FROM A FRIENDS I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE SOUNDS LIKE UNDERNEATH GEAR BOX OR BEHIND HEATER WHAT IS IT. ALSO INTERIOR LIGHTS TURN CONTROL & HAVE TO HIT AROUND LIGHT FOR IT TO TURN ON, AND AROUND FACING OF HEATER TO ILLUMINATE HEATER CONTROLS! WHAT'S GOING ON? THIS ONLY HAPPENED IN GEAR NOT IN NEUTRAL.HIGHWAY & CITY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 22, 2019Exterior lighting, Unknown or otherODI 11171296

Electrical system

4 reports
“DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS TURNED ON AND REMAINS ON PERMANENTLY. QUESTIONABLE IF AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY. NO ACCIDENTS IN VEHICLE OR ANY OTHER INCIDENT THAT MIGHT IN SOME WAY LEAD TO DAMAGE TO AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEAT BELT CONNECTIONS, ETC. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2015Electrical system, Air bags, Seat beltsODI 10693741

Fuel/propulsion system

1 report
“STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM TRUCK. LEAK APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE CHEVY COLORADO PICKUPS AND A FEW OF THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE ISUZU I280. I DID REPLACE THE GAS CAP, BUT THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. MY NEXT STEP WILL BE REMOVING THE TANK AND REPAIRING THE FAULTY PART (LEAKING GASOLINE). WITH ALL THE ONLINE COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE, I WOULD THINK THAT THERE SHOULD'VE BEEN A RECALL ISSUED. I DID CONTACT ISUZU, BUT THEY REPORT NO SUCH RECALL. I THEN CONTACTED CHEVY TO SEE IF THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE COLORADO (SAME TRUCK, DIFFERENT BADGE) BUT THEY WOULDN'T TELL ME IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT PROBLEM. CHEVY INFORMED ME THAT THEY CAN ONLY TRACE RECALLS THROUGH A VIN NUMBER AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY I280 IS A GM PRODUCT, THEIR LIST OF RECALLS COULDN'T BE SEARCHED USING MY VIN NUMBER. THE GASOLINE ODOR IS QUITE STRONG, BUT WILL DISSIPATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LEFT SITTING (NOT RUNNING) FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE ODOR CAN STILL BE DETECTED AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF NOT USING THE VEHICLE - IT'S JUST FAINT. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS QUITE DANGEROUS AND POSSIBLY DUE TO EITHER FAULTY PARTS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2017Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11019125

Air bags

1 report

Seat belts

1 report

Service brakes, hydraulic

1 report
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 ISUZU I280. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND A MESSAGE DISPLAYED FAULTY BRAKES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSED. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V139000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS: SWITCH); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 11, 2011Service brakes, hydraulic, Exterior lightingODI 10411726
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.