AI Damage1998 Isuzu Hombre: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Isuzu Hombre filed 53 complaints with NHTSA, most often about visibility and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 53
- involving a crash
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Visibility 43% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 15% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 6% of all complaints
- 6 Equipment 6% of all complaints
- 7 Parking brake 6% of all complaints
- 8 Seats 4% of all complaints
- Visibility: 23 complaints (43% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 8 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 3 complaints (6% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (6% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 4.3 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 53 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Parking brake | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Parking brakes failed to prevent roll back on flat surface. Dealer claims brake is not designed to prevent vehicle from rolling backwards, it is designed to prevent it from rolling forward. They did put this in writing.
While driving at a speed of 35 mph consumer went to apply the brakes and the brake pedal went all the way to floor, causing the consumer to crash.
When driving down hill all lights on dash came on. When brakes were applied no lights were on. Vehicle had lost all power and was uncontrollable. Vehicle slid downhill into a tree stump and stopped. Airbags did not deploy. Dealer contacted and cannot remedy the problem.
Consumer had accident and neither air bag deployed, causing serious injuries to both driver. Vehicle sustained substantial damage.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,181 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 14% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Hombre has 31 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 53, above average.
What to check before buying
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Isuzu Hombre?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: visibility, engine and cooling, service brakes. Total complaints: 53. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (4%), overheating, coolant loss (4%), rollaway, parking brake (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Isuzu Hombre?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1998 Isuzu Hombre from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1998 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.