AI Damage2006 Isuzu I-280: common problems
Owners of the 2006 Isuzu I-280 filed 11 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and exterior lighting. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 11
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 36% of all complaints
- 2 Exterior lighting 36% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 9% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 9% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 9% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 9% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 8 Suspension 9% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (36% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 4 complaints (36% of all).
- Air bags: 1 complaints (9% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (9% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (9% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 11 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 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.
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?
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 isuzu I-280. The contact stated that the brake lights failed without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 196,000. The vin was not available.
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.
The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the security pass lock warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. After waiting ten minutes, the engine resumed normally. The failure recurred numerous times.
Complete loss of brake lights / cruise control / keeps blowing fuses. Learned of recall id # 52989 dated 7/29/2009 - so I took vehicle to dealer ( courtesy gmc - [phone] ) their service manager sent me away - said truck had recall #06030 performed on 11/27/2006.
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 contact took vehicle to auto zone for diagnostic testing and was informed that the exhaust crankshaft position caused the engine to shut off while driving. The dealer advised the contact to replace the engine because it was faulty. The contact feels that the manufacturer should pay for the repair.
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 10,521 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 29% most complained about).
On average one model year of the I-280 has 6 complaints (2 years in the data). This year has 11, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Isuzu I-280?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, exterior lighting, air bags. Total complaints: 11. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbag warning light (9%), brake failure (9%), A/C or heater (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2006 Isuzu I-280?
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 2006 Isuzu I-280 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 2006 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 2026-11-06.