AI Damage1998 Isuzu Isuzu Truck: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Isuzu Isuzu Truck filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and structure. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 50% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 25% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 25% of all complaints
- 4 Visibility 25% of all complaints
- 5 Wheels 25% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (50% of all).
- Structure: 1 complaints (25% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 1 complaints (25% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Visibility: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Wheels: 1 complaints (25% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
After dropping my daughter off and on my way to work driving on a highway at 55 mph in the far right lane a semi truck passed me on the left throwing off a gust of wind at which point the forward mounting point bracket on the rear left tire came loses causing an almost complete loss of steering which caused the truck…
Investigation by me and others has shown that the engine was built with insufficient oil rings which lead to high oil consumption and has led to seized motors due to a lack of warning. Isuzu is aware of this (mechanic told me) and was not fixed until the 2000 model year. (problem on 98 and 99 models.
Excessive oil usage in a 1998 isuzu trooper with 61,000 miles. Having to add 1 qt./500 miles. Isuzu said they could not help me even though, I have found out, it is a much documented problem. They initially did an oil usage test, service department said it would be not problem, but in the end was turned down.
Windshield wipers worked intermittently. Same problem as recall #03v210.
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 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Isuzu Truck has 3 complaints (14 years in the data). This year has 4, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Isuzu Isuzu Truck?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, structure, suspension. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: oil leak or consumption (25%), steering or power steering problems (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Isuzu Isuzu Truck?
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 Isuzu Truck 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.