FaultScore

1998 Isuzu Amigo brake problems

23 of the 99 complaints about the 1998 Isuzu Amigo are about the braking system — 23% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 2,866 miles.

F

23

Complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

4

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 18 78.3%
Antilock 2 8.7%
Rotor 1 4.3%
Control Unit/Module 1 4.3%
Hoses, Lines/Piping, AND Fittings 1 4.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 120,000 miles Hollsopple, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ISUZU AMIGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIUS ARM BRACKETS, CROSS MEMBERS, AND BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V306000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED THAT, DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE CORROSION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION UNTIL THE FRAME WAS REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE RADIUS ARM BRACKETS AND WELDED THE FRAME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10622284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Allenstown, NH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

BRAKES RELEASE ON 1998 ISUZU. ALL 4 BRAKES RELEASE SUDDENLY IF ONE WHEEL HITS BUMP AND SKIPS. PLASTIC SIDEWALL BY GAS PEDAL CATCHES INSIDE SHOE AND PREVENTS QUICK MOVES FROM GAS TO BRAKE.

NHTSA complaint #10067540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mineola, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #10038046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mentor, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING WHEN THE ROADS WERE WET OR IF THE VEHICLE GETS IN A POTHOLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. CONSUMER HAD PAID OVER $200.00 TO GET VEHICLE REPAIRED, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS.

NHTSA complaint #10024610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Johnstown, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE PARTS FOR THE ABS RECALL 02 I 002 000, AFTER THE APPOINTMENT WAS MADE.

NHTSA complaint #10017202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Florissant, MO Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

I BEGAN EXPERIENCING BRAKING PROBLEMS ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WHEN STOPPING SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE HAD EXTENDING STOPPING DISTANCES. I HAD THE BRAKES INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD THE BRAKE PADS WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. I PROCEEDED TO SEARCH THE INTERNET FOR RECALLS AND FOUND A SAFETY NOTICE ON THE ABS SYSTEM. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE INTO A DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THIS NOTICE DID NOT PERTAIN TO MY VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER THIS, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH TWO OTHER VEHICLES. THREE MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I RECEIVED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN NOTICE REGARDING MY VEHICLE AND THE ABS.

NHTSA complaint #10014282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,866 miles Mentor, OH Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY DURING WET WEATHER OF WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A POTHOLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. THE CONSUMER HAS PAID OVER $200.00 TO GET BRAKES FIXED, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. CURRENTLY SPENT $250 FOR NEW ROTORS. *NLM.....

NHTSA complaint #10014720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,866 miles Mentor, OH Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY DURING WET WEATHER OF WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A POTHOLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. THE CONSUMER HAS PAID OVER $200.00 TO GET BRAKES FIXED, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. CURRENTLY SPENT $250 FOR NEW ROTORS. *NLM.....

NHTSA complaint #10014720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1,200 miles Mesa, AZ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE BRAKES ON MY CAR HAVE WORKED CORRECTLY SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. I HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY SAID THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. DURING THE SUMMER I GOT A NOTICE THAT ISUZU WOULD BE "FIXING" BRAKES ON VARIOUS CARS - IT WAS NOT A RECALL, BUT THEY WERE GOING TO BE DOING IT FOR SAFETY REASONS. THE CARS WERE, I BELIEVE, 98 AND 99 AMIGOS AND RODEOS, OF WHICH MINE IS ONE. I CALLED ISUZU AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE SENDING NOTICES OUT IN THE FALL. IT IS NOW THE END OF FEBRUARY AND I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANOTHER WORD AND AM NOT ABLE TO GET ANY INFORMATION. MY BRAKES JUST DON'T SEEM TO WORK PROPERLY AND I DON'T THINK THEY EVER HAVE. IT IS LIKE IT TAKES LONGER TO STOP THAN IT SHOULD.

NHTSA complaint #10008067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Avon, MN

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO STATED THAT DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND HAS SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. TS

NHTSA complaint #10001796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tempe, AZ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CONSUMER HAS HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH ABS BRAKES AS STATED IN RECALL # 02 I00 000,BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. MR....

NHTSA complaint #8020933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chillitothe, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ABS LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD, AND BRAKES WILL NOT HOLD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK THE CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE, BUT WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED.

NHTSA complaint #8013422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fullerton, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THESE ARE NOT ALL THE REPAIRS FOR THE VEHICLE, JUST THE MAJOR ONES THAT HAVE BEEN REPAIRED NUMEROUS TIMES.NO SAFETY DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #742912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Westover, WV

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ON DOWNHILL, UNEVEN SURFACE, BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND BRAKES GO INTO A NON-APPLIED MODE, AND AFTER APPROXIMATELY A CAR LENGTH, THE BRAKES WILL LCOK UP, MAKE A SLAMMING SOUND, AND PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE. THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN DUPLICATED BY THE TECHNICIAN ON BOTH MY VEHICLE AND MY HUSBAND'S VEHICLE (SAME MODEL/YEAR). HIS RESPONSE WAS THAT ALL VEHICLES OF THIS MODEL WILL DO THE SAME THING, EVEN THE BRAND NEW ONES, AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER CONSIDERS THIS A "NORMAL" CONDITION. I HAVE REQUESTED THE MANUFACTURER TO BUY-BACK MY VEHICLE UNDER THE LEMON LAW SINCE IT HAS BEEN REPORTED FOUR TIMES WITHOUT RESOLUTION, BUT THE REQUEST HAS BEEN REFUSED BECAUSE THERE IS NO FAILURE. I FEEL THIS IS A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM, NOT TO MENTION WHAT IS DOES FOR MY NERVES WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #742548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chesterfield, MO

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS BRAKES ENGAGE ON DRY BUMPY PAVEMENT, CAUSING INCREASED BREAKING DISTANCE. THIS OCCURS ALL THE TIME. NO DEALER SOLUTION.

NHTSA complaint #724185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Naples, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD PULLED UP TO THE INTERSECTION WHEN LIGHT TURNED RED, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOWDOWN, BUT BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND VEHICLE WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA complaint #863500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newark, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT AND UPON MAKING A NORMAL STOP, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. ALSO, GAS TANK HAS SEPARATED FROM BOTTOM OF VEHICLE, CAUSING A FUEL LEAKAGE, SUN ROOF COVER DOESN'T STAY INTACT, AND SEAT BELT AND GAS PEDAL STICK. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA complaint #858469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS SYSTEM IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. HAS TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN, THE PEDAL GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD.

NHTSA complaint #849458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Highland Park, IL Crash 2 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

EA9999008, ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO BRAKING CAPABILITY, AND RESULTING IN A CRASH. *AK.ET.

NHTSA complaint #837890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNK, UN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED, ALLOWING REAR BRAKES TO LOCK UP CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. MJS

NHTSA complaint #544743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ashland City, TN Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT, MOSTLY ON HILLS, THE ABS STARTS UP AND ALLOWS MY CAR TO FREE WHEEL FOR ABOUT 10 TO 20 FEET BEFORE BRAKING BEGINS AGAIN. I AM NOT LETTING UP ON THE PEDAL. THE FIRST TIME THE ABS STARTED UP IT WORKED GREAT, I HEARD A MOTOR RUNNING UNDER THE HOOD AND EVEN ON THE SNOW I STOPPED FINE. THIS MOTOR DOES FUNCTION WHEN 12VDC IS APPLIED BUT AS OF LATE, NO LONGER FUNCTIONS WHEN THE ABS IS STARTED, THE PROBLEM MUST BE IN THE CONTROLING MODULE IT IS FAILING TO START THE MOTOR. I HAVE BEEN INTO THE DITCH 6 TIMES TOTAL AND I AM JUST WAITING TO GET INTO A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. I DID NOTICE THAT OTHER CARS NEXT TO ME UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS ARE ABLE TO STOP. THIS LEAD ME TO THIS LITTLE TEST I CONDUCTED. WHEN I DISABLE THE ABS MY CAR STOPS FINE. IN FACT IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE ABS OFF FROM A SPEED OF 30 MPH THE CAR WILL STOP ON AVERAGE 45% SHORTER THAN WHEN THE ABS IS STARTED. THE REAR TIRES DID LOCK UP JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE ABS OFF. I TESTED 10 TIMES WITH EACH CONDITION (10 WITH ABS AND 10 WITHOUT ABS) AND THEN AVERAGED RESULTING STOPPING DISTANCE. THE TESTS WERER DONE ON WET PAVEMENT CAUSED BY RAIN. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THEY HAVE CHECKED EVERYTHING AND THE SYSTEM IS FINE( JAN 29 1999). IF THE DEALER IS CORRRECT AND NO PROBLEM EXSISTS THE SYSTEM ITSELF IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. SURE I CAN STILL STEER THE CAR AND THERE IS NO DANGER OF LOCKING THE TIRES (OR STOPPING THIS CAR) BUT AROUND HERE IF I STEER OFF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO MISS SOMETHING IT USUALLY ENDS YOU UP IN A LARGE DITCH OR OFF A CLIFF. THIS TYPE OF PERFORMANCE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND IS ACTUALLY A HAZZARDF TO EVERYONE ON THE HIGHWAY. HOW CAN YOU GUYS ALLOW SUCH A POOR PRODUCT TO REMAIN ON THE ROAD. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY EQUIPPED WITH A KELSE HAYSE UNIT. UNTIL I CAN FIND AN OPTION THAT WORKS AS I REALLY LIKED THE WAY THE BRAKES WORKED ON THE SNOW. THE OVER HEAD DOME LIGHT BLINKS ON AND OFF WHEN GOING UP HILL. THIS I CAN LIVE WITH.

NHTSA complaint #704399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Madison, WI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE BRAKING DOWNHILL I HIT A BUMP AND THE PEDAL MOVED TOWARD THE FLOOR. STOPPING DISTANCE SEEMED TO INCREASE MORE THAN I SUSPECTED. IF THERE HAD BEEN A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME I MAY HAVE HIT IT.

NHTSA complaint #703498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Weatherly, PA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #832140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Isuzu Amigo problems

← Full 1998 Isuzu Amigo report