FaultScore

FaultScore report

1997 Isuzu Hombre problems

Owners have filed 27 complaints about the 1997 Isuzu Hombre with NHTSA between 1997 and 2016. The largest single group is the windows, mirrors & wipers. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 4 worst.

C

FaultScore 53/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Isuzu Hombre.

How this is worked out

The numbers

27

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

1

Fires reported

1

Injuries reported

35,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

50%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 38 vs 50 Severity 57 vs 50 Early failure 85 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 38
Against the median year of the Isuzu Hombre. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 57
11.1% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 85
50% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 1997 compares with every other Isuzu Hombre

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1997 Isuzu Hombre

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Median failure at 35,000 miles

Brakes 3 11.1%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Engine & Cooling 3 11.1%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 7.4%

Median failure at 95,895 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 7.4%

Median failure at 12,000 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 1 3.7%

Median failure at 12,000 miles

Suspension 1 3.7%
Body & Structure 1 3.7%

Median failure at 68,000 miles

Electrical System 1 3.7%

0 crashes, 1 fires

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

10,000 – 24,999 miles 4 50.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 1 12.5%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 1 12.5%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 1 12.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 1 12.5%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

May 1997 peak 3 Apr 2016

NHTSA investigations into the 1997 Isuzu Hombre

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

RQ04002 Opened 18 Feb 2004 Closed 27 May 2004 SEAT BELTS:FRONT

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

ON FEBRUARY 18, 2004, ODI OPENED THIS RECALL QUERY (RQ) BASED ON TWO FATALITY REPORTS INVOLVING MY 1997 GM S-10 PICKUP TRUCKS.EACH REPORT ALLEGED THAT THE BELTED DRIVER OCCUPANT WAS EJECTED IN A MULTIPLE-ROTATION ROLLOVER CRASH.THE MY 1997 S/T SERIES PICKUPS USE AN ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP IN THE DRIVER SEAT BELT THAT ALLOWS THE WEBBING TO ELONGATE UP TO 10 INCHES (TO MITIGATE DRIVER INJURY IN FRONTAL CRASHES).GM ALSO USED THIS ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP SEAT BELT DESIGN IN MY1997 S/T SERIES UTILITY VEHICLES (CHEVROLET BLAZER, GMC JIMMY AND OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA).GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN (03...

EA02006 Opened 31 May 2002 Closed 23 Jul 2003 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

EA97004 Opened 28 Feb 1997 Closed 5 Aug 1997 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

SEAT BELT WEBBING SEPARATION

NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.

Recalls on the 1997 Isuzu Hombre

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

03V210000

VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.

Risk: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

97V146002

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

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PASSENGER PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4.3L ENGINES. THE FRONT BRAKE LINE CAN CONTACT THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE ENGINE OIL PAN CAUSING THE BRAKE LINE TO WEAR TO THE POINT OF BRAKE FLUID LOSS DURING BRAKE APPLICATION.

Risk: BRAKE FLUID LOSS CAN REDUCE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

97V096002

SEAT BELTS

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 60/40 FRONT BENCH SEATS AND EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL LOCKING RECLINER BUCKET SEATS. THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE DRIVER'S AND/OR PASSENGER'S SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT.

Risk: IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THERE WERE SECONDARY CRASH EVENTS OR VEHICLE ROLLOVER, THERE WOULD BE NO BELT RESTRAINT OF THE OCCUPANT AND INCREASED INJURIES COULD OCCUR.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 2003342 325 units in Canada

Other

Certain vehicles may experience a windshield wiper failure due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. If this were to occur in a severe weather situation, driver's visibility could be reduced, which could result in a vehicle crash without prior warning. Correction: Dealer will replace defective wiper motor until 7 years or 112 000 km from date vehicle was originally placed into service or for those vehicles currently outside of this coverage, until January 31, 2005.

Recall 1997152 23,860 units in Canada

Seats And Restraints

On certain vehicles, the driver's and/or passenger's front outboard seat-belt webbing could separate during a frontal impact having at least the same dynamics as a 48 kph frontal barrier collision. If a separation occurred and there were secondary crash events or rollover, there would be no restraint of the occupant and increased injuries could occur. Correction: A protector cover will be installed over the recliner mechanism.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Antioch, TN Crash 1 injured

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

DRIVING AT 40 MPH WENT APPLY BRAKES TO STOP, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, NO BRAKES. PUMPED BRAKES. TRIED TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKES COULD NOT STOP, ENDED UP HITTING 2 TREES AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH BECAUSE OF DEFECT. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #819215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wellington, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND COMING TO A STOP DRIVER HEARD A CLICK AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE BELIEVED TO BE ELECTRICAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #812338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 12,000 miles Belleville, IL

POWER TRAIN

1ODI ID 825115, 2.ODI ID 542133, 3. ODI ID 721936, 4. ODI ID 829011, 5. ODI ID 829780

NHTSA complaint #10860811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,000 miles Belleville, IL

VISIBILITY/WIPER

1ODI ID 825115, 2.ODI ID 542133, 3. ODI ID 721936, 4. ODI ID 829011, 5. ODI ID 829780

NHTSA complaint #10860811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,000 miles Belleville, IL

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1ODI ID 825115, 2.ODI ID 542133, 3. ODI ID 721936, 4. ODI ID 829011, 5. ODI ID 829780

NHTSA complaint #10860811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 23,500 miles Sacramento, CA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V210000, REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 05/02/06.

NHTSA complaint #10154432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,000 miles Arlington Heights, IL

STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

THE RIGHT TAILGATE CABLE ON MY 1997 ISUZU HOMBRE XS PICKUP TRUCK BROKE. THE LEFT TAILGATE CABLE ON MY PICKUP TRUCK BROKE LAST YEAR. LUCKILY, IT DID NOT CAUSE INJURY. THIS MODEL WAS MADE BY CHEVROLET (IT''S SISTER MODEL IS THE CHEVY S-10). I UNDERSTAND THE FULL-SIZE PICKUPS BY CHEVROLET HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10062508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Leesburg, FL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

MY ISUZU WINDSHIELD WIPER RECALL. I HAVE GONE TO ISUZU MANY TIMES TO GET THESE WIPERS FIXED CAUSE THEY TURN OFF WHEN I HAVE THEM ON. THESE PEOPLE STATE THAT THEY DIDNT THINK THERE WERE A LOT OF CARS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED SO THEY DIDNT ORDER A LOT OF PARTS. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND IT STINKS THAT THE WIPERS DONT WORK HALF THE TIME. I WORK AT NIGHT SO IT GETS HARD TO SEE WHEN IT IS RAINING AND THE WIPERS ARE TURNING ON AND OFF. IT IS NOW FEBRUARY AND THEY STILL WONT HELP ME. THIS IS GETTING REDICULUS. IF THIS IS A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD THEN WHY ISNT IT FIXED YET?

NHTSA complaint #10058163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Dallas, GA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY, AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. RECALL 03V210000 WAS ISSUED FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10051808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lighthouse Point, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT FANS THAT SPLIT AND BREAK APART. THIS OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. FANS WERE BEING REPLACED EVERY 30,000 MILES TO 40,000 MILES. MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE RADIATOR, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE THE FANS OR THE FAN CLUTCH. *AK 1997 ISUZU HOMBRE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE FAN AND ENGINE FAN CLUTCH. WHEN CONSUMER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE FAN FELL OFF THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE FAN FELL OFF BECAUSE THE TENSION PULLEY BROKE. THE DEALER MADE THE CONSUMER PAY FOR A NEW ONE IN ADDITION TO THE PAYMENT FOR THE FAN THAT WAS PURCHASED AND INSTALLED THE DAY BEFORE. *MR

NHTSA complaint #10050005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL 03V210000 REPAIRS CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED. CONSUMER HAD CALLED SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE PARTS WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10034024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46,500 miles Dover, FL

VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ON RECALL. CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER WON'T HONOR RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. AFTER MANY PHONE CALLS, THE DEALER SENT SOMEONE TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND HAVE IT REPAIRED. RECALL# 03V210000 *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10031802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,895 miles Plymouth, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THROTTLE STUCK WHEN COMPONENT RIVETED TO THE THROTTLE PLATE BROKE AND LODGED ITSELF IN THE THROTTLE BODY. TRUCK WAS GOING AT 60 MPH. THROTTLE WAS STUCK AT THAT SPEED, DANGEROUS AS VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. HAD TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, TURN IGNITION OFF AND PULL TO SHOULDER/EXIT.

NHTSA complaint #10023236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Savannah, TN

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN WITHOUT ANY NOTICE AT ALL. HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND GET OUT IN THE RAIN AND TRAFFIC TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY THING I COULD DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. COULD NOT FIX THEM SO I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THEY WANTED TO WORK TO FINISH DRIVING TO WORK.. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN T H E Y WANT TO , THIS CAN BE VERY HAZARDOUS AT NIGHT OR DAY IN THE RAIN..I CHECKED ISUZU AND NO RECALLS AS OF 07-17-2003. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BY THE DEALERS IR COMPANY'S. *JB THANK YOU DAVID L. BAREFOOT

NHTSA complaint #10023263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Edmond, OK

VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL#03V210000 CONCERNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, DUE TO VIN. *AK *TS

NHTSA complaint #10024052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hampton, VA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE IN USE.

NHTSA complaint #10019900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Southern Time, NC

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WHILE DRIVING ANDWITH NO WARNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE DURING RAINY WEATHER. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #8018514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tampa, FL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL INTERMITTENTLY STOP WORKING WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #8012464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newark, DE

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #755350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Noble, OK

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED IN HEAVY RAINSTORM AND WORK ONLY WHEN THEY WANT TO.

NHTSA complaint #721936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

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

ON-GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM; WHENEVER BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WENT BACK AND FORTH WHILE TRYING TO PRESS DOWN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO TEMPORARILY LOSE BRAKING UNTIL THE PULSATION IN PEDAL STOPPED. ALSO NOTICE DA LOUD GRINDING SOUND WHEN THIS OCCURRED DEALER NOTIFED AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND.

NHTSA complaint #852156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

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

BRAKES HAVE FAILED AT SIX OTHER TIMES, THE LAST BEING 10/22/99. I HAD TO CROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO AVOID A COLLISION. ALL THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WANT TO DO IS TELL ME TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE OR THAT THEY CAN'T FIX IT WITHOUT IT HAPPENING TO THEM WITHOUT ADMITTING RESPONSIBILITY. THEY STATED, "TO TAKE THE BRAKES APART AND LOOK AT THEM WOULD BE AN ADMISSION OF QUILT".

NHTSA complaint #714013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fayetteville, AR

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WOULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP FOR NO REASON. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 8 DIFFERENT TIMES. HAD SOME THINGS REPLACED, BUT NOTHING FIXED THE PROBLEM WHICH RETURNED.

NHTSA complaint #825115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sugar Land, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, ENGINE INJESTED WATER THROUGH AIR INTAKE SYSTEM IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES TO CAUSE HYDRAULIC LOCK-UP OF THE PISTONS. THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AT APPROX 3-5 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. IT TRAVELLING THROUGH A PUDDLE OF APPROX 6"-12" IN DEPTH AND TURNING A CORNER. IT WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO FLOODING WATER AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT TO ISUZU (#98273035) AND TODATE HAVE NOT HAD ANYONE FROM ISUZU CONTACT ME TO COME TO REVIEW THE COMPLAINT NOR INVESTIGATE CAUSE OR EXPLAIN WHY OR HOW THIS CAN OCCUR. I HAVE RECEIVED TWO LETTERS FROM THEM CLAIMING NO FAULT, BUT EFFORT TO LOOK INTO PROBLEM WAS MADE.

NHTSA complaint #701939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Telford, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION VIBRATES CONTINUALLY.

NHTSA complaint #542133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Telford, PA

SUSPENSION

WHILE DRIVING/STOPPING/PULLING OFF AND GIVING THE VEHICLE SOME GAS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. WHEN GOING FASTER THE VIBRATION WILL GO AWAY UNTIL STOPPING AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN CAUSD BY A LAUNCH SHUTTER.

NHTSA complaint #829780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Telford, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL, VEHICLE WOULD CHATTER & VIBRATE. DEALER CANNOT LOCATE CAUSE OF VIBRATION. THIS CAN HAPPEN FROM A CALLED START.

NHTSA complaint #829011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.