IllustrationCONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE STORE, CAME OUT OF THE STORE, AND TRIED TO START VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. HE CALLED A MECHANIC, LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED, ALONG WITH THE FUSE BOX. CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE.*AK
1998 Isuzu Amigo
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Amigo years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 17 of 78 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
4 reportsNUMEROUS DIFFICULTIES WITH THE ELECTRICAL COMBINATION SWITCHES FAILING.
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED, ALLOWING REAR BRAKES TO LOCK UP CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. MJS
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 DOE…
Read full complaint
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.
Official recalls
512V306000 · Suspension:rear
Jun 29, 2012
ISUZU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2000 AMIGO AND MODEL YEAR 2001-2002 RODEO SPORT VEHICLES, THAT WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED, IN THE STATES OF MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WEST VIRGINIA, OHIO, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, IOWA, MISSOURI, AND KENTUCKY. THESE VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CORROSION IN THE VICINITY OF THE FORWARD MOUNTING POINT BRACKET FOR THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: EXCESSIVE CORROSION MAY RESULT IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE FRAME, WHICH CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET AREA. FOR VEHICLES IN WHICH LITTLE OR NO CORROSION IS FOUND, THE AREA WILL BE TREATED WITH AN ANTI-CORROSIVE COMPOUND. FOR VEHICLES IN WHICH CORROSION HAS DAMAGED THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET AND AFFECTED ITS CONNECTION TO THE VEHICLE FRAME, A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET WILL BE INSTALLED. IN THE RARE EVENT THE CORROSION IS SO SEVERE THAT THE REINFORCEMENT BRACKET REMEDY WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE, ISUZU WILL OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE FOR AN AMOUNT BASED ON THE KELLEY BLUE BOOK PRIVATE PARTY PRICE. ALL INSPECTIONS AND REMEDIES WILL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE 10 YEARS OLD OR LESS. FOR VEHICLES OLDER THAN 10 YEARS, ISUZU WILL OFFER A FREE REMEDY, BUT ONLY IF THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTED TO AN ISUZU SERVICE FACILITY DEALER WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF WHEN OWNER NOTIFICATIONS WERE ISSUED. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING JULY 2012. ISUZU OWNERS MAY CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.
00V058000 · Suspension:rear
Mar 2, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. PAINT WAS APPLIED UNEVENLY ON THE REAR AXLES, RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT PAINT HARDNESS. SHOULD THIS OCCUR ON THE SURFACE THAT CONTACTS THE REAR AXLE LOWER LINK BRACKET BOLT HEAD AND/OR NUT, THE NUT MAY LOOSEN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BOLT COULD DETACH FULLY, CAUSING SEPARATION OF THE LOWER LINK FROM THE REAR AXLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR AXLE LOWER LINK JOINT NUT AND BOLT.
98V260000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly
Oct 20, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A SUNROOF SUNSHADE. THE PRIMER APPLIED TO PREPARE THE SURFACE PRIOR TO BONDING THE SUNSHADE HOLDERS TO THE SUNROOF WEAKENED THE BONDING STRENGTH OF THE ADHESIVE, RESULTING IN AN UNSATISFACTORY BOND OF THE HOLDER TO THE SUNROOF.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE HOLDER, CAUSING THE SUNSHADE TO FALL, POSSIBLY STRIKING A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE ALL FOUR SUNSHADE HOLDERS AND RE-BOND THEM TO THE SUNROOF GLASS.
98V170000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood
Jul 24, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. A GROUND CONNECTION TERMINAL WAS NOT PROPERLY CRIMPED IN THE SUPPLIER'S ENGINE WIRING HARNESS MANUFACTURING LINE. THIS IMPROPER CRIMPING PROCESS CAN LEAVE AN IMPRESSION ON THE TERMINAL THAT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A STRESS FRACTURE. S
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A TERMINAL IS FRACTURED, THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) CAN RECEIVE AN ERRONEOUS SIGNAL INDICATING A HIGH VEHICLE SPEED, THEREBY CAUSING THE PCM TO CUT THE FUEL, CAUSING A 'NO-START' CONDITION, OR A POSSIBLE ENGINE STALL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE VEHICLES.
98V111000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
May 26, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE STRENGTH OF THE REAR SEAT BELT SHOULDER ANCHORAGE IS NOT TO DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS AND DOES NOT FULLY COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE REAR SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW RIGHT AND LEFT REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA99008 · Braking System/abs
Opened Mar 31, 1999 · Closed Jul 31, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE98046 · Sunshade Retainer Failure
Opened Aug 19, 1998 · Closed Oct 28, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
CONSUMERS ALLEGE THE INTERIOR SUNSHADE FOR THE SUNROOF DROPPED ONTO THEM WHILE DRIVING THEIR VEHICLE