1997 Isuzu Hombre Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Hombre years
- Fewer complaints than other years 3rd of 4 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Isuzu Hombre. That ranks 3rd out of 4 Hombre model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is visibility (12 complaints, 48%), typically at around 46,500 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 25owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Isuzu Hombre problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 12 | 48% | 46,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 12% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 12% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 8% | 12,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 8% | 95,895 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 4% | 12,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 4% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 4% | 12,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Isuzu Hombre recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Visibility:rear window wiper/washer:motor
Problem: 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.
Fix: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover. Owner notification began july 14, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the clearance between the oil pan and the brake line. If the clearance is 6mm or less, dealers will install an additional brake line clip and if there was contact between the oil pan and brake line, the front brake line will be replaced.
Seat belts
Problem: 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.
Fix: Dealers will install a protective cover over the recliner mechanism.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Driver's seat belt buckle assembly (RQ04002) — opened Feb 18, 2004, closed May 27, 2004.
- Windshield wiper failure (EA02006) — opened May 31, 2002, closed Jul 23, 2003, led to recall 03V159000.
- Seat belt webbing separation (EA97004) — opened Feb 28, 1997, closed Aug 5, 1997, led to recall 97V096001.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
1odi id 825115, 2.odi id 542133, 3. Odi id 721936, 4. Odi id 829011, 5. Odi id 829780
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. *jb
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…
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…
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…
Other Isuzu Hombre years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Hombre | 7 | 1 |
| 1998 Hombre | 53 | 1 |
| 1997 | 25 | 3 |
| 1996 Hombre | 37 | 4 |
See all Isuzu Hombre problems by year, every Isuzu model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Isuzu models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Isuzu Hombre?
Owners most often report visibility, engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, visibility, accounts for 12 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Isuzu Hombre?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Isuzu Hombre a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Hombre model years, the 1997 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.