Isuzu is a Japanese carmaker founded in 1916. The cars themselves are another matter: across 13 VIN prefixes on record they came off lines in 2 countries — the United States 77.2%, Japan 22.8%. 27 models are tracked here (1981–2026). Reliable? yes, on balance — 4.0 out of 5 across 27 rated models, though the spread between model years is far wider than the badge suggests (every model ranked →).
Who makes Isuzu
Isuzu Motors Limited is a Japanese commercial vehicle and diesel engine manufacturer headquartered in Yokohama, Kanagawa. Founded in 1916 as the automobile division of Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., the company adopted the Isuzu name (after the Isuzu River in Mie Prefecture) in 1934. Isuzu is one of the world's largest manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and is the world's largest producer of diesel engines for commercial vehicles. Isuzu produces light-duty trucks (N-Series Elf, NPR), medium-duty trucks (F-Series Forward), heavy-duty trucks (Giga, Cabover Class 8) and commercial buses globally. The Isuzu D-Max pickup is sold in Asian, Australian, European and South American markets but not the United States. Isuzu's passenger-car division (Trooper, Rodeo, Axiom) exited the US market in 2008, and Isuzu has not sold passenger vehicles in the US since. Isuzu N-Series and F-Series commercial trucks remain available in the US through Isuzu Commercial Truck of America. Isuzu Motors trades on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under 7202 and as ISUZY in OTC US trading. Recall data for every Isuzu commercial truck VIN sold in the US is reported to NHTSA. ForCar.org decodes any Isuzu VIN (commercial trucks and historical passenger vehicles) to surface trim, factory options, open recalls and original delivery price.
Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding founded its automobile division in 1916 as a producer of the Wolseley A-9, a licensed British Wolseley sedan. The Isuzu name was adopted in 1934 after the Isuzu River, with the brand emerging primarily as a truck and bus manufacturer for the Imperial Japanese Army. Post-WWII, Isuzu became one of Japan's leading commercial-vehicle manufacturers, supplying diesel engines to General Motors (1971-2005 partnership) for the GM Duramax pickup engine and entering the US passenger market 1981-2008.
| Isuzu | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1916 |
| Founded by | Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan |
| Listed as | ISUZY |
| Slogan | «Capable. Reliable. Genuine.» |
| Models tracked here | 15 (1981–2026) |
| Assembled in | 2 countries |
Technology it is known for: Isuzu Connect telematics, Isuzu DURAMAX diesel engines (formerly OEM'd to GM), Idle Stop Start (Isuzu ISS), Six-speed AutoShift transmission, Forward Collision Warning (premium models).
This page covers Isuzu Motors Limited (the commercial-truck manufacturer) — not the Isuzu River in Japan (after which the brand was named) or any unrelated Isuzu trademarks.
Where Isuzu cars are actually built
A badge says where a company is registered, not where its cars were bolted together. The first three characters of any VIN — the world manufacturer identifier — say the second thing, and that is what we counted: 2,582 vehicles on record, 13 distinct manufacturer codes.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 4S2, 1GG, 4NU, 452 | 1991–2024 | |
| Japan | JAC, JAB, JAA, JAL | 1984–2020 |
Read your own: the first character is the region, the first three together identify the plant's manufacturer. A Isuzu beginning 4S2 was assembled in the United States.
All Isuzu models 27
Every Isuzu model we track, grouped by body type. Click any model for its VIN decoder, recalls, MPG, safety and ForCar Reliability Score — broken down by year.
Isuzu SUVs & crossovers 4
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isuzu Rodeo | 1989–2004 | 34 | 2,211 | 20 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Isuzu VehiCross | 1999–2002 | — | 67 | 15 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Isuzu Ascender | 2003–2008 | 21 | 99 | 16 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Isuzu Axiom | 2002–2004 | 9 | 156 | 18 mpg | 3.5/5 |
Isuzu Cars & sedans 3
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isuzu IMPULSE | 1981–1992 | 8 | 38 | 26 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Isuzu I-Mark | 1981–1989 | 8 | 15 | 35 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Isuzu Stylus | 1987–1992 | 3 | 32 | 30 mpg | 3.5/5 |
Isuzu Trucks 5
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isuzu Hombre | 1996–2000 | 9 | 122 | 23 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Isuzu i-290 | 2007–2008 | 2 | 15 | 20 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Isuzu i-370 | 2007–2008 | 3 | 9 | 18 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Isuzu i-280 | 2006–2006 | 2 | 11 | 21 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Isuzu i-350 | 2006–2006 | 2 | 4 | 17 mpg | 4.0/5 |
Isuzu Wagons 1
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isuzu Oasis | 1996–1999 | 10 | 25 | 21 mpg | 4.0/5 |
Isuzu More models 14
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isuzu NPR | 1987–2024 | 36 | 40 | — | 3.5/5 |
| Isuzu Trooper | 1984–2002 | 35 | 626 | 25 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Isuzu Amigo | 1989–1999 | 18 | 184 | 20 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Isuzu NPR-HD | 2000–2026 | 48 | 6 | — | 4.0/5 |
| Isuzu NRR | 1989–2026 | 22 | 1 | — | 3.5/5 |
| Isuzu FTR | 2017–2026 | 30 | 1 | — | 4.0/5 |
| Isuzu NQR | 1999–2026 | 12 | 2 | — | 4.5/5 |
| Isuzu REACH | 2016–2019 | 6 | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| Isuzu FVR | 2020–2026 | 15 | — | — | 4.0/5 |
| Isuzu FRR | 1995–2004 | 4 | 1 | — | 4.5/5 |
| Isuzu NPR-XD | 2016–2026 | 20 | 1 | — | 4.0/5 |
| Isuzu Trooper II | 1987–1991 | 9 | 13 | — | 3.5/5 |
| Isuzu FSR | 1989–1996 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| Isuzu H-Series | 2005–2008 | 5 | — | — | 4.5/5 |
Isuzu by the numbers
What the federal records say about the marque. Each line links to the full breakdown by model and year.
| Topic | Isuzu | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 371 campaigns | Most recalled: Equipment |
| Owner complaints | 3,575+ filed | Most reported: Rodeo |
| Fuel economy | 35 mpg best | Leader: I-Mark |
| Insurance | $1,411/yr typical | Cheapest: Ascender |
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Get a Isuzu window sticker by VIN
Recreate any Isuzu's original Monroney label — MSRP, factory options, EPA MPG and safety — free from the VIN.
Isuzu window stickers →How to read a Isuzu VIN
Every Isuzu built since 1981 carries a unique 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It encodes where and when the vehicle was made, its engine and body — here's what each part means:
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Isuzu and the country it was built in (real Isuzu codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled it.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- JapanJ81 · J8Z · JAA · JAB · JAC · JAE
- USA4S1 · 4S2 · 4S6
- CanadaJ87
The remaining digits — engine (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard. Run it through our free VIN lookup to turn those digits into a model year, an assembly plant and a country of origin.
Who owns Isuzu, and what you get
Isuzu is independent, Japanese-owned and publicly listed as ISUZY. Isuzu competes globally in light, medium and heavy commercial trucks against Hino (Toyota), Mitsubishi Fuso (Daimler), Hyundai Trucks and Renault/Volvo Trucks. The brand's positioning emphasizes reliability and total cost of ownership, with strong dealer networks in Asia, Australia and emerging markets. Isuzu's Diesel Center supports OEM engine sales globally. The 2008 US passenger-car exit reflected uncompetitive sales volumes; Isuzu has indicated no plans to return.
| Isuzu | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Ownership | Independent |
| Stock ticker | ISUZY |
| Basic warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
| Assembly countries | United States, Japan |
⚠ Worth knowing before you rely on it: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, while basic cover here runs 3 years / 36,000 miles. See when Isuzu models actually start to break →
Isuzu — frequently asked
Is Isuzu japanese?
Isuzu is a Japanese company, headquartered in Tokyo and founded in 1916. The cars are a separate question: 77.2% of the Isuzu vehicles in our records were assembled in the United States.
Where are Isuzu cars made?
Across 13 manufacturer codes on record, assembly splits as: the United States (77.2%), Japan (22.8%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the manufacturer and plant country — that is where these shares come from.
Who owns Isuzu?
Isuzu is independent, publicly traded as ISUZY.
How many Isuzu models are there?
We track 27 Isuzu models spanning 1981–2026. The full list is above, ordered by how often each is searched.
What is the Isuzu warranty?
New vehicles come with 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Terms vary by model year and market — confirm with a dealer.
Is Isuzu reliable?
It depends far more on the model and year than on the badge. Every Isuzu model is ranked by complaint rate here, along with the age at which each starts to fail.