The Isuzu i-280 spans 2006–2006 with 2 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.0/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2006 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2006. It delivers competitive fuel economy and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Isuzu i-280 is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2006 to 2006 across multiple generations.
Decode or check a Isuzu i-280 by VIN
Enter a 17-digit VIN to decode this Isuzu i-280 — trim, engine, plant and full specs — and instantly pull its open recalls, safety ratings and original window sticker.
How to read a Isuzu i-280 VIN — every digit explained
Every Isuzu i-280 carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. 4T1 = Toyota, built in the USA.
- VDS (4–8) — model line, body style, engine & restraint system.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built. H = 2017.
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this i-280.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
Model-year code (10th digit)
The 10th character is the model year. It cycles through letters and numbers, skipping I, O, Q, U, Z and 0 to avoid confusion:
Where to find your i-280 VIN
- Dashboard — driver's side, visible through the windshield from outside.
- Driver's door jamb — on the manufacturer sticker when you open the door.
- Paperwork — vehicle registration, title and insurance card.
- Engine bay & frame — stamped on the firewall or chassis on many models.
How many recalls does the Isuzu i-280 have?
The Isuzu i-280 has 2 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2006–2006. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2006 Isuzu i-280 recalls 2
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
What's wrong. Gm is recalling 185,903 model year 2004-2009 colorado, gmc model year 2009-2004 canyon, model year 2006 i-280, i-350, model year 2007-2008 i-290, and i-370, passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of alabama, arizona, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, nevada, new mexico, puerto rico, south carolina, texas, u.s. Virgin islands and utah. Some of these vehicles have a brake lamp switch that may not work as designed due to contamination in the switch.
Risk. This condition could cause the simultaneous loss of all brake lamps or cause all of the brake lamps to stay on continuously. Both of these conditions could fail to warn others of the driver's intentions and could lead to a vehicle crash.
Fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the necessary components as specified in the recall bulletin free of charge. Gm anticipates that parts will be available by june 2010. A special coverage for vehicles registered in all other states will be implemented in the same time frame. In the interim, owners who experience the failure can obtain a free repair, however they will be required to return when the new design part becomes available. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, isuzu at 1-800-255-6727 or at www.gmownercenter.com.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
What's wrong. Certain pickup trucks may experience the permanent loss of brake lamp function or brake lamps that are illuminated at all times. The center high-mounted stop lamp (chmsl) is affected in both instances. Also, if equipped, the cruise control will become inoperative. Any trailer brake lamps which are connected to the vehicle's brake lamp wiring will mimic the vehicle's brake lamps when either condition occurs.
Risk. A following driver may not know when the brakes have been applied, and a rear-end crash could occur without prior warning.
Fix. Dealers will replace the brake lamp switch assembly. The recall began on december 5, 2006. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; gmc at 1-866-996-9463 or isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.
Best and worst years for the Isuzu i-280
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 1 tracked years, the worst years are 2006 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2006.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 i-280 | 11 | Exterior Lighting | Avoid |
What are the most common Isuzu i-280 problems?
The most-reported Isuzu i-280 problems are Tires (1 reports), Air Bags (1 reports) and Hydraulic (1 reports) — out of 11 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Exterior Lighting 4 Read
Couple of wks. Ago i had to replace front left hub wheel assembly which affected drive shaft, abs, emer. Brake. That was fixed . Now tonight driving from a friends i hear a clicking noise sounds like underneath gear box or behind heater what is it. Also interior lights turn control & have to hit around light for it to turn on, and around facing of heater to illuminate heater controls! What's going on? This only happened in gear not in neutral.highway & city.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 isuzu i-280. The contact stated that the brake lights failed without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 196,000. The vin was not available.
Complete loss of brake lights / cruise control / keeps blowing fuses. Learned of recall id # 52989 dated 7/29/2009 - so i took vehicle to dealer ( courtesy gmc - 205.836.2000 ) their service manager sent me away - said truck had recall #06030 performed on 11/27/2006. I had a trusted mechanic i know check brake light switch ( which checked out ok ) replaced it anyway with new one purchased at dealer. Brake lights worked 5 minutes then blew fuse again. My mechanic told me that the brake light switch wiring from previous recall was a bad job - not done by a pro.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 isuzu i280. While driving approximately 25 mph, the abs warning indicator illuminated and a message displayed faulty brakes on the instrument panel. In addition, the brakes would make a grinding noise when depressed. There was a recall related to the defect under nhtsa campaign id number 06v139000 (exterior lighting: brake lights: switch); however, the vin was not included in the recall defect. The contact was in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure mileage was unavailable.
Electrical System 4 Read
Drivers side air bag warning light has turned on and remains on permanently. Questionable if airbags will deploy. No accidents in vehicle or any other incident that might in some way lead to damage to air bags, electrical system, seat belt connections, etc. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 isuzu i-280. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the security pass lock warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. After waiting ten minutes, the engine resumed normally. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnosis however, the diagnostic computer was unable to generate a failure code. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 isuzu i280. The contact stated that the anti theft lock device would not allow the contact to start the vehicle. The contact had to wait over 20 minutes for the engine to operate, which caused the interior lights to dim. The dealer was notified of the issue who offered no assistance. The manufacturer was also notified who advised the contact that the vehicle was outside of warranty and provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 49,600 and the current mileage was 54,000. Updated 8/8/12 *cn the consumer stated in read in the owners manual, where the passlock anti-theft device could cut off the fuel and not allow the engine to start, as something was tripping it. After a month of constant problems, he discovered his wife's car key to her new vehicle that he was carrying in his pocket was tripping it. He stated he stopped carrying the key and noticed the problem lessened.
Complete loss of brake lights / cruise control / keeps blowing fuses. Learned of recall id # 52989 dated 7/29/2009 - so i took vehicle to dealer ( courtesy gmc - 205.836.2000 ) their service manager sent me away - said truck had recall #06030 performed on 11/27/2006. I had a trusted mechanic i know check brake light switch ( which checked out ok ) replaced it anyway with new one purchased at dealer. Brake lights worked 5 minutes then blew fuse again. My mechanic told me that the brake light switch wiring from previous recall was a bad job - not done by a pro.
Fuel/propulsion System 1 Read
Strong odor of gasoline coming from truck. Leak appears to be coming from the top of the tank. There are many complaints of the same issue with the chevy colorado pickups and a few of the same issue with the isuzu i280. I did replace the gas cap, but that did not solve the problem. My next step will be removing the tank and repairing the faulty part (leaking gasoline). With all the online complaints of the same issue, i would think that there should've been a recall issued. I did contact isuzu, but they report no such recall. I then contacted chevy to see if they had a recall on the colorado (same truck, different badge) but they wouldn't tell me if there was a recall for that problem. Chevy informed me that they can only trace recalls through a vin number and despite the fact that my i280 is a gm product, their list of recalls couldn't be searched using my vin number. The gasoline odor is quite strong, but will dissipate when the vehicle is left sitting (not running) for a couple of days. The odor can still be detected after several days of not using the vehicle - it's just faint. I believe this issue is quite dangerous and possibly due to either faulty parts or a faulty design. The fact that there are numerous complaints, regarding the exact same issue, suggests that the problem is widespread and due to a faulty part or design.
Air Bags 1 Read
Drivers side air bag warning light has turned on and remains on permanently. Questionable if airbags will deploy. No accidents in vehicle or any other incident that might in some way lead to damage to air bags, electrical system, seat belt connections, etc. *tr
Seat Belts 1 Read
Drivers side air bag warning light has turned on and remains on permanently. Questionable if airbags will deploy. No accidents in vehicle or any other incident that might in some way lead to damage to air bags, electrical system, seat belt connections, etc. *tr
Service Brakes 1 Read
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 isuzu i280. While driving approximately 25 mph, the abs warning indicator illuminated and a message displayed faulty brakes on the instrument panel. In addition, the brakes would make a grinding noise when depressed. There was a recall related to the defect under nhtsa campaign id number 06v139000 (exterior lighting: brake lights: switch); however, the vin was not included in the recall defect. The contact was in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure mileage was unavailable.
Hydraulic 1 Read
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 isuzu i280. While driving approximately 25 mph, the abs warning indicator illuminated and a message displayed faulty brakes on the instrument panel. In addition, the brakes would make a grinding noise when depressed. There was a recall related to the defect under nhtsa campaign id number 06v139000 (exterior lighting: brake lights: switch); however, the vin was not included in the recall defect. The contact was in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure mileage was unavailable.
Engine And Engine Cooling 1 Read
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 isuzu i-280. While driving 25 mph, the vehicle shut off in the middle of traffic. After a few minutes, the engine restarted. In addition, the vehicle idled roughly. The contact took vehicle to auto zone for diagnostic testing and was informed that the exhaust crankshaft position caused the engine to shut off while driving. The dealer advised the contact to replace the engine because it was faulty. The contact feels that the manufacturer should pay for the repair. The current mileage was 114,000 and failure mileage was 80,000.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Isuzu i-280 specifications & dimensions
The 2006 Isuzu i-280. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN.
| Specs cache warming… |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Isuzu i-280 cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the i-280 holds — passengers and cargo. Seating, cargo and interior dimensions vary by trim and seat configuration — decode your VIN for the exact build.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Isuzu i-280 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Isuzu i-280 get?
MPG cache warming… reload in a moment.
What engines does the Isuzu i-280 have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
How much does a Isuzu i-280 cost to own?
A Isuzu i-280 depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | — | — |
| Year 2 | 70% | — | — |
| Year 3 | 61% | — | — |
| Year 4 | 53% | — | — |
| Year 5 | 46% | — | — |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this i-280 loses about 54% of its value over five years.
- Fuel — based on EPA economy at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the i-280 ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Isuzu i-280 safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the i-280 yet.
How many miles does a Isuzu i-280 last?
A well-maintained Isuzu i-280 typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.0/5.
Decode your Isuzu i-280’s window sticker & build
Original options, specs, recalls and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Decode VIN →All Isuzu i-280 model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Isuzu i-280 — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 i-280 | 2 recalls | — | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the i-280?
By owner-complaint volume, 2006 drew the most reports. 2006 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the i-280 have?
2 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2006–2006. Always check open recalls by your VIN.
How many miles does a i-280 last?
A well-maintained i-280 typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the i-280 reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the i-280 is 4.0/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Isuzu i-280 warranty?
New Isuzu models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Isuzu dealer.
Where is the Isuzu i-280 made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your i-280's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Isuzu may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the i-280 have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.