The Isuzu Amigo has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns on record covering 1989–1999. On average a defect was admitted 4.08 years after the car was built, the slowest took 14 years. The most recalled system is Seat Belts (3 campaigns). Owners also filed 119 complaints on this model — see what breaks.
What was recalled on the Isuzu Amigo
Grouped by system. Open any row for the campaigns themselves — what failed, what it risks and how the dealer fixes it, straight from the NHTSA filing.
Seat Belts 3 Read
What's wrong. 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."
Risk. The rear seat belts would not provide adequate protection in the event of a vehicle crash
Fix. Dealers will install new right and left rear seat belt anchor bolts
What's wrong. On certain sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks, the latch plate used in the seat belt buckle was not manufactured according to design dimensions. If the seat belt tongue is inserted slowly at an angle into the buckle, there is a possibility of partial engagement
Risk. This condition can cause the seat belt tongue to come out of the buckle in the event of a collision or hard braking of the vehicle increasing the risk of personal injury to an occupant of the seat
Fix. Dealers will inspect the buckle and, if necessary, replace the buckle assembly with a new buckle. Owner notification is expected to begin during mid-december 2002. 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…
What's wrong. The latch plate used in the seat belt buckle was not manufactured according to design dimensions. If the seat belt tongue is inserted slowly at an angle into the buckle, there is a possibility of partial engagement
Risk. This condition can cause the seat belt tongue to come out of the buckle in the event of a collision or hard braking of the vehicle increasing the risk of personal injury to an occupant of the seat
Fix. Dealers will inspect the buckle and, if necessary, replace the buckle assembly with a new buckle
Suspension 2 Read
What's wrong. 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
Risk. The bolt could detach fully, causing separation of the lower link from the rear axle, increasing the risk of loss of vehicle control
Fix. Dealers will replace the rear axle lower link joint nut and bolt
What's wrong. 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
Risk. 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
Fix. 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…
What's wrong. 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
Risk. The bolt could detach fully, causing separation of the lower link from the rear axle, increasing the risk of loss of vehicle control
Fix. Dealers will replace the rear axle lower link joint nut and bolt
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1 Read
What's wrong. On certain sport utility vehicles that are equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), the vehicles can experience extended stopping distances in certain types of braking events
Risk. Extended stopping distance could result, increasing the risk of a crash
Fix. Dealers will provide a replacement computer algorithm for the ABS that is based on the algorithm used in isuzu's my 2000 and 2001 vehicles, which have not had the problem. This campaign will be conducted in phases, with the my 1998 2wd vehicles covered first, since they have experienced the most problems. Owner…
What's wrong. On certain sport utility vehicles that are equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), the vehicles can experience extended stopping distances in certain types of braking events
Risk. Extended stopping distance could result, increasing the risk of a crash
Fix. Dealers will provide a replacement computer algorithm for the ABS that is based on the algorithm used in isuzu's my 2000 and 2001 vehicles, which have not had the problem. This campaign will be conducted in phases, with the my 1998 2wd vehicles covered first, since they have experienced the most problems. Owner…
Engine And Engine Cooling 1 Read
What's wrong. This is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. Vehicle description: 1998-2000 rodeo (ue) and amigo (ua) models equipped with 2.2l 4-cylinder engines. The timing belt could break before the recommended scheduled maintenance
Risk. This condition could cause the engine to crank but will not start or the engine could stall while driving and will not restart
Fix. Dealer will inspect the vehicle to determine the condition of the timing belt and tensioner. The dealer will replace the timing belt. Depending on the condition or model of the timing belt tensioner, the tensioner may also be replaced. Isuzu has decided to conduct a service campaign to replace the timing belt. Owner…
What's wrong. This is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. Vehicle description: 1998-2000 rodeo (ue) and amigo (ua) models equipped with 2.2l 4-cylinder engines. The timing belt could break before the recommended scheduled maintenance
Risk. This condition could cause the engine to crank but will not start or the engine could stall while driving and will not restart
Fix. Dealer will inspect the vehicle to determine the condition of the timing belt and tensioner. The dealer will replace the timing belt. Depending on the condition or model of the timing belt tensioner, the tensioner may also be replaced. Isuzu has decided to conduct a service campaign to replace the timing belt. Owner…
Electrical System 1 Read
What's wrong. 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
Risk. 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
Fix. Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these vehicles
Visibility 1 Read
What's wrong. 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
Risk. This condition can result in separation of the holder, causing the sunshade to fall, possibly striking a vehicle occupant
Fix. Dealers will remove all four sunshade holders and re-bond them to the sunroof glass
Trailer Hitches 1 Read
What's wrong. The weld on the receiver unit of the trailer hitch can break
Risk. If the failure occurs, the trailer can separate from thetowing vehicle, and could result in a vehicle crash without warning
Fix. Replace the trailer hitch
What's wrong. The weld on the receiver unit of the trailer hitch can break
Risk. If the failure occurs, the trailer can separate from thetowing vehicle, and could result in a vehicle crash without warning
Fix. Replace the trailer hitch
What's wrong. The weld on the receiver unit of the trailer hitch can break
Risk. If the failure occurs, the trailer can separate from thetowing vehicle, and could result in a vehicle crash without warning
Fix. Replace the trailer hitch
How long a defect stays unadmitted
Campaign numbers encode the year of the announcement, so each recall on this model can be dated against the car it applies to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average gap before admission | 4.08 years |
| Slowest campaign | 14 years |
| Admitted 5+ years later | 25% |
| Campaigns on record | 10 |
Which Amigo years were recalled most
Campaigns per model year. A year with more campaigns is not automatically worse — it may simply have sold in far greater numbers.
| Model year | Campaigns | Most recalled system |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Suspension | |
| 1998 | Suspension | |
| 1994 | Seat Belts | |
| 1991 | Trailer Hitches | |
| 1990 | Trailer Hitches | |
| 1989 | Trailer Hitches |
Check your own car
A campaign applies to a range of production, not to every car of the model. The only way to know whether yours is affected — and whether the repair was already done — is by VIN.
| Step | What you get |
|---|---|
| Enter the VIN above | Open campaigns for that exact vehicle, straight from NHTSA |
| Check the repair status | Whether the free fix has already been carried out on this car |
| Book at any franchised dealer | Recall work is free regardless of age, mileage or owner |
Go deeper
A campaign covers a production range. Yours is one car.
- Check whether this exact VIN is affected — and whether the fix was done
- Alerts if a new campaign lands on a car in your garage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Isuzu Amigo have?
10 NHTSA campaigns on record, covering 1989–1999. Not every campaign applies to every car — coverage is by production range, so check your VIN.
Is recall work free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer regardless of the car's age, mileage or how many owners it has had. That is a federal requirement, not a courtesy.
How do I know if my Amigo still has an open recall?
Enter its VIN above. We show campaigns that apply to that exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been recorded as done.
Why did a defect take years to be recalled?
On this model the average gap between the car being built and the defect being admitted is 4.08 years, and the slowest campaign came 14 years later. Defects usually surface as they accumulate in the field: complaints pile up, an investigation opens, and only then is a campaign issued.