Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 70 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Isuzu Amigo, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 17 | 24% |
| Suspension | 12 | 17% |
| Structure | 11 | 16% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 7% |
| Suspension | 4 | 6% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 4% |
| Power train | 3 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 3% |
| Tires | 2 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ISUZU AMIGO. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THE SUSPENSION ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ISUZU AMIGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED AND BEGAN TO DETERIORATE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V306000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE DEALER COULD NOT C
NHTSA complaint: Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ISUZU AMIGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY UNSTABLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR SWAY BARS SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint: Structure
FOUND OUT MY VEHICLE HAS REAR FRAME CORROSION AND TRACK BAR MOUNT ALMOST GONE FROM RUST. WAS NOTICED WHEN HAVING TIRES CHANGED. SAW RECALL AND READ CUSTOMER LETTER ONLINE (NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF RECALL). CALLED ISUZU
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
WHILE ON THE INTERNET I WAS SEARCHING FOR A DEALER FOR MY ABOVE LISTED CAR AND DISCOVERED A RECALL DATED LAST YEAR FOR STATES WITH USE OF CORROSIVE MATERIAL IN WINTER WHICH INCLUDES NEBRASKA BUT NOT LISTED ON RECALL (WHI
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
1999 ISUZU AMIGO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET CORROSION RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT RECALL # 12V306000 BE INVESTIGATED AND EXTENDED. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
GENERAL MAINTENANCE UPDATE. THE ISUZU DEALER HAS APPLIED AN ANTI-RUST SOLVENT TO LOWER STABILIZER ARM BRACKETS ACCORDING TO DIRECTIONS IN THE RECALL REMEMEDY REQUIREMENT. HOWEVER, THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE CAR FRAME I
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
HELLO I AM THE OWNER OF A ISUZU AMIGO I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE UNTIL AFTER I BOUGHT IT. 10-7-2012 I BROUGHT IT TO MY PERSONAL MECHANIC WHEN I FOUND THE DAMAGE ON 10-24-12. AFTER THAT, I FOUND O
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1999 Isuzu Amigo. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 CONDU
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.
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
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
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, MARYLAN
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 WHI
| Reliability raw | 83 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 86 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 52 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 70 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 17 of them (24%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.