Most common 1999 Isuzu Amigo problems
Share of the 70 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Isuzu Amigo complaints by model year
Best Amigo years: 2000. Years to avoid: 1998. Compare all years →
1999 Isuzu Amigo recalls (2)
Suspension › Rear
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,…
Remedy: 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.
Suspension › Rear
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear axle lower link joint nut and bolt.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1999 Isuzu Amigo:
Braking system/ABS
There is no summary currently available
What 1999 Isuzu Amigo owners say
Brakes
Dt: the contact stated the ABS activated at low speeds. While driving at 5 MPH on slippery roads the contact's vehicle rear ended another vehicle during emergency braking. The ABS activation resulted in extended stopping distance. There was structural damage to the front end of the vehicle. The ABS continued to activate at low speeds. On October 14, 2005 the contact received NHTSA recall campaign 02i002000. The parts needed to repair the vehicle were not available at the local dealership. The manufacturer confirmed the parts were not available.
Problems with brake equipment on 1999 Isuzu Amigo. The consumer stated as she applied the brakes to stop at a light, the brakes failed to respond, which caused the consumer to rear end the vehicle in front of her. The consumer complained in the past about a problem with the brakes.
Suspension
Contact was driving down a side road at 20mph when the contact heard a loud clunk and immediately lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle spun out of control and onto a curb where once stopped they were able to drive it into a parking lot but only in four wheel drive. Once inspected, it was determined that the rear part of the frame was so badly rusted that the rear driver side trailing arm and mount broke off the frame causing the rear axle to shift back in forth uncontrollably. When taken to a frame repair shop and state certified welder the frame and mounts were deemed beyond repairable and the vehicle completely unsafe to drive. Upon further inspection the rear frame was rusting out so bad that it was that it was no longer structurally sound. This is the same issue that Isuzu recalled the 98-2002 rodeos in which were stationed in the nations salt belt. …
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 had rusted off the vehicle. The contact was able to safely drive the vehicle home. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 172,000.
Body & structure
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 (which May be because very few Isuzu cars were sold in this state in fact the dealer told me at time of sale I had one of two of 1999 amigos in state rod rodden dealership 84 & f now a Kia dealership I called the customer service and spoke with a lady that told me there was nothing they could do because I missed the deadline (even thought I was not notified because I did not live in the listed states which included iowa and missouri but not nebraska although we use same materials for safety) she told me my vehicle was perfectly safe and when I asked if I could record that for future in if I am injured in a traffic accident because of this problem she hung up on me I then …
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Isuzu Amigo. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an unrelated repair when the technician advised that the center cross member and rear frame were completely rusted. In addition, the components also exhibited several cracks and holes. The mechanic recommended the vehicle be taken to a welder for repair. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
1999 Isuzu Amigo engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 18 / 22 / 20 |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 18 / 21 / 19 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 19 / 17 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 19 / 17 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 19 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Isuzu Amigo a good car?
Based on 70 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Amigo rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Amigo at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Isuzu Amigo?
The brakes — 19 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the suspension (17) and body & structure (15).
How many recalls does the 1999 Isuzu Amigo have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1999 Isuzu Amigo, the most recent from June 29, 2012 (rear). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Isuzu Amigo?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2000. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1998. See the full Isuzu Amigo years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Isuzu Amigo problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 107,000 miles; 13% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.