IsuzuN-Series1998Overview/isuzu/n-series/1998/base/

1998 Isuzu N-Series

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 N-Series.

The 1998 Isuzu N‑Series Overview records six total owner complaints, with visibility noted as the leading issue and no recalls issued. Complaint data collected from 2001 through 2024 shows a single complaint in both the peak and trough years, occurring in 2010. This pattern places the 1998 model year within a broader reliability trend where reported issues remain minimal across the two‑decade span. As a result, the vehicle sits toward the lower end of the complaint spectrum for the N‑Series lineup.

Model year200820072006200520042003200220011998

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal safety record for the 1998 Isuzu N‑Series begins with the 2001 model year, showing zero complaints and a single recall that year. From 2001 through 2005 the complaint and recall counts remain at zero and one respectively, after which both metrics climb steadily, reaching 106 total safety bulletins by 2012. The 1998 model therefore predates the period of increasing reports observed from 2001 onward. Its only documented federal issues for the target year are a single crash‑related complaint and no fire complaints, far fewer than the multi‑digit totals seen in later years. Consequently, the 1998 N‑Series appears to have the lowest documented federal exposure of the generation and can be considered a relatively prudent used‑vehicle choice, provided a thorough mechanical inspection is performed.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
10
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
6
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 6 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Visibility3
Air Bags1
Engine & Engine Cooling1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 10 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
WB11-X-001A2023-10-18Engine And Engine CoolingThe following information is provided to clearly explain Isuzu’s policy for control…
IB13-R-001G2023-05-08Unknown Or OtherThis bulletin outlines the procedures for using the Alpine Exchange Program (the…
WB13-X-001B2022-08-30EquipmentIsuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural…
WB13-X-001A2022-08-02EquipmentIsuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural…
IB09-X-002B2022-07-20EquipmentThe following is a list of the Isuzu-recommended Threebond product part numbers…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

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VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific N-Series. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 1998 N-Series have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.