Japan · NHTSA recalls & complaints
Isuzu VIN decoder
Isuzu Motors Limited is a Japanese maker of trucks and diesel engines. In the United States it used to sell pickups and SUVs as well, but it announced in late January 2008 that it would stop selling passenger vehicles and light trucks there about a year later, after General Motors stopped building the Ascender SUV and i-Series pickups that Isuzu sold. Isuzu continues to sell commercial trucks in the US, led by the N-Series (NPR, NPR-HD, NQR and NRR).
Enter all 17 characters to see the build details NHTSA holds and the recalls for that model year.
- 36 model pages
- 112 recall campaigns
- 3,588 owner complaints
- model years 1995–2027
- 17 WMI codes in vPIC
- origin: Japan
| Country of origin | Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Asia |
| NHTSA recall and complaint data | Yes, model years 1995–2027 |
| WMI codes in NHTSA vPIC | 17 |
| Model pages | 36 |
| Other model names in NHTSA data | 4 |
| Vehicle recall campaigns | 112 |
| Owner complaints | 3,588 |
| Complaints reporting a crash | 393 (11.0%) |
| Complaints reporting a fire | 47 (1.3%) |
| Complaints reporting an injury | 177 (4.9%) |
| Complaints reporting a death | 7 (0.2%) |
| Data updated | September 25, 2026 |
Isuzu's US history is tied to two partners. General Motors built its last light trucks: vPIC lists the WMIs 1GG and 4NU under General Motors LLC with the Isuzu make. Earlier, Isuzu and Subaru ran a joint venture in Lafayette, Indiana, incorporated in March 1987, which started production in September 1989 building the Subaru Legacy and the Isuzu Pickup and later built the Isuzu Rodeo. Today Isuzu is building a plant in Greenville County, South Carolina that is due to produce N-Series and F-Series trucks from 2027.
Every Isuzu from model year 1981 onward has a 17-character VIN, and NHTSA's recall records for older Isuzu SUVs and pickups remain searchable by model and year. For the partners, see Chevrolet, GMC and Subaru.
NHTSA’s files hold 112 vehicle recall campaigns and 3,588 owner complaints for Isuzu vehicles from model years 1995 to 2027, summarised here on 36 model pages. The Rodeo has the most complaints (2,239), followed by the Trooper (331) and the Ascender (205). Of those complaints, 393 report a crash, 47 a fire, 177 at least one injury and 7 at least one death; the figures count complaints, not people.
The World Manufacturer Identifier is the first three characters of the VIN. NHTSA’s vPIC database decodes 17 WMIs to Isuzu; this is the complete list, with the manufacturer name, country and vehicle type vPIC records for each.
| WMI | Manufacturer (vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type | Also decoded as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1GG | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Truck | – |
| 4GT | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Truck | – |
| 4KL | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 4NU | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 4S1 | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED, JAPAN | United States | Truck | – |
| 4S2 | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED, JAPAN | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 4S5 | ISUZU MANUFACTURING SERVICES OF AMERICA, INC. | United States | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 722 | ISUZU NORTH AMERICA CORPORATION | United States | Incomplete Vehicle | Chevrolet |
| J87 | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED, JAPAN | Canada | Passenger Car | – |
| J8C | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Truck | – |
Show the other 7 WMIsHide the rest
| WMI | Manufacturer (vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type | Also decoded as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J8T | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Truck | – |
| JAA | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED, JAPAN | Japan | Truck | – |
| JAB | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED, JAPAN | Japan | Passenger Car | – |
| JAC | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED, JAPAN | Japan | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| JAL | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED, JAPAN | Japan | Incomplete Vehicle | Chevrolet |
| JAM | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED, JAPAN | Japan | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| JR2 | HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD. | Japan | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
Some codes are shared across a manufacturer’s brands; the last column names the other brands in our catalog that vPIC links to the same code. See the WMI code guide for how the codes are assigned.
Each model page lists NHTSA’s recall campaigns and owner complaints for that model name, by model year and component. Models are sorted by complaints; the data covers model years 1995–2027.
| Model | Model years | Recall campaigns | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rodeo | 1995–2008 | 12 | 2,239 |
| Trooper | 1995–2002 | 7 | 331 |
| Ascender | 2003–2008 | 12 | 205 |
| Amigo | 1997–2002 | 5 | 160 |
| Axiom | 2001–2004 | 6 | 158 |
| Hombre | 1996–2000 | 8 | 122 |
| Rodeo Sport | 1998–2003 | 4 | 107 |
| VehiCross | 1998–2001 | – | 69 |
| NPR | 1995–2020 | 19 | 36 |
| Truck | 1995–2003 | – | 28 |
| Oasis | 1996–1999 | 4 | 25 |
| N-Series | 1998–2024 | 6 | 20 |
| i-290 | 2007–2008 | 1 | 14 |
| i-280 | 2006–2007 | 2 | 12 |
| Pickup Truck | 1995–1997 | 2 | 10 |
| FTR | 1998–2026 | 17 | 8 |
| NPR-HD | 2006–2027 | 17 | 8 |
| i-370 | 2007–2008 | 1 | 8 |
| NQR | 1999–2020 | 16 | 5 |
| i-350 | 2006 | 2 | 4 |
| NRR | 2006–2027 | 14 | 3 |
| FSR | 1997–2000 | 3 | 2 |
| NPR-XD | 2012–2027 | 11 | 1 |
| FRR | 2000–2004 | 1 | 1 |
| I-290/I-370 | 2007–2008 | 1 | 1 |
| FVR | 1999–2026 | 8 | – |
| F Series | 2006–2009 | 5 | – |
| Reach | 2012–2018 | 5 | – |
| H-Series | 2006–2007 | 4 | – |
| NRR EV | 2025–2026 | 3 | – |
Show 6 more Isuzu modelsHide the other models
– means NHTSA has no records of that kind under the model name.
Other Isuzu models in NHTSA data
NHTSA also lists these Isuzu model names, but with no recall campaign and fewer than 25 complaints each, so they have no page of their own: 1400, CV, Oasis (VO), Rodeo Sports.
Which WMI codes appear on Isuzu VINs?
Light-vehicle WMIs registered to Isuzu Motors Limited cover Japanese-built and US-built passenger cars, trucks and SUVs, while current N-Series trucks use JAL (Japan) or, from model year 2027, 722 (Isuzu North America Corporation).
| WMI | Manufacturer (NHTSA vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAA | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED, JAPAN | Japan | Truck |
| JAB | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED, JAPAN | Japan | Passenger car |
| JAC | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED, JAPAN | Japan | MPV |
| 4S1 | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED, JAPAN | United States | Truck |
| 4S2 | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED, JAPAN | United States | MPV |
| 1GG | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Truck |
| 4NU | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | MPV |
| JAL | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED, JAPAN | Japan | Incomplete vehicle |
| 722 | ISUZU NORTH AMERICA CORPORATION | United States | Incomplete vehicle |
How is an Isuzu N-Series truck VIN structured?
Isuzu's model-year 2027 VIN document for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and incomplete vehicles (NHTSA Manufacturer Information Database file ORG26116, January 2026) uses a layout that differs from light vehicles, with a model code in position 12 and a five-digit serial. Position 9 is the check digit and position 10 the model year:
| Position | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1-3 | WMI: JAL (Isuzu Motors, Japan), 54D (The Shyft Group, USA) or 722 (Isuzu North America) |
| 4 | GVWR class and brake system |
| 5 | Make and series; the same table covers Isuzu models and Chevrolet medium-duty and Low Cab Forward models |
| 6 | Line and cab type |
| 7 | Chassis type |
| 8 | Engine |
| 9 | Check digit |
| 10 | Model year |
| 11 | Plant: 7 = Fujisawa, Japan; S = Charlotte, Michigan (The Shyft Group); Piedmont, South Carolina added for 2027 |
| 12 | Model combination (model, engine and GVWR) |
| 13-17 | Sequential number |
When did Isuzu stop selling SUVs and pickups in the US?
Isuzu announced in late January 2008 that it would leave the US passenger-vehicle and light-truck market, with the exit taking effect about a year later. It kept selling commercial trucks, including the N-Series.
Why does my Isuzu pickup or SUV VIN start with a GM code?
Isuzu's last US light trucks were built by General Motors. NHTSA's vPIC lists the WMIs 1GG (truck) and 4NU (MPV) under General Motors LLC with the Isuzu make.
Can I check recalls on an older Isuzu?
Yes. NHTSA keeps recall records for Isuzu models, including SUVs and pickups from the 2000s, and our recall lookup shows campaigns for your model and model year. For one VIN's open-recall status, use NHTSA's VIN search.
Does an Isuzu VIN decode show a truck's service or title history?
No. It shows factory data such as GVWR class, series, cab, engine, model year and plant. Service, title and ownership records come from fleets, state agencies and licensed history providers, which this site does not connect to.
Brands mentioned in the notes above, then other Asian brands, each with its own VIN notes and WMI list.
- Chevrolet (172) United States · 751 recall campaigns
- GMC (102) United States · 434 recall campaigns
- Subaru (20) Japan · 147 recall campaigns
- Acura (22) Japan · 117 recall campaigns
- Genesis (12) South Korea · 34 recall campaigns
- Honda (127) Japan · 363 recall campaigns
Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files and NHTSA vPIC, updated September 25, 2026.