1999 Isuzu Trooper

Routine

Owners filed 81 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. No safety recall has been issued.

Not among the Isuzu Trooper years to avoid. Which Isuzu Trooper years to avoid →

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
71,500 milesMedian miles at failure

45 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,000–75,000 miles.

Most common 1999 Isuzu Trooper problems

57 of the 81 complaints (70%) are about the engine.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine · engine28
100
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline · engine16
000
Engine and Engine Cooling · engine10
010
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration5
103
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission2
100
Engine2
000
Electrical System2
000
Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs1
000
Visibility › Windshield1
000
Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed May 10, 201973,000 milesCA

75000 MILES. BURNS A QUART OF OIL EVERY FEW HUNDRED MILES. NO OIL LIGHT COMES UP. I RAN IT ALMOST OUT OF OIL IN 06/2018

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Oct 3, 2016152,500 milesID

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO SURGE AS IF IT WAS STUCK IN HIGH GEAR. THE GAS PEDDLE SEEMED TO BE STUCK AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO GO FASTER AND FASTER. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE TIRES SCREECHED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN MOTION FORWARD. I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP THE AUTO.

Engine
Filed Mar 21, 2016160,500 milesAZ

LAST 3 WEEKS - INITIALLY SEEMED LIKE POWER LOSS/SURGE, THEN HEARD UNUSUAL SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT 1 WEEK AGO, ENGINE STARTED TO DIE WHILE OPERATING ON CITY/RESIDENTIAL STREETS WHENEVER NOT PUSHING GAS (SLOWING TO TURN OR STOP) FRIDAY, WOULD NOT EVEN HOLD IDLE TO START, PUSHED GAS AND HELD RPM'S AT 1 - 1.5 FOR A WHILE AND FINALLY STARTED. TODAY, INITIALLY WOULD NOT START. NEXT TIME STARTED RPM'S AT OVER 2, DROPPED WHEN SHIFTED TO REVERSE, WHEN SHIFTED TO DRIVE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT USE OF GAS PEDAL UP TO STEADY 35 MPH ON CITY STREET. AFTER 1 MILE, AT NEXT INTERSECTION STARTED MAKING THAT STRANGE NOISE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT (LIKE AIR OR FLUID UNDER PRESSURE IE AIR COMPRESSOR/HIGH PRESSURE WATER SOUND) WHILE PRESSING BRAKE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL RPM'S REVVED TO 2.5, IN DRIVE AND REVERSE DROPPED TO 1.5, IN PARK REVVED TO 2.5, AFTER TURN AUTOMOBILE ACCELERATED TO STEADY 40 MPH ON CITY STREET WITHOUT GAS BEING PUSHED AT NEXT STOP (1 MILE) RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE AND OPERATION. HAS PROBLEM BOTH WHEN COLD AND HOT WEATHER AND COLD OR HOT START. IT HAS NOT PRODUCED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY CODES

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 13, 2016164,538 milesMD

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME HARD TO PRESS THEN ENGAGED AND UNABLE TO CONTROL SPEED. ALL THE WHILE FRANTICLY APPLYING THE BRAKE TRYING TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR, I HAD TO FORCE THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR [PARK] WHERE THE VEHICLE THEN REVVED INTO THE RED ZONE BEFORE PUTTING OFF. I THEN TRIED RESTARTING THE VEHICLE UP AND AGAIN THE ACCELERATOR REMAINED ENGAGED [STUCK] AND WOULD NOT RELEASE.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 13, 2016164,538 milesMD

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME HARD TO PRESS THEN ENGAGED AND UNABLE TO CONTROL SPEED]. ALL THE WHILE FRANTICLY APPLYING THE BRAKE AN TRYING TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR, I HAD TO FORCE THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR [PARK] WHERE THE VEHICLE THEN REVVED INTO THE RED ZONE BEFORE CUTTING OFF. I THEN TRIED RESTARTING THE VEHICLE UP AND AGAIN THE ACCELERATOR REMAINED ENGAGED [STUCK] AND WOULD NOT RELEASE.

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 24, 2012139,224 milesMD

I WAS TRAVELING ON HILLEN ROAD AND E. 33RD ST IN BALTIMORE, MD. THE WEATHER WAS LIGHT RAINING AND MISTY. AS I APPROACHED 33RD AND THE ALAMEDA I ENGAGED MY BRAKES, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AT FIRST AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD AND HAD FLAT TIRES. I TIRED TO DRIFT OUT OF THE INTERSECTION INTO A SAFE LOCATION AND PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON. MY GRANDSON GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND CHECKED FOR ANY VISUAL DAMAGES. THERE WERE NONE. AS I TRIED TO DRIVE OUT OF THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC THE NOISE WAS HORRIFIC AND AS IF ALL COMPONENTS OF MY BRAKES WERE RATTLING WITHIN THE WHEELS. I PULLED ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED FOR A TOW. AFTER INSPECTION AT THE REPAIR SHOP I WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS RING HAD SHATTERED INSIDE THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY. WHEN I WENT TO THE SHOP, THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE ABS RING, SHATTERED INTO MANY SMALL PIECES. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE AND AVOID WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 23, 201050,000 milesKS

99 ISUZU TROOPER 3.5 ENGINE BURNS OIL EXCESSIVELY. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER AND REGULARLY SERVICED PER OWNERS MANUAL. AT 50K MILES, ENGINE OIL LIGHT TURNED ON 2,500 MILES AFTER OIL CHANGE AND WAS OVER 4 QTS LOW. ENGINE NOW AT 60K MI AND BURNING APPROX. 1 QT PER 600-700 MILES. SEEMS TO BE COMMON ENGINE DEFECT KNOWN BY MECHANICS AND OWNERS, BUT ISUZU UNWILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM. THOUGH MONITORING CONSTANTLY, I AM JUST WAITING FOR SIGNIFICANT ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

Suspension › Front
Filed Sep 4, 2009CA

HI, THIS IS THE SECOND USED CAR I BOUGH FROM INFINITY AUTOS, THE FIRST ONE WAS A 97 DODGE CARAVAN, IT HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING I PAID $300.00 TO FIX SOMETHING IN THE MOTOR OMAR FROM THIS DEALERSHIP NEVER TOOK CARE OF THIS FOR LIKE HE SAID SO I PAID OFF THE VAN I NEED A NEWER BETTER CAR SO I TRADED THIS CAR IN FOR A ISUZU 1999, I USED THE VAN AS A DOWN PAYMENT +I GAVE HIM $300.00 DOLLARS, I TOLD HIM THAN MARCH, 2009 THIS CAR BETTER BE IN BETTER CONDITION AGAIN HE SAID NO PROBLEM, THERE WERE THINGS ON THIS CAR THAT NEEDED TO REPLACED, LIKE PANEL IN THE BACK OF THE CAR NO SPARE TIRE, PARTS OF THE CAR INSIDE WERE MISSING NO RADIO, I BOUGHT ONE ALL THESE THINGS HE SAID JUST LIKE MY VAN WERE NOT TAKEN CARE OF, I AM ANGRY WITH HIM BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL CUSTOMER OF HIS, I WENT BACK TO HIM BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONLY DEALER SHIP THAT WOULD GIVE ME CREDIT, BEFORE THIS I PAID MY PAYMENTS, ON TIME, ONE TIME WITH THE VAN I HAD RO SKIP A PAYMENT BECAUSE THE VAN WAS IN THE SHOP, HE SAID HE WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME BECAUSE I DID NOT LET HIS WORKERS TAKE CARE OF IT I TOOK THE VAN BACK TO HIM THREE TIMES BEFORE IT WAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF THIS WAS WITH IN 30 DAYS OF HAVING THE VAN ANYWAY I PAID FOR THE REPAIR, HE HAS A COPY, BUT WHEN I WENT TO TRADE THE CAR IN HE CHARGED ME $300.00 BECAUSE HE SAID I MISSED 1 PAYMENT I SAID OK GIVE ME THIS OTHER CAR, OK I HAD THE CAR 2 MONTH AND MY DAUGHTER PASSED AWAY, I CALLED THE DEALER SHIP AND TOLD HIM MY CIRCUMSTANCE, HE WANTED A $10

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Apr 10, 200877,800 milesTN

I GET FREQUENT OIL CHANGES IN MY 99 ISUZU TROOPER AND HAD JUST GOTTEN ONE LAST MONTH. I HAD AT LEAST 2700 MILES BEFORE MY NEXT ONE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM MY HOOD AND ALL MY DASH LIGHTS CAME ON LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE. I PULLED OVER AND FOUND OUT THAT MY ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPT TO PUT IT OUT AND GOT IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE TO LATER FIND OUT THAT THE PISTON HAD GOT THROWN FROM THE ENGINE BECAUSE IT LOCKED UP DUE TO NO OIL GETTING TO THAT PISTON. SO NOW I HAVE TO GET A NEW ENGINE WHICH COST ABOUT THE SAME AS THE CAR. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 20, 2008102,000 milesCO

I TOOK MY '99 ISUZU TROOPER TO GET AN OIL CHANGE, AND 3 WEEKS LATER THE OIL LIGHT TURNED ON. I WENT TO THE ISUZU DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND AFTER CHECKING THE OIL, THEY NOTICED THAT THERE ARE LESS THAN A LITER IN THE ENGINE. THEY FILLED IT AND ADDED A CONDITIONER TELLING ME THAT THAT SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. A FEW MONTHS LATER, DRIVING BACK FROM A TRIP, THE ENGINE BEGAN KNOCKING AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. MOMENTS LATER I LOST POWER (RPMS) AND PULLED THE CAR OVER. THE MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT MY CAR TOLD ME (AND THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY A CONSUMER REPORT WEBSITE) THAT '99 TROOPERS OFTEN HAVE "UNEXPLAINED LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE RESULTING IN THE ENGINE SEIZING." THE CAR NOW NEEDS A NEW ENGINE (APPROX 4000-9000 DOLLARS) OR A NEW CAR. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE OR DEFECT. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 19, 2007MD

ENGINE DIES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. FROM 5 MPH TO 60 MPH. DIES WHILE TURNING, THEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. ALMOST BEEN IN A FEW ACCIDENTS. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THIS SUMMER. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK ENGINE ALSO BURNS 1QT OIL EVER 1,000 MILES.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Sep 28, 200693,000 milesMA

SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, THE ENGINE FAILED ON OUR 1999 ISUZU TROOPER, POSSIBLY DUE TO LOW OIL. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR SYMPTOMS OF ANY KIND - VEHICLE JUST QUIT ON ROUTE 95 IN MANSFIELD WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME FROM BOWLING. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL GARAGE, WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED - IN FACT, THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD LITERALLY PICKED PIECES UP FROM THE PAVEMENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. UPON SEARCHING FOR A NEW ENGINE, WE DISCOVERED THAT THEY WERE NOT EASY TO FIND UNLESS PURCHASED DIRECTLY FROM ISUZU, AND ACCORDING TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS WEBSITE, THIS IS PRIMARILY BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IS COMMON AMONG ISUZUS MANUFACTURED IN LATE 1990'S/EARLY 2000'S. OUR REGULAR MECHANIC, AND SEVERAL OTHERS QUESTIONED, CONFIRMED THAT THE ISUZU'S WERE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. BOTTOM LINE, IT WOULD COST US $5000-$6000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, WHICH IS ABOUT WHAT WE OWED ON THE CAR. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 11, 200666,366 milesWI

FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS ONLY A COUPLE YEARS OLD, EVERY TIME I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THEY SAID IT WAS ALMOST EMPTY OF OIL. I BROUGHT IT IN TO A DEALER SEVERAL TIMES SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY COULD NEVER FIND THE REASON FOR IT BURNING OIL. EVERY DEALER SAID IT WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE ISUZU, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIX IT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed May 2, 200655,000 milesFL

EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Apr 30, 200652,000 milesTX

ENGINE OIL BURNING ISSUE. 1999 ISUZU TROOPER S. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE BURNS OVER 1 QUART OF OIL PER 3K MILES. HAS DONE THE SAME SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2003 WITH 52K MILES. NOW HAS 93K MILES. BASED ON ONLINE RESEARCH, THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE OIL FLOW PORTS WITHIN THE 3.5 LITER V6 AND IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 24, 200683,000 milesPA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND THE OIL WAS DRY ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENGINE.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 19, 2006TX

MY 1999 ISUZU TROOPER ENGINE SEIZED UP. NO WARNING LIGHT OR ANY INDICATIONS THAT ANY THING WAS WRONG. TOWED IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID IT HAD NO OIL IN IT. I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 1 MONTH EARLIER AND HAD THE OIL CHANGED/FILLED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PURCHASE. I HAD DRIVEN IT LESS THAN 2000 MILES. I NOW SEE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET. NOW I AM HAVING TO REPLACE AN ENGINE WHICH COULD BE MORE THAN THE COST OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURERS OIL CONSUMPTION DEFECT AND LACK OF LOW OIL GAUGE/WARNING. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 15, 2006UT

I PURCHASED A NEW TROOPER IN 1999 AND DID EVERY REQUIRED MAINTENANCE ON TIME AT A AUTHORIZE ISUZU DEALER. AFTER THE 5 YEAR 60,000 MILE WARRANTY WAS UP WE STARTED TAKING IT TO A REPUTABLE NATIONAL OIL CHANGE COMPANY. WE NEVER HAD ANY INDICATION IT WAS USING OIL AT AN ABNORMAL RATE. IT WAS NOT LEAKING OIL, IT WAS NOT BURNING OIL AND THE OIL LIGHT WAS NOT COMING ON. ONE DAY THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND MY WIFE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND WE ADDED OIL. IT WOULD RUN ROUGH AND TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO DID SOME MAINTENANCE WORK. I HAD NOT TOTALLY WRECKED THE ENGINE. I GOT IT DRIVING GOOD FOR ABOUT $2,000 AND HOPED THIS HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM. WE ADDED AND CHECK THE OIL EVERY 500 MILES. TWO MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE SEIZED AND I AM NOW TOLD I NEED A NEW ENGINE. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ENGINE OIL PROBLEM. ESTIMATED COSTS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE ARE $4K-$6K WHICH IS ABOUT BLUE BOOK FOR THE TROOPER AND NOW I WOULD HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN PUTTING A 1999 ENGINE WITH KNOWN PROBLEMS IN AS A REPLACEMENT. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 20, 200679,000 milesRI

WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON US INTERSTATE 89 NEAR MONTPELIER, VT, PULLED OVER TO ADJUST STUCK WINDSHIELD WIPER (DUE TO SNOW). AFTER EXITING HIGHWAY VIA EXIT RAMP AND PARKING IN A PARKING LOT, RETURNED TOWARDS HIGHWAY AFTER ABOUT A 5 MINUTE DELAY. AS WAS ACCELERATING UP THE ON RAMP, TRANSMISSION "LET GO" AND ENGINE REVVED. TRANSMISSION WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT AND REMAINED STUCK IN 2ND GEAR. LIMPED TO NEAREST SERVICE STATION. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ISUZU DEALERSHIP WHERE METAL WAS FOUND IN THE TRANNY PAN UPON INSPECTION INDICATING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. VEHICLE HAD 79K MILES, WAS SERVICED AT 60K AS PER MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS, NO OTHER DRIVETRAIN PROBLEMS OR INDICATION OF IMMINENT FAILURE BEFORE INCIDENT. TRANSMISSION (4L30E) HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW TRANSMISSION. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Dec 19, 2005VA

BURNING TOO MUCH OIL WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. MY CHECK OIL LIGHT HAS NEVER COME ON. HAVE TAKEN IT FOR 3,000 MILE OIL CHANGES A COUPLE TIMES TO FIND NO OIL AND NO TRACE OF OIL IN IT, THOUGH I HAD FILLED IT TO WHERE THE DIPSTICK REGISTERED FULL WITHIN THE LAST SEVENTY MILES. I CAN'T MAKE A DECENT STAB AT ESTIMATING HOW MUCH IT BURNS BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE FINE AND THEN BE EMPTY. IT DOESN'T LEAK ANYWHERE AND IT DOESN'T SMELL LIKE IT'S BURNING IT, BUT IT'S JUST GONE. I HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF THIS ALL OF THE TIME; IT'S A DRAG. I'M GOING TO GO CHECK IT NOW WHILE I'M THINKING ABOUT IT. I AM WONDERING IF WHATEVER THIS DEFECT IS AFFECTING MY MILEAGE BECAUSE I ONLY GET 16 MPG. MY MECHANICS SAY THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS GET THE ENGINE REBUILT. I DO WISH ISUZU WOULD HELP OUT HERE. I LIKE THE VEHICLE AND AM NOT IN A POSITION TO HAVE THE ENGINE REBUILT OR BUY ANOTHER CAR. I WOULD ALSO FEEL BADLY SELLING THIS TO SOMEONE KNOWING THE ENGINE COULD LOCK-UP WITH NO NOTICE. AND IF I TELL THEM, WHO WOULD BUY IT? *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Oct 31, 200551,500 milesMA

DT: THE CONTACT STATED GAS WAS SPILLING OUT OF THE TOP OF GAS TANK. THE TANK WAS FULL OR HALF FULL, BUT WHEN STOPPING OR SLOWING DOWN THE FUEL SPILLED OUT OF THE TOP OF THE TANK. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR TWO AND A HALF WEEKS. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, BUT IF HE WANTED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT THE DEALER WOULD FIX IT FOR HIM. HE HAS NOT DONE SO AT THIS TIME.*AK UPDATED 11/16/2005 - THE FUEL TANK BECAME RUSTED AT THE FUEL PUMP WHICH CAUSE FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE FUEL TANK ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE TANK, FUEL PUMP AND HOSES REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 31, 200571,379 milesWA

WE BOUGHT A 1999 TROOPER FROM THE DEALER THAT WAS NEVER REGISTERED, BUT THAT THE DEALER HAD DRIVEN FOR 14,000 MILES. WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT A NEW FACTORY WARRANTY APPLIED AS WE WERE THE "ORIGINAL RETAIL PURCHASER." AFTER DRIVING THIS VEHICLE THREE YEARS AND LESS THAN 60,000 MILES, THE ENGINE FROZE GOING UP A MOUNTAIN PASS, ENDANGERING OUR LIVES AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN'S LIVES. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND NOW HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WE NEEDED AN NEW ENGINE -- THOUGH THERE WAS STILL OIL IN THE ENGINE, THERE WERE SHARDS OF METAL IN THE OIL. (WE HAD PROPERLY MAINTAINED THE ENGINE MORE THAN REQUIRED UNDER WARRANTY BUT IT SEEMED TO BURN A LOT OF OIL OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.) ISUZU DENIES THAT IT IS RESPONSIBLE, AND THE DEALER DENIES THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE, SO WE ARE NOW STUCK WITH A VEHICLE WE'VE HAD THREE YEARS THAT WILL COST US $5,000 - $8,000 TO REPAIR (AND THAT WE STILL OWE 11K ON AND IS WORTH 6K AS A TRADE-IN OR 8K IF WE SELL IT OURSELVES). I NOW SEE OTHER EVIDENCE OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE ON THIS SITE AND HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER MECHANICS WHO HAVE SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, YET MOST CONSUMERS DON'T SEEM TO FILE THESE REPORTS. I'VE HAD SEVERAL VEHICLES, AND MAINTAIN THEM WELL, AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN ENGINE FREEZE WITH 71,000 MILES ON IT. AS NEITHER ISUZU NOR THE DEALER HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE NOR STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, I HOPE THAT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATES THIS ISSUE SO THAT NO OTHER OWNERS OR PASSENGERS ARE PLACED IN POTEN

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Oct 3, 2005KS

ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS: I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, HAD IT TOWED, TOOK 3 DAYS TO GET CAR BACK, PUT IN THE SECOND ALTERNATOR, IT QUIT ALSO, AGAIN IN TRAFFIC HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. *JB TRANSMISSION: WAS DRIVING THE IN TRAFFIC, TRIED TO DRIVE, AND THE CAR JUST SAT THERE, WOULDN'T GO, HAD TRANSMISSION PUT IN, TWO WEEKS LATER TRANSMISSION WENT OUT HAD ANOTHER TRANSMISSION PUT IN. 1999 TROOPER-APPARENTLY THESE HAVE GM TRANSMISSIONS..

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Crankcase (pcv)
Filed Sep 29, 200576,000 milesOH

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 ISUZU TROOPER. ON 8-04 SHE TOOK VEHICLE FOR 60,000 MILE MAINTENANCE AND VEHICLE BLEW UP IN 7-05. SHE SAID THE CAUSE WAS A PCV VALVE THAT DID NOT WORK AND ALLOWED THE OIL TO DRAIN INTO ANOTHER PART OF THE ENGINE. SHE HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REBUILT, AND THE MECHANIC THAT DID THE WORK TOLD HER THIS. SHE FELT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE PCV VALVE. THE WARRANTY STATED THAT THE DEALER COVERED THE PARTS FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER, LABOR PERFORMED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE REPAIR FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES, AND VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED UNDER BOTH PROTECTIONS. THEY WILL NOT COVER THE COST. THE DEALER LAUGHED AT THE CONTACT AND TOLD HER THE TROOPER WAS KNOWN FOR ENGINE FAILURE.*AK *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 19, 2005OK

I HAVE A 99 ISUZU TROOPER THAT BURNS A LOT OF OIL. I SERVICE IT PROPERLY AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT. ALTHOUGH IT NOW HAS 64000 MILES ON IT AND IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY I THINK I NEED TO REPORT THIS. I HAVE TALKED TO MY DEALER AND I AM TAKING IT IN FOR SOME WORK THAT WILL AS THEY SAY CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. ARE THERE OTHERS OUT THERE THAT ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 15, 200548,000 milesWA

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE USES TOO MUCH OIL. THE VEHICLE IS A 1999 ISUZI TROOPER. THE CONSUMER GOES THROUGH OIL, OIL AND OIL. THIS IS WHAT THE CONSUMER SPECIFICALLY STATES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CALLED.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 22, 200536,668 milesNY

1999 ISUZU TROOPERII ENGINE FAILED. *MR NO OIL WAS THE ENGINE AND HAD SEIZED UP WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS FOUND TO BE PREVALENT IN 1998-200 ISUZU TROOPERS. THE CLAIMS WERE DENIED IN REFERENCE TO THE OIL ISSUES. THE CONSUMERS CLAIM WAS DENIED. *SC

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 17, 200574,500 milesNY

1999 ISUZU TROOPER RUNS OUT OF OIL. MY 1999 TROOPER THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN FEBRUARY OF 2000 AND HAVE MAINTAINED THROUGH REGULAR OIL AND FILTER CHANGES EVERY 3000 MILES SUDDENLY WAS FOUND TO HAVE NO OIL IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER HAD A LOW OIL PROBLEM OR NEVER SHOWN ANY SIGNS OF LEAKING. ON MAY 30TH OF THIS YEAR AS I WAS DRIVING UP MY DRIVEWAY LEAVING MY HOUSE IN THE MORNING THE OIL LIGHT FLASHED ON AND THEN WENT OFF WHEN I REACHED LEVEL GROUND. I HAD RECENTLY HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT 72K AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74.5K SO I STOPPED TO CHECK THE STICK. WHEN I PULLED THE STICK IT WAS DRY! AFTER DUMPING 4 QUARTS OF OIL INTO THE VEHICLE THE OIL FINALLY REGISTERED ON THE STICK! I POURED ANOTHER QUART IN TO MAKE IT 5 QUARTS AND COULDN'T BELIEVE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF OVER HEATING AND NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE. I CALLED ISUZU TO ASK THEM WHY THE OIL LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS BONE DRY OF OIL. THEY STATED THAT THE LIGHT IS A OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND NOT A OIL GAUGE. I DROVE THE TRUCK FOR ONE WEEK AND CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER MYSELF JUST TO SEE THE CONDITION OF THE OIL AND FILTER. SINCE THEN I HAVE LOGGED ANOTHER 3K ON THE TRUCK AND HAVE FOUND THE VEHICLE BURNS 1 QUART PER 500 MILES. AFTER REVIEWING THE NHTSA WEBSITE I FOUND OUT THAT I AM NOT ALONE. APPARENTLY ISUZU DOES KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND ELECTS NOT TO INFORM ANY OF IT'S CUSTOMERS. ISUZU SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR NOT INFORMING ALL ISUZU TROOPER OWNERS THAT AT APPROXIMA

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 23, 200571,500 milesKS

MY ORGINAL COMPLAINT #10104322 WAS SUBMITTED 11/04. SINCE THEN I HAVE PAID ISUZU AND FOX MOTOR IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI ABOUT $7500 FOR A NEW ENGINE. AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS ISUZU OF AMERICA WOULD NOT LISTEN TO ME AND EVEN HUNG UP ON ME. FOX MOTORS WAS GREAT. THEY ADVISED THE REASON MY ENGINE FROZE UP IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. THE EGR PIPE GETS CLOGGED WITH "SLUDGE" RESULTING IN NO OIL GETTING FROM THE BOTTOM TO TOP HALF OF THE ENGINE. THEY ADVISED TO HAVE EGR PIPE CLEANED AND PCV VALVE REPLACED EVERY 15,000 MILES OR ONE YEAR. I'D LIKE TO SUE ISUZU OF AMERICA AS I'M OUT A TOTAL OF $8,500 DUE TO, WHAT I'M BEING ADVISED, IS A DESIGN FAILURE IN THE EARLY 3.5L V6 ENGINES. IT'S OBVIOUS MANY OTHERS HAVE INCURRED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I HOPE THIS SUGGESTION BY A "GREAT" ISUZU MECHANIC IS HELPFUL TO OTHERS. FYI, I OWN TWO OTHER ISUZUS (UNLUCKY ME!).

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 17, 200577,216 milesCO

I TOOK MY '99 ISUZU TROOPER FOR ITS REGULAR OIL CHANGE AT ALMOST 3000 MILES TO JIFFY LUBE IN COLORADO SPRINGS, CO ON THE 10TH OF MAY 2005. WHILE IN THE BAY OF JIFFY LUBE THE WORKERS' REPLACED THE AIR FILTER, OIL FILTER AND TOPPED OFF ALL OTHER FLUIDS. WHEN ASKED TO TURN VEHICLE ON, I TURNED THE KEY AND THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNK SOUND AND I IMMEDIATELY TURNED ENGINE OFF AND ASKED WORKERS' WHAT WAS THAT NOISE AND THEY RESPONDED BY SAYING THEY DIDN'T KNOW AND THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. THEY PROCEEDED TO PUT MORE OIL IN THE ENGINE, APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 3/4'S OF A QUART AND TOLD ME TO TAKE CARE OF THE CHARGES FOR THE OIL CHANGE, WHICH I DID. MY VEHICLE WAS MOVED OUTSIDE AND LEFT WITH THE ENGINE OFF. WHEN I STARTED IT, THERE WAS A MILD TO MODERATE RAPPING NOISE. I PROCEEDED WITH MY ACTIVITY AND ON MY WAY HOME I STOPPED AT ANOTHER JIFFY LUBE BECAUSE THE NOISE SEEMED TO BE GETTING LOADER AND THEY CHECKED IT AND SAID THAT THE OIL WAS FULL AND THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE RAPPING. I DROVE HOME AND PARKED IT OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE IT TO TOWN AGAIN AND THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE. ON THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO DRIVE IT TO TOWN AND AFTER STARTING IT AND DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE THE ENGINE LITE CAME ON AND WHITE SMOKE POURED OUT OF THE EXHAUST AND FILLED THE CAB. I TURNED AROUND AND TOOK IT HOME IMMEDIATELY AND IT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 DAYS AND TODAY A MECHANIC FROM JIFFY LUBE CAME OUT AND EXAMINED THE ENGINE AND ALL THE PARTS INVOLVED IN THE OIL CHANGE AN

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 9, 200570,000 milesME

I OWN A '99 ISUZU TROOPER. SINCE ABOUT 70K MILES (ABOUT A YEAR AGO), IT HAS BEEN BURNING OIL AT A REALLY HIGH RATE. I HAVE MET PERSONALLY TWO OTHER TROOPER OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM WHO WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET NEW ENGINES OUT OF ISUZU, BUT SINCE I WAS OVER THE WARRANTY, I DON'T QUALIFY. NOW I HAVE READ MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA SITE AND WONDER WHY ISUZU HAS NOT BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS? I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE MY ENGINE, NOR CAN I IN GOOD CONSCIOUS TRADE IT IN AND MAKE IT SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM. I AM BURNING 3 QUARTS OF OIL FOR EVERY 300 - 500 MILES! I AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT ON ANY TRIPS TO VISIT FAMILY! I FEEL I AM BEING PUNISHED FOR OWNING THIS VEHICLE AND KEEPING IT IN GOOD REPAIR!

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 9, 200555,000 milesOH

DT: EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING ;AND HE CHANGED UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS TWICE IN JUST OVER ONE YEAR.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 5, 200549,900 milesMA

VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALER SERVICED THE IDLE CONTROL. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE.*AK WHILE SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A STOP ENGINE DOES NOT ALWAYS RETURN TO IDLE. *BF *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 5, 2005MS

99 ISUZU TROOPER USES OIL IN EXCESS AND IS NOW LEAKING COOLANT FROM UNDER MOTOR ??? GO FIGURE!! IT'S NOT EVEN AT 70,000 YET. ISUZU NEEDS TO HELP CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED THEIR WORTHLESS VEHICLES. IT SEEMS THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT MILEAGE TO STOP THE WARRANTY AT! *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 2, 200540,000 milesDC

ISUZU TROOPER 1999 PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM, ENGINE BURNING OIL. *BF AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT LEAST 30 TIMES. THE DEALER GAVE THE CONSUMER ALL TYPES OF EXCUSES UNTIL FINALLY THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THERE WERE OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS A HARD SHIFT WITH THE TRANSMISSION, WATER LEAKING THROUGH THE SUN ROOF, DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE, UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, IN JUST 65,000 THE CONSUMER HAS GONE THROUGH 3 COMPLETE SETS OF TIRES. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE AND IT COULD NOT BE ALIGNED. THE TIE RODS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. IN THE PAST THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHILE THE CONSUMER HAD HER FOOT FIRMLY PRESSED ON THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY IDLED HIGH WHILE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE HAS ROLLED BACKWARDS WHILE IT WAS IN PARK. ANOTHER MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PREVIOUS DEALER INSTALLED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL COMPONETS INCORRECTLY AND THERE WERE ALSO SOME DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. THE CONSUMER WAS GETTING POOR GAS MILEAGE. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Feb 23, 200573,400 milesFL

OIL SLUDGE CAUSING OVER CAM TO FREEZE AND DAMAGE TO LOWER UNIT ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WARRANTY CO AND DEALER CLAIM NOT THERE PROBLEM. OIL CHANGES AT CORRECT TIMES. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Dec 22, 200471,500 milesKS

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON A MI FREEWAY, OUR CAR ENGINE QUIT. FORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT IN TRAFFIC AND WE WERE ABLE TO COAST UP AN OFF RAMP. AAA TRAILERED THE 1999 TROOPER TO A FORMER ISUZU DEALERSHIP WHO, THREE DAYS LATER, ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE "FROZE UP" AND THAT WE WOULD NEED AN ENTIRELY NEW ENGINE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THERE WAS OIL IN THE CRANKCASE AND THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON UNTIL AFTER THE ENGINE DIED. WE ARE PAYING TO TRAILER THE CAR TO KS TO HAVE IT CHECKED BY THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND, PRESUMABLY, THE REGIONAL ISUZU REPRESENTATIVE. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY; UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD/MILEAGE. THERE IS NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE BUT, A CALL TO ISUZU OF AMERICA, ONLY HAD THEM SAY THEY'VE FULFILLED THEIR OBLIGATION. HAD THE CAR DIED IN TRAFFIC, THEIR BEEN NO EXIT RAMP OR SHOULDER, OR MY WIFE STRANDED ALONE IN A DESOLATE PLACE, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES OTHER THAN JUST THE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES WE NOW HAVE. FYI, THE INITIAL ESTIMATE IS $7,500 TO REPLACE WITH A USED ENGINE PROVIDED A GOOD USED ENGINE CAN EVEN BE LOCATED. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Nov 16, 200442,000 milesGA

ENGINE STARTED NORMALLY, THEN AS DRIVING ALONG, MOMENTARY POWER SURGE AND PARTIAL STALL, ACCOMPANIED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY ENGINE MISFIRE, AND COOLANT EXITING EXHAUST. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND HAD TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. FACTORY WARRANTY UP TO 60,000 EXPIRED FROM A TIME BASIS A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND DEALER WILL ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR HEAD WARPAGE DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR IMPROPER HEAD GASKET INSTALLATION AT FACTORY. REPLACEMENT COST FOR NEW ENGINE IS APPROXIMATELY $6700. CURRENTLY STARTING A LEGAL CLAIM AGAINST ISUZU. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Sep 30, 2004WV

1999 IZUZU TROOPER OIL CONSUMPTION ( A QUART OF OIL EVERY 450 MILES). *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineCrash
Filed Sep 21, 2004WV

I BOUGHT A 1999 ISUZU TROOPER LIMITED EDITION 1 YEAR AGO THIS MONTH. SINCE BUYING IT I HAVE HAD THE STARTER REPLACED, THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED TWICE, THE SMALL BLOCK WAS BAD BECAUSE OF A FAILURE WITH THE DIPSTICK TO READ THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF OIL. MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN A MVA DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AS THE ENGINE DECIDED TO RACE WHILE HE WAS COMING TO A SLOW STOP. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE CAR REVS UP AT AN IDLE AT A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN POSITION, AND NOW THE VEHICLE IS IN THE GARAGE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD AND THE ALTERNATOR WENT AGAIN. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IS NOT PROPERLY SEALED AND THE WINDOW FOGS UP IF YOU DON'T RUN THE DEFROSTER. THE DRAFT THAT COMES FROM THE FLOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IS UNACCEPTABLE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON IT AND IT NOW HAS LESS THAN 50,000. I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A VEHICLE WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE HAS SO MANY PROBLEMS AND IT IS IN THE SHOP MORE THAN IT IS OUT. I EXPECTED TO HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH A USED VEHICLE BUT NOT THIS MANY AND NOT THIS COSTLY! I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT MANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR OF TROOPER AND I'M WONDERING WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO HAVE THE COMPANY STAND UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 14, 200477,546 milesTX

I OWN A 1999 ISUZU TROOPER WITH AROUND 77000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I AND MY FAMILY ENJOYED THE VEHICLE UNTILL ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO (10-03) WHEN, ON A 250 MILE RUN FROM SAN ANTONIO TO MY HOME, WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS, STRANGE SOUNDS OR ROUGH RUNNING, I HEARD A LOUD WHINE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, EVERYTHING LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR A SECOND AND THEN WENT COMPLETELY DEAD. AFTER A LONG. HOT WAIT AND AN EVEN LONGER TOW, I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP TIGHT AS A DRUM AND THAT THERE WAS AROUND 1 QUART OF OIL IN THE PAN. DURING MY OWNERSHIP OF THE TRUCK, I HAD NOTICED THAT THE DIPSTICK WOULD OCCASIONALLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY READ LOW - BUT IT NEVER VISIBLY BURNED ANY OIL. I CHALKED IT UP TO A 'DIPSTICK MALFUNCTION' AND KEPT UP WITH MY OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE. I HAVE OWNED MANY CLASSIC AND HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLES IN THE PAST AND AM A STICKLER FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHT WAS THAT MY PREVIOUS OIL CHANGE HAD BEEN DONE INCORRECTLY - BUT MY OWN DILIGENCE IN CHECKING THE OIL PRIOR TO MY TRIP AND ADDING A NEEDED QUART STEERED ME AWAY FROM THAT AS A SOLUTION. NOW, AFTER AN ATTEMPT TO LOCATE A REPLACEMENT ENGINE FOR THE TRUCK ONLINE, I FIND THAT I'M NOT ALONE BY ANY MEANS. BEING OUT OF WARRANTY (JUST) LEAVES ME WITH THE BELIEF THAT I WILL JUST HAVE TO EAT THE COST OF GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK ON THE ROAD, BUT I FEEL THAT, GIVEN THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR STORIES OUT THERE, ISUZU SHOULD PONY UP AND ASSIST THOSE WHO CAN PRO

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 18, 200482,000 milesMO

1999 TROOPER WITH 3.5L ENGINE. AFTER 60,000 MILES I NOTICED THAT AT REGULAR OIL CHANGE INTERVALS, @3000 MILES, THAT THE ENGINE WAS BURING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, I DROVE FROM ST.LOUIS TO KANSAS CITY, ABOUT 240 MILES ONE WAY. ON THE RETURN TRIP, 60 MILES FROM HOME, THE TROOPER SIEZED UP. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO LOW OIL LIGHT, IT JUST QUIT. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER IN ST.CHARLES AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT HAD HARDLY ANY OIL IN THE CRANKCASE AND THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUINED. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER AFTER LISTENING TO THE PRICE FOR AN ENGINE FROM THE DEALER $9500 AND REBUILT ENGINES THAT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS BECAUSE BLOCKS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, I WITH THE AID OF A MECHANIC FOUND A TROOPER THAT HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND REPLACED THE OLD ENGINE WITH ONE THAT HAD AROUND 72K MILES ON IT. IT BURNS THE SAME AMOUNT OF OIL!!!!!!! I CHECK IT WEEKLY AND ADD TO IT ABOUT THE SAME. ISUZU NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD ON THIS PIECE OF CRAP. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND NOW I COULDN'T GET RID OF THIS THING FOR 1/25TH OF WHAT I PAID FOR IT, EXCEPT TO SOMEONE LOOKING FOR PARTS FOR THEIR SOON TO BE BROKEN DOWN 1999 TROOPER.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 12, 200455,000 milesGA

I HAVE A 99 TROOPER WITH 70K MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE STARTS TO BURN OIL AND NOW IT BURNS 5 QUARTS OF OIL WITHIN 3 MONTHS. NO WARNING LIGHT. I HEARD THE TICKING SOUND. WHEN I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE, I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WAS BONE DRY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENS. LAST TIME IT RUNS OUT OF OIL IN 4 MONTHS. I DO OIL CHANGE ON A REGULAR 30K MILES BASIS AND I DO OTHER MAINTENANCE TOO. I FEEL I AM RISKING LOSING THE ENGINE ANY TIME IF I DON'T CHECK THE DIPSTICK EVERY WEEK. THIS IS AWFUL. ISUZU SHOULD RECALL THIS MODEL OR AT LEAST DO SOMETHING. IT IS SO UNFAIR FOR CAR OWNERS LIKE ME.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 19, 200447,000 milesSC

I BOUGHT A 1999 ISUZU TROOPER IN FEBRUARY WITH ALMOST 45,000 MILES. MY WIFE AND I HAD OUR BABIES IN FEBRAUARY AND THIS WAS TO BE HER CAR. ON JULY 3 THE ENGINE BLEW. THE CAR AT THIS POINT HAD 47,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAD A 5 YEAR, 60,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST $7,000 TO $8,000 TO GET A NEW MOTOR. I HAVE SINCE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT QUITE A FEW TROOPER'S HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, WHEREBY THE ENGINE EITHER LOSES ALL OF IT'S OIL VERY QUICKLY OR USES IT AT A RATE IT SHOULD NOT. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 15, 200422,000 milesNJ

I HAVE A 1999 ISUZU TROOPER THAT HAS A CHRONIC OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM. I HAD THE DEALER REPLACE PISTON RINGS AT 22,000 MILES BUT IT DID NOT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE PROBLEM. NO, I AM NOTICING A NUMBER OF TROOPER OWNS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM OR EVEN WITH ENGINES THAT HAVE SEIZED FROM A DIRECT RESULT OF THE PROBLEM. I SPOKE TO THE LOCAL ISUZU SERVICE REP IN NEW JERSEY AND HE FINALLY OWNED UP TO THE FACT THAT MY PARTICULAR YEAR HAS A KNOW ENGINE DEFECT THAT WILL CAUSE IT TO BURN OIL. I BURN IT AT A RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 700 MILES TO A QUART OF OIL. THE REP HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD REPLACE THE ENGINE BUT WITH THE REPLACEMENT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE I WOULD GET BETTER THAN 1000 MILES PER QUART OF OIL. *LA

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jul 14, 2004128,000 milesWV

1999 ISUZU TROOPER PURCHASED NEW. BEGAN EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION BETWEEN OIL CHANGES AROUND 50K MILES. REGULARLY TOOK A QT OF OIL EVERY 1K MILES. OIL AND FILTER CHANGED EVERY 3K. DEALER SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL OIL USE FOR THIS ENGINE. AT 128K ENGINE FAILS 4 HRS FROM HOME (SEPT 2003). NEAREST DEALER IS CALLED AND SAYS IT HAS THROWN A PISTON DUE TO LACK OF OIL. WE PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. ENGINE IS REPLACED AT OUR COST. WE HAVE ENGINE DISMANTLED BY ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND THE FAILURE WAS A SPUN ROD BEARING. NO EVIDENCE OF LACK OF OIL. THIS IS A TERRIBLE ENGINE AND WOULD RECOMMEND ANYONE DRIVING AN ISUZU WITH THIS ENGINE GET RID OF IT ASAP.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 7, 200455,897 milesWI

I HAVE A 99 ISUZU TROOPER S, AND HAVE OWNED IT LESS THAN ONE YEAR. I BOUGHT IT WITH ABOUT 51.500 MILES. IT NOW HAS 8000 MILES ON. I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN AND I USE THIS VEHICLE FOR MINIMAL PURPOSES. GETTING MAIL, GROCERIES, ETC. SMALL ERRANDS OF THE SORT. I WAS ON THE WAY OVER TO MY IN-LAWS AND NOTICED A TICKING SOUND AND THEN THE OIL LIGHT FLASHED. THEY LIVE ABOUT THREE BLOCKS AWAY. MY FATHER-IN-LAW CHECKED THE OIL AND THEN ADDED FOUR QUARTS BEFORE IT EVEN REGISTERED. NEITHER MYSELF NOR MY HUSBAND HAVE EVER NOTICED AN OIL STAIN OR ANY EVIDENCE OF OIL LOSS. AFTER HE ADDED THE OIL, THE KNOCKING SUBSIDED AND IT SEEMED FINE THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AS I USED IT AROUND TOWN. THEN ON MY WAY OUT OF TOWN, IN ABOUT 20 MI, I HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND, BUT THE TEMPERATURE WAS FINE AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON. I DECIDED TO STOP ANYWAY AND TO CALL A TOW TRUCK IN FEAR OF ANY FURTHER DAMAGE THAT DRIVING MAY CAUSE. THE SERVICE STATION THAT LOOKED AT IT HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE IS SHOT. THE ISUZU COMPANY HAS A POWERTRAIN LIMITED WARRANTY FOR A PERIOD OF 60 MO/60000, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY LOCAL ISUZU DEALERSHIP THAT THE "IN-SERVICE" DATE IS 03-03-99, AND THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. ALTHOUGH IT IS STILL UNDER THE 60KMI AND ONLY FOUR MONTHS OVER THE 60 MONTHS, THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP. I ALSO CONTACTED THE ISUZU OWNER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT AND RECEIVED THE SAME RESPONSE. IN MY FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS, I HAVE FOUND NUMOROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLE

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 28, 200450,000 milesVA

BOUGHT USED 1999 ISUZU TROOPER WITH 48,000 MILES. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC BECAUSE IT HAD A PROBLEM STARTING. DISCOVERED ENGINE LEAKED MORE THAN 1 QUART OF OIL PER 1000 MILES. ISUZU REPLACED ENGINE JUST BEFORE 60,000 MILES, BUT STILL HAS PROBLEM STARTING. MECHANIC DETERMINED 3 OR 6 FUEL INJECTORS ARE BAD, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TROOPER STALLS AT SLOW SPEEDS, AND ENGINE WILL REV WHILE IDLING.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 28, 200468,000 milesNY

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE LOST POWER AND COASTED TO A STOP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 3, 2004MN

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPEATEDLY NEEDING REPLACEMENT. OIL CONSUMPTION. *NM

Complaints 1-50 of 81, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200212000Routine
200129100Routine
200049200Routine
1999 — this page81010Routine
199842120Routine
199713200Routine
199651210Routine
199554130Routine
199447230Routine
199333200Routine
199225230Routine
1991573153Fatalities reported
199023350Routine

Compare every Trooper year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.