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Isuzu - Engine Failure

Isuzu • Engine failure • Timing belt • ABS failure • Other problems ---- • Isuzu Surrenders; Will Leave U.S. • Isuzu Fading to Black?

Jeff of Grand Prairie TX (9/14/04):
I own a 1999 Isuzu Trooper with around 67,000 miles on the odometer. I and my family enjoyed the vehicle until about 6 months ago when, on a 250-mile run from San Antonio to my home, I experienced a loud whining and everything lit up like a Christmas tree and the truck went dead. After a long 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 just under 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 - and it never visibly burned any oil. I have owned many classic and high performance vehicles in the past and am a stickler for maintenance. I had changed the oil in the truck around 3000 miles earlier and thought, as any owners manual will tell you, I was keeping up. My immediate thought was that the 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 prove their stories.

My truck is currently being re-diagnosed and repaired after a $285 tow. Initial estimates have indicated that I will likely be out around $3000 for the engine plus several an additional $1000-$2000 in labor.

Robert of Stoughton WI (12/30/03):
We purchased a 1999 Trooper, 3.5 ltr. new in November, 1999. We had the oil changed on a regular basis per recommendations. At the last oil change (October, 2003), Valovine indicated that there was no oil in the motor. We just thought that they had not filled it up properly the last time the oil was changed. At that time, there was less than 60,000 miles on the vehicle. We drove from Wisconsin to Ohio for Christmas which is approximately 580 miles one way. On the way back, the oil light came on in Chicago.

We stopped and put in 2 bottles of 10W30. The oil did not register on the stick. We continued home. We checked the oil when we arrived home and it was not registering again on the stick. We added oil again. The mileage on the vehicle is now 62,000 miles. We contacted Zimbrick's Service Manager and they basically said that the warranty is out and we will need to replace the engine.

Isuzu has known about this problem which occurs in the 1998, 1999 and 2000 3.5 liter vehicles. They corrected the problem with the later 2000 vehicles. It is occuring after the warranty expires in most cases. They did not notify us to indicate there might be a problem with oil consumption. If they had, we would have taken it in after the oil change prior to the warranty expiring. I think Isuzu should back their product. Our vehicle is only 2,000 over the warranty and it was an existing problem that we were not aware of.

We may have to replace the engine which would cost more than what the vehicle is worth. We still owe one year of a five year loan, approximately $4,000.00. It would be stupid to replace the engine and incur $6,000-7,000 in expense for a vehicle that isn't worth that.

Toynie of Palm Coast FL (11/25/03):
In October of 1998 we purchased a 1998 Isuzu Trooper with a 6-year or 100,000 mi. extended waranty. It was not until the fall of this year when my husband was returning from the beach with our three-year-old daughter and the motor blew up that we found out it was underwritten by Smart Choice and that the company was now bankrupt. Then we found out that we would have to pay in the neighborhood of $3,000 to $6,000 for a new motor.

Lea of Woodstock IL (9/23/03):
I bought a 1999 Isuzu Rodeo in May 1999 brand new. From the day I bought the car I heard a noise in the engine. I told the dealer it sounded like a toaster getting ready to pop. He told me there was nothing wrong with the car. THE ENGINE BLEW on a dirt road going 45 mph with my sn in the car, the truck died and I had to get it to the side of the road without crashing. Thank God no one was hurt. Finally the dealership believed something was wrong with the car, but now they said it was my fault for not getting oil changes on time

I had receipts for them. Finally after 3 weeks they decided to replace the engine (with an attitude) Because I drove 150 miles per day to and from work 3 years after I bought the car I had 50,000 miles on it, which meant my warranty was up. Not even 2 weeks after that, My ABS blew again. I called the dealership since they had just fixed it supposedly, they told me "Sorry your out of warranty" and the I went online to find out there has been a porblem with the ABS on the '99 Rodeo. I have 3 Friends that bought the '99 Rodeo and they all had to replace the ABS.

Anna of Robstown TX (8/27/03):
In May of 1999 my husband and I bought a 1999 Isuzu Hombre new. We were told 20 times if we were told once that the 1999 Isuzu Hombre was the first year that GM built the truck, and that it came with a 100,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. When the truck had 37,153 miles on it, we had to take in to have the spark plug wires replaced, the valve cover gaskets replaced, reseal the oil pan, as it was leaking, replace the thermostat housing & coolant pipe as there was coolant leaking.

In August 2003 I was driving home from work when my truck lost compression and the engine died. I pulled off of the freeway and could not restart the truck. The service department told me that my motor was shot and that it needed to have a new motor installed. I told him about the 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty, and he was not able to find the paperwork on the warranty.

Dillon of Gunnison CO (4/15/03):
I have 94,000 on my Isuzu Rodeo and it has been maintained perfectly since I have had it -- oil changes, tune-ups, etc. My engine seized on me on the way back from a trip. There are no oil leaks or anything that would indicate a problem. I now need a new long block on a perfectly good truck. This is major money. Thanks for listening.

Kurtis of Elyria OH (2/22/03):
Purchased 2002 Isuzu Rodeo LS in April 2002. In July with 3,500 miles on vehicle had valve failure in engine. Fixed by dealer. In December 2002 windshield cracked while sitting in garage overnight. Isuzu and dealer refused to replaced, had to go through Insurance and pay deductible.

Joseph of Shreveport (1/28/03):
I own a 99 Isuzu Trooper. I bought it new. In November, 2002, as I was headed out of town my oil light came on. I immediately stopped the vehicle and popped the hood to see what was going on with my oil. I checked the oil stick and found that it showed the oil level as full. I got back in the vehicle and drove about a mile.

Suddenly, I heard a loud rumbling sound coming from under the hood. The dashboard lit up, and the engine went dead. I pulled off to the side of the road, looked under the hood and could smell something like burning rubber. When tried to restart it nothing happened. Later, I had it towed into the dealership, which said it looked as if the engine blew up. He stated that it could cost as much as $12,000 to have the engine rebuilt. He knew of a used one that he could get for about $5,000 and that it would cost a total of about $7,100 including installation.

Of course, I had no way of coming up with that kind of money. I later found a number from the internet to the Isuzu manufacturer. It took me forever to speak to someone and when I did they offered no help at all. They were only concerned that the warranty had gone out and were under no further obligation. This vehicle has a 60,000 mile warranty, I had about 76,000 miles on it when the trouble happened. To say the least, I am very disappointed with Isuzu. This is my third Trooper I've purchased from this dealership. I thought that would have counted for something.

Amy of Fort Worth, TX writes (10/26/02):
Purchased a 1995 Isuzu Trooper in 1997. The engine went out 3 months ago. No engine to replace it can be found and in our looking for an engine we discovered that this model Trooper had a known risk pin problem in the engine and that is why we can't find one today to replace it. Even if we did find one the same problem would happen so why would we buy an engine new or rebuilt just to have it do the same thing? One rebuilt engine we found was $4500 plus shipping plus installation from a mechanic. I think that is absurd when in any other NEW car you can get a new engine for that much if not less. Isuzu won't help us and claims they "know nothing" of this problem. I say BS.

Pamela of East Bridgewater, MA (8/19/02):
I purchased at the end of my lease a 1997 Isuzu Trooper. I felt I was the only owner and it only had 36,000 miles on the car. I haven't had any real trouble with the car. I have taken care of the car with oil changes, rotating the tires, tuneups, etc. Well then my car begins to make this horrible wrapping noise and smoking. I called the dealer and they said they couldn't look at the car for at least a week. I need the car for transportation back and forth to work. I found another reputable mechanic that used to work for the dealer and now owns his own shop.

After doing a diagnostic test on the car he explained that it needed an oil pump. I spent $1100 for this job. After picking up the car it began to make other noises. I asked what this was and he stated that it sounded like the lower portion of the motor. I wanted to make sure that he was right so I made an appointment to have them diagnose the problem and confirmed the problem. I asked if there was anyone from Isuzu that I could speak to about this and they stated that the service manager would need to speak to the Isuzu factory representative. He stated that he would do this on Monday of the following week. I called the service manager to remind him and he placed me on hold for approx. 3.2 minutes and came back with a flat no. Isuzu is not responsible and I am out of warranty so basically thanks for nothing.

I tried to contact the customer service department to get this individuals number so that I could advocate for myself the situation and possibly explain my situation. But again I was told that the service manager would speak on my behalf. I feel that a car motor should last more than 71,000 miles and that I will make sure that I never purchase or my family will never purchase or anyone I can possibly talk out of purchasing an Isuzu vehicle.

I have three children and they are beginning school in a couple of weeks. I had to spend $1100 and then be told the motor is no good. I wasn't looking for a free ride but I am looking for some help. I was never offered at the end of my lease an option to purchase an extended warranty. If I was I would have it to cover me in situations such as this.

Tasha of Brainerd, MN (5/7/02):
I bought a 1998 Isuzu Rodeo brand new. That was before the 10 year warranty came about. I kept up regular maintenance, but 4 years later, the motor has completely blown up. I spoke with Don at Isuzu Corporate and he said there is nothing they can do, and they have no interest in finding out what went wrong. Basically, he chalked it up to me not getting my oil changed regularly, but I have my vehicle maintenance records for at least the last year. The mechanic at the dealership said he had only had a motor blow that quickly from a guy that hadn't changed his oil in 17,000 miles. Don at Isuzu Corporate said he would just put in a report.

The consequences are that I now still have a loan on a vehicle that didn't even last 4 years brand new! I have to refinance my non-working vehicle to have a rebuilt motor put in, with money right out of my pocket as Isuzu will not even offer to check the vehicle.

Howard of Chicago (6/5/01):
I own a 99 Isuzu Vehicross with 35,000 miles. Last month the engine seized, and apparently needs to be replaced. Although the warranty is still in effect, Isuzu refuses to honor it. They say I have to document oil changes every 3000 miles and should've checked the engine oil level every other time I filled the gas tank. My limited search on the web has revealed that numerous Isuzu owners with V6 engines have unexplained engine oil loss. Isuzu knows about this but refuses to do anything to warn consumers except a single line in the owners manual about checking the oil every second gas fill-up. The oil warning light also does not warn of loss of oil. Isuzu wants $6500 cash to replace the engine.

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