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1999 Isuzu Trooper engine problems

58 complaints (72% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 71,379. 1 crash reported.

owner complaints
58
of this car's complaints
72%
typical mileage
71,379
crashes
1
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Engine
    29
  • Engine: gasoline
    17
  • Exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (PCV)
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Isuzu Trooper engine problems in other years

199019952002

Specific symptoms reported on the 1999 Isuzu Trooper engine

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Engine failure 23Oil consumption 15Stalling 9Knocking 5

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

What 1999 Isuzu Trooper owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed May 10, 2019 · Engine · 73,000 miles · CA

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

Filed Mar 21, 2016 · Acceleration, Engine · 160,500 miles · AZ

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

Filed Feb 23, 2010 · Engine · 50,000 miles · KS

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.

Filed Apr 10, 2008 · Engine · 77,800 miles · TN · fire

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.

Filed Jan 20, 2008 · Engine · 102,000 miles · CO

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.

Filed Jun 19, 2007 · Engine · MD

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.

Filed Sep 28, 2006 · Engine · 93,000 miles · MA

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.

Filed Sep 11, 2006 · Engine · 66,366 miles · WI

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.

Filed May 2, 2006 · Engine · 55,000 miles · FL

Excessive oil burning.

Filed Apr 30, 2006 · Engine · 52,000 miles · TX

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.

Questions about the 1999 Isuzu Trooper engine

Does the 1999 Isuzu Trooper have engine problems?

Owners have filed 58 complaints about the engine of the 1999 Isuzu Trooper, 72% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.

At what mileage do 1999 Isuzu Trooper engine problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 71,379 miles.

Was there a recall on the 1999 Isuzu Trooper engine?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Isuzu Trooper have bad engine?

The Isuzu Trooper model years with the most engine complaints are 1999 (58 complaints), 2000 (25 complaints) and 1998 (19 complaints).

Other 1999 Isuzu Trooper problems

Transmission 8Acceleration 7Electrical 5Fuel system 4Steering 4Brakes 3Visibility 3Body 2Suspension 2Lights 1Seats 1Wheels 1

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