1999 Isuzu Trooper: engine failure

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 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 Mar 24, 2006 · Engine · 83,000 miles · PA

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.

Filed Feb 19, 2006 · Engine · TX

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.

Filed Feb 15, 2006 · Engine · UT

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.

Filed Oct 31, 2005 · Engine · 71,379 miles · WA

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 federal safety agency investigates this issue so that no other owners or passengers are placed in potentially deadly and certainly costly circumstances again.

Filed Sep 29, 2005 · Engine · 76,000 miles · OH

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

Filed Aug 22, 2005 · Engine · 36,668 miles · NY

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.

Filed Jun 23, 2005 · Engine · 71,500 miles · KS

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!).

Filed May 9, 2005 · Engine · 70,000 miles · ME

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 federal safety agency 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!