Isuzu Trooper engine failure problems

Filed Sep 7, 2010 · Engine, Fuel system · 91,000 miles · SD

I checked my oil level 3 weeks ago and it was fine. I change my oil every 3000 miles. I added a quart 3 days ago for a long trip I was taking. While driving down to billings, mt, my car suddenly stopped. It had not overheated or shown a warning sign. My car was bone dry of oil! The engine has seized. I did everything right...this is clearly a design flaw in the car.

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 Feb 15, 2010 · Engine · 50,000 miles · AE

Engine is exhibiting abnormally high oil consumption. One quart per 500 miles. Imminent engine failure if problem is not corrected.

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 Jul 13, 2007 · Engine · 15,000 miles · VA

Excessive oil consumption-denial by isuzu to replace engine.

Filed Jun 11, 2007 · Engine · 79,000 miles · CO

Engine in my 2002 isuzu trooper burned up the main rod bearing in piston one due to insufficient oil pressure. Engine had to be replaced. Truck has 79k miles on it and was out of warranty. Isuzu of north america stated nothing would be done via the manufacturer. I replaced the engine myself at a cost of $4800.

Filed Nov 28, 2006 · Engine · 100,000 miles · MI

We have had to add 1-2 qts of oil every couple thousand miles although we did not see an oil leak (no marks on the driveway) mechanic could find no oil leak or problem our check engine light has been on,and mechanic said we needed emissions sensor replaced. We did replace it. On our way to thanksgiving in oklahoma from michigan our engine blew ! We are now without that vehicle but still making payments. A dealership in tulsa said that those engines are replaced a lot at his shop due to this problem. He said that there is carbon build up in the valve that goes to the engine causing the oil to burn up. After so long of it being built up it gets clogged and ends up blowing. He said if we had been taking the car to an isuzu dealer to get the oil changed they know about it and can clean it. Problem for us is there isn't an isuzu dealer in the city we live in so we didn't have a chance. I believe isuzu should have sent a letter to trooper owners notifying them of this defect so as not to have to go through this problem since it can be avoided.

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.