NHTSA — Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,088 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1999 Isuzu Trooper engine problems

engine problem

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1999 Isuzu Trooper Owner Comments

problem #10

Feb 102010

Trooper

  • 50,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Overland Park, KS, USA

problem #9

Apr 032008

Trooper 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,800 miles
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.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #8

Jun 012005

Trooper 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,366 miles
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.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #7

Sep 042004

Trooper 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Richland, WA, USA

problem #6

May 312005

Trooper 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,500 miles
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 approximately 70K that the 99 Trooper could have a catastrophic loss of oil resulting in engine destruction. The manufacturer is also negligent for not having a warning system (like a $2 light) on the dash that tells you when your oil is low. I would like to sell or trade this vehicle, however in good conscience I don't think some unsuspecting person should get saddled with this unfortunate condition. (dt)

- Katonah, NY, USA

problem #5

May 102005

Trooper 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,216 miles
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 and those parts are fine except that the radiator fuild is extremely low and it has use 1 quart of oil already. There are no leaking spots anywhere on the vehicle. He states that it sounds like the head is blown and the metal parts in that area are damaged and that the engine has to be taken apart. It has only 77,000 miles on it and until this time there has been no known problems.

- Calhan, CO, USA

problem #4

May 082005

Trooper 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Excessive oil burning ;and he changed upper and lower intake manifold gaskets twice in just over one year.

- Wellington, OH, USA

problem #3

May 092004

Trooper 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles
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!

- Brunswick, ME, USA

problem #2

May 202003

Trooper 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles
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.

- O'fallon , MO, USA

problem #1

Dec 292003

(reported on)

Trooper

  • miles
The oil light indicator had a delay in indicating how much oil was in the pan. Consumer was out of oil, then the light illuminated. Dealer has been contacted.

- Stoughton, WI, USA

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