Isuzu IMPULSE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
98,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1983 to 1994 model years. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Module is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 24 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 7 | 29.2% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 8.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.2% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 1 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 6; Unknown Or Other: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 23 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 3 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
1995: 3; 1996: 3; 2000: 8; 2001: 4; 2002: 3; 2003: 2; 2004: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Module leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 724196 · 2000-06-19 (June 19, 2000)
INSULATIVE SPRAY ON ECU BOARD CAUSES ELECTRICAL SHORTS IN HOT WEATHER. THIS LEADS TO IDLE SPEEDS FROM 400RPM TO 2000RPM. MAJOR CONCERN IS RANDOM STALLING. UNABLE TO START CAR AFTER STALLING. KNOWN TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, WHICH CAN BE QUITE A HAZARD AS THE CAR IS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. NOT SAFE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. - HTTP://WWW.ISUZUPERFORMANCE.COM/ISUZUWEB/RECALL.HTML. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724196 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030614 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
CONSTANT STALLING AND/OR HIGH REVVING OF ENGINE. STALLING USUALLY OCCURS WHEN COMMING OUT OF GEAR AND IDLE GOES DOWN TO 500RPMS OR LOWER AND STALLS OUT. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE AN ACKNOWLEDGED ECU PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED AND ISUZU NEVER DID.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 720403 · 2000-03-20 (March 20, 2000)
THE VEHICLE FAILS TO RUN AFTER IS WARMS UP. I HAVE CONTACTED SEVERAL MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER USES AN INSULATING SPRAY ON THE ECU THAT CAUSES IT TO SHRINK AND BRAKE CONTACTS IN THE UNIT ITSELF. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN THAT IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ONCE ALREADY AND WITH LOOSE CONTACT IT MY CAUSE A FIRE. I DO NOT EXPECT THE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE THE UNIT FOR FREE. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED SO THEY DID NOT MAKE ANY MONEY OFF OF ME BUT SOME HELP WOULD BE NICE. I FIND THEM RESPONSIBLE SO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 720403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 732129 · 2000-09-21 (September 21, 2000)
THE CAR WILL FOR NO REASON STALL, EVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS IS THE SECOND ONE THAT I HAVE OWNED, AND THE OTHER ONE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, WHEN THE CALL STALLED, AND CAUSED A LOSS OF STEERING. A PEDESTRIAN WAS WALKING ON THE STREET CORNER, WHEN MY CAR SMASHED AGAINST THE CURB, JUST BARELY MISSING HIM. IT'S REALLY SCARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ECU IS DEFECTIVE IN EVERY IMPULSE/STORM EVER MADE. WHY WASN'T THERE EVER A RECALL? ARE WE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 732129 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 971574 · 1995-09-05 (September 5, 1995)
CAR WAS PARKED IN GARAGE THERE WAS BAD FUMES SMELL FROM THE GARAGE AND HOUSE TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAY THE FUEL TANK MAY BE CORRODING . TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 971574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039413 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)
CAR WILL NOT IDLE OR RUNS FOR VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. HAVE REPLACED FUEL PUMP FUEL PUMP RELAY ETC ETC. ASC CERTIFIED MECH. SAYS NOTHING HE CAN DO. WHEN CAR IS COLD IT WORKS WELL.BUT A FEW MINUTES LATER IT STARTS ACTING UP. BASICALLY UNDRIVABLE
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039413 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1983 | 1 |
| 1984 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 |
| 1988 | 0 |
| 1989 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1994 | 0 |
1983: 1; 1984: 0; 1985: 1; 1988: 0; 1989: 0; 1990: 1; 1991: 1; 1992: 1; 1994: 0