Let's make '98/'99 Isuzu Trooper Recall happen

[rutherejr]

It seems that there are many people out there that have experienced the "mysterious oil loss" problem, especially in the '98 and '99 troopers. Does this sound familiar to you? Excessive oil use/loss, ticking or knocking sound, no warning lights coming on, no oil in garage or on driveway, no smoke coming out of the exhaust, changing oil on a regular basis, but when checked needing to add numerous quarts before it even registers. Shall I go on? And how many of us has the 60/60 warranty actually still in effect? (mine is four months over, but has only 55K)
I would like to know how many have actaully been fixed under warranty. Anyone???
I contacted my local Isuzu dealership, the answer, no, out of warranty. Then I called the Isuzu Owner Relations Dept., the answer, no, out of warranty. I then made a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
Soon after, I received a call from the Isuzu Owners Relations with questions about the vehicle maintenance, etc.. They also called the garage where the vehicle was located. I'm told they asked more questions about my character than about the vehicle. They did ask him what kind of shape the vehicle is in. Ron, at the garage, told him, "Well, what do you think? It's a '99 with 50K on, and it's in good shape." He also told them that as far as the kind of person I am, that I am the daughter of the chief of police and that you can't get much better than that! Thanks, Ron!! Well, I'm actually the daughter-in-law, but really, what should that matter.
Isuzu called me back again and told me he talked to his supervisor and there is nothing they can do to help me.
I then made a complaint with the Office of Defects Investigation at NHTSA. They are in charge of making recalls happen. People need to make enough complaints with THEM until a "trend" is formed. They don't go by a certian number of complaints, just until more people make complaints with them. There are MANY complaints in the automotive forums etc., but people NEED to make them at www.odi.nhtsa.dot.gov\, the Office of Defects Investigation at NHTSA consumer compaints. You can also reach them at 1-888-327-4236.
This is how we can get something done about this problem, and Isuzu with their "inadequate drain-back holes in the oil rings", will have to do something to fix the problem.
I'm trying to figure out what to do next. If anyone has any ideas how to pursue this or any info regarding this matter, PLEASE contact me. [email protected].
Let's do something!!

[cruiserman]

The motor (and tranny) were replaced on my 2000 Trooper, on Isuzu's dime. It was done at ~48k miles. I'm the 2nd owner, and thankfully the warranty on the 2000 and later Troopers was extended to 10 years/120k miles (5/60k for 2nd and subsequent owners). Best of luck to you.

[walkswith]

Good idea. I say everyone who has had an engine on the Trooper fail due to no oil get together and do something. What about a class action suit?

[rodeo02]

Starting a letter writting, phone calling campagn can't hurt & *might* get you somewhere, unfortunately I highly doubt it. Not only is isuzu USA barely hanging on for 2004-2005, but the trooper has been out of production since 2002. In this situation, you'd really need to be tied to the company for isuzu to pick up 100% of the bill. If I were you, I'd try a different angle by offering to pay a percentage of the repair bill if they pay the rest. Beg, plead and stay persistant. Emphasize you & your family/friends will continue to do business with them, etc..etc. I've had luck with other car companies that way (ford). They wound up paying half for me. The oil usage on some of these engines is not normal or acceptable by any means, but it is the owners responsibility to check and maintain the oil level. I know most of us are not used to having to do this, but with these trucks it's a MUST. It's too bad you didn't know this ahead of time! Most dont unfortunately.

[ut8824]

Good idea. Just posted my complaint at NHTSA -

"98 Isuzu Trooper 3.5 engine burns oil excessively. I am original owner and regularly serviced per owners manual. At 55k miles, engine oil light turned on 2,500 miles after oil change and was over 4 qts low. $1400 repair bill (not covered by warranty) unable to fix oil burning issue. Engine now at 75k 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."

I don't expect any reaction unless many other complaints are filed. Let's see them.

[walkswith]

I agree we need a lot of complaints. I got nowhere w/Isuzu on my own. Also, the first evidence I had a problem was just like yours, only when the light came on it took 5 qts. A few months later the engine froze, no light, no oil, no leaks! Let's see them!

[Sprint45]

Come on people post those complaints....I just did mine and did a search and only found 5 in the whole system about the oil. If we want something done about this we will need more people to file. The website in the original ihas changed it is now:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/

10 mins now could save you 7000 dollars later.......

[mlingk]

I'm very lucky that I found out about this problem before I blew my engine. I started doing research after being 3 qt's low in 3k miles around 60K miles on engine. I now feed the engine oil every 500 miles or so. I've tried everything to slow the consumption.. nothing has worked. I'll still post the complaint however. With very close monitoring of oil level, will this engine last awhile, or am I just biding my limited time?

[Superskeet]

Originally Posted by mlingk

I'm very lucky that I found out about this problem before I blew my engine. I started doing research after being 3 qt's low in 3k miles around 60K miles on engine. I now feed the engine oil every 500 miles or so. I've tried everything to slow the consumption.. nothing has worked. I'll still post the complaint however. With very close monitoring of oil level, will this engine last awhile, or am I just biding my limited time?

For those of you who want to fix your present oil consumption problem, go to WalMart and get a bottle of CD2 Oil Detergent. Within 3000 miles my consumption went from 1 qt every 500 miles to 1 qt every 1500 miles in BOTH of my '99 Troopers. I tried every other additive there is and this is the only one that worked. And it only cost $2.97!!

[mlingk]

How long did the CD2 fix the problem? Do you have to retreat the engine every 10-15K miles or do you add it at every oil change? I believe you recommended this to me in another thread and I just picked up some at Peps last night, but wasn't sure when to add it. I'm at 3.5K miles on M1 10-30 right now, wasn't sure if I should do a fresh oil change first.

[Superskeet]

Originally Posted by mlingk

How long did the CD2 fix the problem? Do you have to retreat the engine every 10-15K miles or do you add it at every oil change? I believe you recommended this to me in another thread and I just picked up some at Peps last night, but wasn't sure when to add it. I'm at 3.5K miles on M1 10-30 right now, wasn't sure if I should do a fresh oil change first.

If I were you I'd do a fresh oil change. Run it for 2k miles and change the oil with another bottle of CD2. Run that for 3k miles and change it again. At this point you should see a significant improvement, you can add more CD2 if you like but it shouldn't be necessary. Probably running a bottle every 10-15k would be a good idea.

I just realized you're using Mobil 1. I'm not sure what the recommended oil change intervals are, but if you feel you can go another 2k on what's in there then just add the bottle and go. The CD2 is going to loosen up a lot of sludge making your oil real dirty, so I wouldn't go more than 2k miles after adding the first bottle. On your next oil change with CD2 you should be able to go the normal interval unless it looks dirty beforehand, then you should change it.

[mlingk]

Thanks for the advice. I also just finished two cycles of Auto-RX cleaning so I'm hoping there won't be much sludge anywhere. Oil seems to be much cleaner into the interval now. This is also my first interval on M1 and I just read in another forum that it takes 1 interval on M1 for engine to 'adjust' and consumption should go down. I may watch it for another 2K before adding the CD2 just to make sure so I know what actually fixed the problem.