A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jun 1995peak 3Apr 2004
NHTSA investigations into the 1991 Isuzu Impulse
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA95009Opened 10 Mar 1995Closed 2 Aug 1995SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
Recalls on the 1991 Isuzu Impulse
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1995129113,044 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
THE (Takata) ABS PLASTIC FRONT SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTONS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY BREAK ALLOWING PLASTIC PIECES TO FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. IF THIS SHOULD HAPPEN, A NO LATCH, FALSE LATCH OR FAILURE TO UNLATCH CONDITION COULD OCCUR CREATING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR SUDDEN STOP. CORRECTION: FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED AS NECESSARY.
Recall 19920801,396 units in Canada
Steering
THE STEERING WHEEL CENTRE HUB MAY FRACTURE DURING CERTAIN TYPES OF FRONTAL AND NEAR FRONTAL VEHICLE CRASHES. THIS WOULD REDUCE THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE TO POSSIBLY AVOID ANY SECOND COLLISION AND COULD REDUCE THE CRASH PROTECTION OF THE STEERING SYSTEM AND DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT PLATE TO THE STEERING WHEEL HUB.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Buffalo Grove, ILCrash
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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 WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO BE KILLED FIRST?
NHTSA complaint #732129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MT Ephraim, NJFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING ALL NIGHT, EARLY MORNING IT BURSTED INTO FLAMES, NEAR THE BATTERY. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE FIRE MARSHALL IT APPEARED TO BE A SHORT CIRCUIT NEAR THE BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #823096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Altamonte Springs, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 1991 ISUZU IMPULSE AND IT'S HAVING ECU PROBLEMS. MY MECHANIC SAYS IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I SEE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, AND IT SHOULDN'T FALL ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE CONSUMERS.
NHTSA complaint #10066469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Minneapolis, MN
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR RACES ENGINE BADLY IN THE SUMMER WHEN TEMP OVER 80 DEGREES-WONT IDLE.
NHTSA complaint #763608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carol Stream, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME IDLE CONTROL PROBLEMS AS STATED IN PREVIOUS RECALL REGARDING THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT.
NHTSA complaint #564213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carol Stream, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME IDLE CONTROL PROBLEMS AS STATED IN PREVIOUS RECALL REGARDING THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT.
NHTSA complaint #564213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Norman, OK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS FAULT ARE MOST NOTABLY ERRATIC IDLE, IDLE REVVING AND DROPPING, IDLE DIPPING OFTEN WITH ENGINE DYING, IDLE HANGING HIGH ABOVE 2,000 RPM, AND ENGINE DYING OR STALLING FOR NO REASON WITH NO TROUBLE CODES. THESE SYMPTOMS WILL OFTEN ONLY OCCUR IN WARMER WEATHER AS THE METAL CIRCUITS OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD SEEM MOST VULNERABLE TO SHORT CIRCUITS AT SOLDER CRACKS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WITHIN THE CAR IS ABOVE 80 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. IN TEMPERATE CLIMATES, THE SYMPTOMS MAY FIRST SHOW THEMSELVES AS SOON AS THE WEATHER WARMS AND PLAGUE THE OWNER ALL SUMMER LONG, ONLY TO SUBSIDE IN THE FALL WITH THE COOLER WEATHER AND THEN REAPPEAR THE NEXT SPRING.
NHTSA complaint #756046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jackson, MS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THIS IS A REOCCURRING MANUFACTURER DEFECT. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE ENGINE CONTROL MODULES.
NHTSA complaint #752999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yonkers, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AS THE WEATHER IS GETTING WARMER THE ENGINE REVS AND DROPS UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CAR ALSO STALLS AT ANY SPEED. I HAVE HAD IT EVEN STALL ON THE HIGHWAY. I HEAR THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF ECM UNIT, PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS FOR ME. IF I HADN'T TAKEN A DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE I COULD BE DEAD RIGHT NOW.
NHTSA complaint #747780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yonkers, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
AS THE WEATHER IS GETTING WARMER THE ENGINE REVS AND DROPS UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CAR ALSO STALLS AT ANY SPEED. I HAVE HAD IT EVEN STALL ON THE HIGHWAY. I HEAR THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF ECM UNIT, PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS FOR ME. IF I HADN'T TAKEN A DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE I COULD BE DEAD RIGHT NOW.
NHTSA complaint #747780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bell, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE DEFECTS ARE DUE TO THE IMPROPER MANUFACTURING OF THE ECM MODULE OF THIS VEHICLE. THE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE AN ERRATIC IDLE WITH THE IDLE REVVING UP AND DROPPING TO THE POINT WHERE THE ENGINE DIES. THE IDLING WILL JUMP UP TO 2000 RPM, LINGER THERE UNTIL I BLIP THE THROTTLE, SOMETIMES UP TO 3 OR 4 TIMES. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO STALL WITH THE IDLING MOVING ERRATICALLY, AND THEN SUDDENLY THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. LUCKILY, I MANAGED TO COAST OFF TO THE SHOULDER WHERE I REMAINED STRANDED FOR OVER FOUR HOURS. WHEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, THERE ARE NO TROUBLE CODES PRESENT. IT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME TO REPLACE THE IGNITION MODULE, PLUGS, WIRES, COIL PACKS, CAM ANGLE SENSOR, AND VARIOUS OTHER COMPONENTS DUE TO THE REASON THAT THEY WERE THE ONES CAUSING THE PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED AND MY WALLET WAS LIGHTENED BY ABOUT $500. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I DON'T SEE ANYTHING "NORMAL" ABOUT HAVING YOU CAR COMPLETELY GO DEAD ON YOU ON THE FREEWAY. I NEED TO GET THIS DEFECT FIXED BECAUSE THIS PUTS THE DRIVER IN AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE SITUATION. WITH THE FREEWAYS BEING AS DANGEROUS AS THEY ARE, THE LESS THINGS YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, THE BETTER ATTENTION YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PAY TO THE ROAD AHEAD OF YOU. THANKYOU FOR YOUR TIME. I REALLY HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME.
NHTSA complaint #747508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Buffalo Grove, ILCrash
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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 WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO BE KILLED FIRST?
NHTSA complaint #732129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Robins AFB, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WHEN CAR WARMS UP YOU CANT DRIVE OR IT WILL STALL. ONCE WARMED UP IT WILL NOT START. I SAW AN ARTICLE ON THE ISUZUPERFORMANCE WEB SITE THAT SAID OTHER VEHICLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IT ALSO STATED THE REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM IS A FAULTY ECU COMPUTER MADE AND INSTALLED BY AC DELCO. I WISH I WOULD HAVE HAD THIS INFORMATION BEFORE I WENT OUT A BOUGHT PARTS TO TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM MYSELF. IF ITS THE COMPUTER, THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THAT ON MY OWN. A RESPONSE ON THIS ISSUE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #726225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Amarillo, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #724023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Buffalo Grove, IL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THIS IS THE 2ND IMPULSE THAT I HAVE OWNED, AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD ONLY HAPPEN TO MY FIRST ONE, BUT THIS ONE IS THE SAME WAY. WHEN IT GETS WARM OUT, THE ENGINE HAS IDLING PROBLEMS. THEN OTHER IMPULSE I HAD (1990) DID IT FROM DAY 1 AT 55000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #723786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Amarillo, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #721783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lakeridge, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
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 THEY SHOULD LIVE UP TO THERE REPUTATION OF QUALITY.
NHTSA complaint #720403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pueblo, CO
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #719849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lincoln, ND
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ECU HAS ERRATIC PROBLEM. WILL PUT THE CAR INTO HIGH IDLE AT ANY GIVEN SPEED AND WILL NOT RESET UNLESS CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. REPLACE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND RESEATED ECM SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. TRY RESETTING THE ECM TO GET THE CAR OFF OF HIGH IDLE WHILE YOU ARE IN TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #716230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lincoln, ND
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
ECU HAS ERRATIC PROBLEM. WILL PUT THE CAR INTO HIGH IDLE AT ANY GIVEN SPEED AND WILL NOT RESET UNLESS CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. REPLACE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND RESEATED ECM SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. TRY RESETTING THE ECM TO GET THE CAR OFF OF HIGH IDLE WHILE YOU ARE IN TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #716230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mississauga, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
MY ADDRESS IS IN ONTARIO,CANADA POSTAL CODE L5J-3N5. THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS FAULT ARE MOST NOTABLY ERRATIC IDLE, IDLE REVVING AND DROPPING, IDLE DIPPING OFTEN WITH ENGINE DYING, IDLE HANGING HIGH ABOVE 2,000 RPM, AND ENGINE DYING OR STALLING FOR NO REASON WITH NO TROUBLE CODES. THESE SYMPTOMS WILL OFTEN ONLY OCCUR IN WARMER WEATHER AS THE METAL CIRCUITS OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD SEEM MOST VULNERABLE TO SHORT CIRCUITS AT SOLDER CRACKS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WITHIN THE CAR IS ABOVE 80 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. IN TEMPERATE CLIMATES, THE SYMPTOMS MAY FIRST SHOW THEMSELVES AS SOON AS THE WEATHER WARMS AND PLAGUE THE OWNER ALL SUMMER LONG, ONLY TO SUBSIDE IN THE FALL WITH THE COOLER WEATHER AND THEN REAPPEAR THE NEXT SPRING.
NHTSA complaint #715941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sault Ste.marie, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE MAKEING A STOP ENGINE WOULD STALL OR IDLE. EALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ,CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON.
NHTSA complaint #853329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodland Hills, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE IDLES VERY HIGH, WILL SURGE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT ON THESE CARS.
NHTSA complaint #713307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Leavenworth, KS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
FAILURE OF INTERNAL CPU CONNECTIONS CREATES FAULTY IDLE AND DRIVEABILITY.
NHTSA complaint #712958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cave Spring, GA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE NUMBER OF FAILURES IS RELATIVE TO THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE CAR SURGES ON ME PER WEEK, BUT NOT HOW MANY TIME THE ACTUAL EQUIPMENT HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #710304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cave Spring, GA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FAILURES INDICATES NUMBER OF FAILURES PER WEEK, NOT REPLACEMENT PER SE.
NHTSA complaint #710305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yorktown, VA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM ONE TOO MANY TIMES, AND IT IS STARTING TO GET ANNOYING. I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR RIGHT NOW AND I WOULD'NT WANT ANYONE ELSE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH A CAR. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. MY CAR CAN TAKE OFF AT ANY TIME IT WANTS TO. IT ALMOST MADE ME GET IN AN ACCIDENT IN A TRAFFIC JAM. THE DEALER WON'T COVER THE DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #708619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.