Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
21 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 21 complaints (19.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Engine operation
3
14.3%
Braking behavior
2
9.5%
Electrical and battery issues
2
9.5%
Steering behavior
2
9.5%
Transmission and shifting
1
4.8%
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.
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 ISUZU STYLUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THEN RESTART. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START FOR DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SPRAYED ANTI HEAT SPRAY ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD, CAUSING EXCESSIVE SHRINKAGE OF THE BOARD DURING THE SUMMER AND WINTER WEATHER. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE SHRINKAGE CAUSED THE STR…
MY REGULAR MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, BUT ON THE WAY HOME IT STALLED AGAIN. WHEN I SLOW DOWN OR COME TO A STOP THE CAR WILL SHAKE AND IDLE HIGH AND THEN STALL. IF I PRESS THE GAS AND KEEP THE CAR REVED UP IT WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN TO REGULAR IDLE, BUT SOMETIMES STILL STALLS.*AK
THE CONCERN WE ALL HAVE IS WITH THE UNPREDICTABLE ERRATIC IDLE. WHILE SITTING AT A STOP, THE RPMS WILL JUMP FROM A STEADY 900 TO BETWEEN 2000-3000 UNEXPECTEDLY. THERE IS NO WARNING. I HAVE HAD TWO 90+ ISUZU CARS AND BOTH HAVE HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS. AS THEY WERE BOTH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, I WAS NOT AS CONCERNED WITH THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF THIS SINCE WHEN IT WOULD OCCUR I WOULD EITHER HAVE THE PARKING BRAKE ON AND BE IN NEUTRAL, OR THE CLUTCH WOULD BE ENGAGED. OUR MAJOR CONCERN IS WITH HOW THIS AFFECTS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES. …
VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION. BRAKES WERE ON AND VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. OWNER HAD STARTER REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
21 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
4.8%Usable mileage1 / 21 records
81.0%Valid incident date17 / 21 records
100.0%Valid filing date21 / 21 records
81.0%Ordered incident and filing dates17 / 21 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
Vehicle Speed Control
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
419.0%ODI 708364
I EXPERIENCE UNCONTROLLABLE ENGINE IDLE SPEED WHICH CAUSES DIFFICULTY IN MODULATING ACCELERATION WHEN LEAVING A STOP. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL FO CAUSING UNAVOIDABLE COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS.*AK
IDLE CONTROL; THE IDLE DROPS ALMOST STALLING THE CAR, THEN FLUCUATES BETWEEN 900 TO 2000 RPMS AND FINALLY STEADILY REVS AT 2000 RPMS FOR APROXIMATLY 30 SECONDS THEN DROPS SLOWLY TO 900 RPMS
ECU IS DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE TYPE OF ADHESIVE USED INSIDE THE COMPONENT. THIS FAILURE IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IDLE ROUGH/HIGH/AND SLOW. COULD BE DANGEROUS IF CONDITION PERSISTS. WOULD LIKE MANUFACTURER TO ISSUE A RECALL ON ALL AC DELCO ECU'S EMPLOYED IN 1991 ISUZU AND GEO CARS.
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 . , 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.
MY REGULAR MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, BUT ON THE WAY HOME IT STALLED AGAIN. WHEN I SLOW DOWN OR COME TO A STOP THE CAR WILL SHAKE AND IDLE HIGH AND THEN STALL. IF I PRESS THE GAS AND KEEP THE CAR REVED UP IT WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN TO REGULAR IDLE, BUT SOMETIMES STILL STALLS.*AK
DURINGTHE WARM SUMMER MONTHS THE CAR WILL IDLE SPORADICALLY AND OFTEN DIE FORCING THE DRIVER TO USE THE EMERGENCE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP SO THAT THE DRIVER CAN KEEP HIS OR HER FOOT ON THE GAS TO KEEP IT FROM QUITING. WHEN THE TENPERATURE OUTSIDE DROPS THE PROBLEM STOPS. *AK
THE CONCERN WE ALL HAVE IS WITH THE UNPREDICTABLE ERRATIC IDLE. WHILE SITTING AT A STOP, THE RPMS WILL JUMP FROM A STEADY 900 TO BETWEEN 2000-3000 UNEXPECTEDLY. THERE IS NO WARNING. I HAVE HAD TWO 90+ ISUZU CARS AND BOTH HAVE HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS. AS THEY WERE BOTH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, I WAS NOT AS CONCERNED WITH THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF THIS SINCE WHEN IT WOULD OCCUR I WOULD EITHER HAVE THE PARKING BRAKE ON AND BE IN NEUTRAL, OR THE CLUTCH WOULD BE ENGAGED. OUR MAJOR CONCERN IS WITH HOW THIS AFFECTS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES. …
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 TH…
1991 ISUZU STYLUS ECM FAILURE; FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE CAR FAILS TO START. HAS LEFT WIFE STRANDED IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS, TO THE POINT OF MANDATING CHANGES IN MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES, I WOULD LIKE EITHER GM OR ISUZU TO MAIL ME THE REPLACEMENT. *NM
VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION. BRAKES WERE ON AND VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. OWNER HAD STARTER REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
No usable records for this analysis.
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1993: 0 complaints · 1994: 0 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
1993
0
0
0
1994
0
0
0
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
1993
1
0
0
1994
1
0
0
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Vehicle Speed Control
Electrical System:Ignition
Electrical System
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
Air Bags:Frontal
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
Vehicle Speed Control
—
0
1ODI 724732
MY REGULAR MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, BUT ON THE WAY HOME IT STALLED AGAIN. WHEN I SLOW DOWN OR COME TO A STOP THE CAR WILL SHAKE AND IDLE HIGH AND THEN STALL. IF I PRESS THE GAS AND KEEP THE CAR REVED UP IT WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN TO REGULAR IDLE, BUT SOMETIMES STILL STALLS.*AK
MY REGULAR MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, BUT ON THE WAY HOME IT STALLED AGAIN. WHEN I SLOW DOWN OR COME TO A STOP THE CAR WILL SHAKE AND IDLE HIGH AND THEN STALL. IF I PRESS THE GAS AND KEEP THE CAR REVED UP IT WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN TO REGULAR IDLE, BUT SOMETIMES STILL STALLS.*AK
THE CONCERN WE ALL HAVE IS WITH THE UNPREDICTABLE ERRATIC IDLE. WHILE SITTING AT A STOP, THE RPMS WILL JUMP FROM A STEADY 900 TO BETWEEN 2000-3000 UNEXPECTEDLY. THERE IS NO WARNING. I HAVE HAD TWO 90+ ISUZU CARS AND BOTH HAVE HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS. AS THEY WERE BOTH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, I WAS NOT AS CONCERNED WITH THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF THIS SINCE WHEN IT WOULD OCCUR I WOULD EITHER HAVE THE PARKING BRAKE ON AND BE IN NEUTRAL, OR THE CLUTCH WOULD BE ENGAGED. OUR MAJOR CONCERN IS WITH HOW THIS AFFECTS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES. …
VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION. BRAKES WERE ON AND VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. OWNER HAD STARTER REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
MY REGULAR MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, BUT ON THE WAY HOME IT STALLED AGAIN. WHEN I SLOW DOWN OR COME TO A STOP THE CAR WILL SHAKE AND IDLE HIGH AND THEN STALL. IF I PRESS THE GAS AND KEEP THE CAR REVED UP IT WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN TO REGULAR IDLE, BUT SOMETIMES STILL STALLS.*AK
MY REGULAR MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, BUT ON THE WAY HOME IT STALLED AGAIN. WHEN I SLOW DOWN OR COME TO A STOP THE CAR WILL SHAKE AND IDLE HIGH AND THEN STALL. IF I PRESS THE GAS AND KEEP THE CAR REVED UP IT WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN TO REGULAR IDLE, BUT SOMETIMES STILL STALLS.*AK
MY REGULAR MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, BUT ON THE WAY HOME IT STALLED AGAIN. WHEN I SLOW DOWN OR COME TO A STOP THE CAR WILL SHAKE AND IDLE HIGH AND THEN STALL. IF I PRESS THE GAS AND KEEP THE CAR REVED UP IT WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN TO REGULAR IDLE, BUT SOMETIMES STILL STALLS.*AK
MY REGULAR MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, BUT ON THE WAY HOME IT STALLED AGAIN. WHEN I SLOW DOWN OR COME TO A STOP THE CAR WILL SHAKE AND IDLE HIGH AND THEN STALL. IF I PRESS THE GAS AND KEEP THE CAR REVED UP IT WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN TO REGULAR IDLE, BUT SOMETIMES STILL STALLS.*AK
THE CONCERN WE ALL HAVE IS WITH THE UNPREDICTABLE ERRATIC IDLE. WHILE SITTING AT A STOP, THE RPMS WILL JUMP FROM A STEADY 900 TO BETWEEN 2000-3000 UNEXPECTEDLY. THERE IS NO WARNING. I HAVE HAD TWO 90+ ISUZU CARS AND BOTH HAVE HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS. AS THEY WERE BOTH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, I WAS NOT AS CONCERNED WITH THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF THIS SINCE WHEN IT WOULD OCCUR I WOULD EITHER HAVE THE PARKING BRAKE ON AND BE IN NEUTRAL, OR THE CLUTCH WOULD BE ENGAGED. OUR MAJOR CONCERN IS WITH HOW THIS AFFECTS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES. …
VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION. BRAKES WERE ON AND VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. OWNER HAD STARTER REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
3 patterns with matching reports.
Stalling or loss of power
3 mentions · 14.3% of complaints
Median mileage: 100,000 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10735875 · 100,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 ISUZU STYLUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THEN RESTART. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START FOR DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SPRAYED ANTI HEAT SPRAY ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD, CAUSING EXCESSIVE SHRINKAGE OF THE BOARD DURING THE SUMMER AND WINTER WEATHER. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE SHRINKAGE CAUSED THE STR…
MY REGULAR MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, BUT ON THE WAY HOME IT STALLED AGAIN. WHEN I SLOW DOWN OR COME TO A STOP THE CAR WILL SHAKE AND IDLE HIGH AND THEN STALL. IF I PRESS THE GAS AND KEEP THE CAR REVED UP IT WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN TO REGULAR IDLE, BUT SOMETIMES STILL STALLS.*AK
THE CAR SURGES WITHOUT WARNING WHEN IDLING. THIS APPEARS SPORADICALLY AND UNPREDICTABLY. IF THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGED, THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD AND STALL. IF NOT ENGAGED, THEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REV'S VERY HIGH. AT TIMES THE ENGINE IDLES HIGH FROM START CONSISTENTLY FOR 5 OR MORE MINUTES AFTER STARTING, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGED OR NOT. WHEN THE ENGINE REVS HIGH, THE CAR LURCHES AND DRIVES ERRATICALLY WHEN IN MOTION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY OTHER ISUZU STYLUS OWNERS WHO REPORT SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT THIS IS AN ECU ISSUE AND TH…
Matching rule\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b
Hard or delayed shifting
1 mentions · 4.8% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
ODI 746821
THE CAR SURGES WITHOUT WARNING WHEN IDLING. THIS APPEARS SPORADICALLY AND UNPREDICTABLY. IF THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGED, THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD AND STALL. IF NOT ENGAGED, THEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REV'S VERY HIGH. AT TIMES THE ENGINE IDLES HIGH FROM START CONSISTENTLY FOR 5 OR MORE MINUTES AFTER STARTING, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGED OR NOT. WHEN THE ENGINE REVS HIGH, THE CAR LURCHES AND DRIVES ERRATICALLY WHEN IN MOTION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY OTHER ISUZU STYLUS OWNERS WHO REPORT SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT THIS IS AN ECU ISSUE AND TH…