Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

1990 Isuzu IMPULSE: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

5 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1990 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 5 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation120.0%

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.

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
2
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Electrical System:Ignition
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Electrical System:Ignition1

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 5 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.

1996
2
1999
1
2002
1
2003
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19962
19991
20021
20031

1996: 2; 1999: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1

Pattern summary

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

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 504433 · 1996-05-08 (May 8, 1996)

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504433 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 708303 · 1999-07-07 (July 7, 1999)

ENGINE IDLE JUMPS ABOVE 3000 RPM AFTER PULLING TO A STOP. WILL OCCASIONALLY RETURN TO NORMAL AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. CAR RACES AND ACCELERATES UNCONTROLLABLY WITH CLUTCH ENGAGED UNTIL IDLE SPEED RETURNS TO NORMAL. IAC AND STICKY THROTTLE CABLE HAVE BEEN RULED OUT. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE DELCO ECU, AS EXPERIENCED BY MANY OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH 1.6 AND 1.8 LITER FI 4XE1 AND 4XF1 ENGINES. MANUFACTURER HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 708303 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 760507 · 2002-04-09 (April 9, 2002)

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 760507 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 800236 · 1996-07-30 (July 30, 1996)

OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 800236 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

92V091000 · Air Bags

Reported: 1992-07-06 (July 6, 1992)

THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER HUB CAN FRACTURE DURING CERTAIN FRONTAL AND NEAR FRONTAL VEHICLE COLLISIONS.

Consequence: FRACTURING OF THE STEERING WHEEL HUB CAN DECREASE THEDRIVER'S CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COULD REDUCE THE CRASH PROTECTION OF THESTEERING SYSTEM AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG.

Remedy: A STEERING WHEEL REINFORCEMENT PLATE AND NUT WILL BE ADDED TO THE STEERING WHEEL HUB.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

5 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 5 records
80.0%Valid incident date4 / 5 records
100.0%Valid filing date5 / 5 records
80.0%Ordered incident and filing dates4 / 5 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
Component198319841985198819891990199119921994
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

1100.0%
ODI 724196

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

Look up ODI 724196 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

728.0%
ODI 564213

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME IDLE CONTROL PROBLEMS AS STATED IN PREVIOUS RECALL REGARDING THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. *YH

Look up ODI 564213 at NHTSA ↗

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Vehicle Speed Control
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

240.0%
ODI 10030614

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

Look up ODI 10030614 at NHTSA ↗

416.0%
ODI 708619

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. *AK

Look up ODI 708619 at NHTSA ↗

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

416.0%
ODI 713307

ENGINE IDLES VERY HIGH, WILL SURGE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT ON THESE CARS.

Look up ODI 713307 at NHTSA ↗

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Unknown Or Other
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

416.0%
ODI 710305

FAILURES INDICATES NUMBER OF FAILURES PER WEEK, NOT REPLACEMENT PER SE.

Look up ODI 710305 at NHTSA ↗

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

240.0%
ODI 504433

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. *SD

Look up ODI 504433 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

28.0%
ODI 715941

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 SHO…

Look up ODI 715941 at NHTSA ↗

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Electrical System
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

14.0%
ODI 10066469

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. *AK

Look up ODI 10066469 at NHTSA ↗

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

14.0%
ODI 823096

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. *AK

Look up ODI 823096 at NHTSA ↗

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

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
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
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.

1 reports2024-112026-10

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
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

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.

Age 0Age 1Age 21 reports

1992: 0 complaints · 1994: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
1992000
1994011
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
1992000
1994100

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
ComponentSeat Belts:Front:Buckle AssemblyVehicle Speed ControlElectrical System:Ignition
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly—00
Vehicle Speed Control0—0
Electrical System:Ignition00—

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.

1 patterns with matching reports.

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 20.0% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 10030614

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

Look up ODI 10030614 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b