1991 Isuzu Stylus Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1991 Isuzu Stylus, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical731.8%
- Driver assistance627.3%
- Engine522.7%
- Airbags14.5%
- Powertrain (other)14.5%
- Seat belts14.5%
- Steering14.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
THE ECU IS 500 DOLLARS AND THE DEALER WONT FIX IT BECAUSE OF THE VIN # NOT BEING CORRECT. I JUST WANT IT FIXED BECAUSE I DONT HAVE 500 DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THE ECU THAT WAS A RECALLED PART.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 THAT THE PART SHOULD BE REPLACED, AS IT IS A DESIGN FAULT.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 STRUTTER TO SEPARATE, RESULTING IN THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
VEHICLE IDLED POORLY, IT HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN. POWER STEERING WENT OUT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON A HEAD- ON COLLISION. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, AT APPROX. 50MPH, WET PAVEMENT, VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO RIGHT, THEN SUDDENLY FRONT AXLE BROKE, WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BUCKLES PRIOR TO RECALL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE GOING 55 MPH THE TIE ROD SLEEVE BROKE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO STEERING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .