1991 Isuzu Impulse
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Isuzu › Impulse › 1991
These records cover every 1991 Isuzu Impulse. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 1991 Isuzu Impulse. Newest first.
The steering wheel center hub can fracture during certain frontal and near frontal vehicle collisions.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Owner complaints
25 complaints1 involved a crash1 involved a fire
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- 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. *ak
- Vehicle speed control
Car races engine badly in the summer when temp over 80 degrees-wont idle. *Ak
- 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. *yh
- 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…
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.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
This IS a reoccurring manufacturer defect. Please issue a recall on these engine control modules. *Ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Module · 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. *Ak
- 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…
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.*ak
- 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…
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?
- 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…
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. *Ak
- Unknown or other
No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
- 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. *ak
- Unknown or other
No summmary listed for above vehicle. *ak
- 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…
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. *ak
- Unknown or other
No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Module · 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. *Ak
- 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…
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. *ak
- 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. *Ak
- 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.
- Electrical system › Ignition › Module
Failure of internal cpu connections creates faulty idle and driveability.
- Unknown or other
Failures indicates number of failures per week, not replacement per SE.
- 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.
- 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. *Ak
- Exterior lighting › Tail lights
Right tail light socket failed.
- 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. *ak
- Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
Driving along when hood latch released and flew up. tt
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Takata seat belt buckle failure
There is no summary currently available
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10237146This bulletin outlines the procedures for using the Alpine Exchange Program (the "Exchange Program"). The Exchange Program must be used when any Alpine radio or other component covered by this bulletin is repaired under warranty and may also be used for radio and component repairs not covered under warranty. Contact Alpine directly for pricing and payment methods applicable to radio and component repairs not covered under warranty.
- 10218932Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural recommendations to improve dealer efficiency when submitting Parts Warranty claims. We strongly recommend dealers follow these procedures in order to avoid delays in Parts Warranty claim payments and/or claim chargeback. This bulletin was revised to add a Parts Warranty Form
- 10218927Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural recommendations to improve dealer efficiency when submitting Parts Warranty claims. We strongly recommend dealers follow these procedures in order to avoid delays in Parts Warranty claim payments and/or claim chargeback.
- 612590This technical service bulletin outlines the detailed procedures for the air conditioning system conversion / retrofit.
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