The Isuzu Stylus spans 1987–1992 with 3 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 3.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 1991, 1992, 1990 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 1987, 1988, 1989. It delivers up to 33 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
Is the Isuzu Stylus a good car?
Short answer: it depends heavily on which year you buy. Our score for the Isuzu Stylus is 3.5 out of 5, built from NHTSA crash-test results, how often it gets recalled and what owners actually complain about — not from reviews.
The complaint that comes up most is the electrical system — 8 of the 32 reports owners filed with NHTSA. If you're choosing a year, 1987, 1988, 1989 score best in our data, and 1991, 1992 worst.
This page describes the model. It can't tell you whether that car has an open recall, a rolled-back odometer or a branded title — for that, run its number through our free VIN check.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Isuzu Stylus is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 1987 to 1992 across multiple generations.
How to read a Isuzu Stylus VIN — every digit explained
Every Isuzu Stylus carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Isuzu and the country it was built in (real Isuzu codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Stylus.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- JapanJ81 · J8Z · JAA · JAB · JAC · JAE
- USA4S1 · 4S2 · 4S6
- CanadaJ87
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the number is stamped on your Stylus, see our free VIN decoder.
How many recalls does the Isuzu Stylus have?
The Isuzu Stylus has 3 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1987–1992. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
1992 Isuzu Stylus recalls 1
Air Bags
What's wrong. THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER HUB CAN FRACTURE DURING CERTAIN FRONTAL AND NEAR FRONTAL VEHICLE COLLISIONS.
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.
Fix. A STEERING WHEEL REINFORCEMENT PLATE AND NUT WILL BE ADDED TO THE STEERING WHEEL HUB.
1991 Isuzu Stylus recalls 1
Air Bags
What's wrong. THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER HUB CAN FRACTURE DURING CERTAIN FRONTAL AND NEAR FRONTAL VEHICLE COLLISIONS.
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.
Fix. A STEERING WHEEL REINFORCEMENT PLATE AND NUT WILL BE ADDED TO THE STEERING WHEEL HUB.
1990 Isuzu Stylus recalls 1
Air Bags
What's wrong. THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER HUB CAN FRACTURE DURING CERTAIN FRONTAL AND NEAR FRONTAL VEHICLE COLLISIONS.
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.
Fix. A STEERING WHEEL REINFORCEMENT PLATE AND NUT WILL BE ADDED TO THE STEERING WHEEL HUB.
Best and worst years for the Isuzu Stylus
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 6 tracked years, the worst years are 1991, 1992, 1990 and the best (fewest complaints) are 1987, 1988, 1989.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 Stylus | — | Best | |
| 1988 Stylus | — | Best | |
| 1989 Stylus | — | Best | |
| 1990 Stylus | — | Avoid | |
| 1991 Stylus | Electrical System | Avoid | |
| 1992 Stylus | Service Brakes | Avoid |
What are the most common Isuzu Stylus problems?
The most-reported Isuzu Stylus problems are Engine (1 reports), Air Bags (1 reports) and Steering (2 reports) — out of 32 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Isuzu Stylus specifications & dimensions
The 1992 Isuzu Stylus. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Isuzu Stylus window sticker.
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Isuzu Stylus cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Stylus holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 90 cu ft of passenger volume and 17 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Isuzu Stylus tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Isuzu Stylus get?
The Isuzu Stylus returns up to 33 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $1,900/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 1992 Isuzu Stylus (1.6L 4-cyl) gets 29 mpg combined and costs about $2,150/yr to fuel, emitting 306 g/mi CO₂ — that's about $250 saved over 5 years versus the average new vehicle.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 Stylus | 27 | 33 | $2,150 | 306 | — | 1.6L 4-cyl | |
| 1991 Stylus | 27 | 33 | $2,150 | 306 | — | 1.6L 4-cyl | |
| 1990 Stylus | 27 | 34 | $2,100 | 296 | — | 1.6L 4-cyl | |
| 1989 Stylus | 17 | 20 | $3,450 | 494 | — | 2.3L 4-cyl | |
| 1988 Stylus | 31 | 37 | $1,900 | 269 | — | 1.5L 4-cyl | |
| 1987 Stylus | 31 | 37 | $1,900 | 269 | — | 1.5L 4-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the Stylus stacks up against the most fuel-efficient sedans, or calculate this Stylus's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Isuzu Stylus have? Power & range
The Isuzu Stylus is offered with 1 powertrain — 1.6L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 1.6L · 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a Isuzu Stylus cost to own?
A Isuzu Stylus depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Check what a used Stylus is worth today or browse current used-market prices before you buy or sell. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Stylus loses about 54% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $9,500 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Stylus ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Isuzu Stylus safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Stylus yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How many miles does a Isuzu Stylus last?
A well-maintained Isuzu Stylus typically lasts 200,000–250,000 miles. With regular oil, transmission and timing service, most examples comfortably pass the 200,000-mile mark. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 3.5/5.
Check your Isuzu Stylus’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this Stylus’s VIN free →All Isuzu Stylus model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Isuzu Stylus — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 Stylus | 1 recall | — | |
| 1991 Stylus | 1 recall | — | |
| 1990 Stylus | 1 recall | — | |
| 1989 Stylus | 0 | — | |
| 1988 Stylus | 0 | — | |
| 1987 Stylus | 0 | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Stylus?
By owner-complaint volume, 1991, 1992, 1990 drew the most reports. 1987, 1988, 1989 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Stylus have?
3 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1987–1992. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Isuzu recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the Stylus get?
Up to 33 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a Stylus last?
A well-maintained Stylus typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Stylus reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Stylus is 3.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Isuzu Stylus warranty?
New Isuzu models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Isuzu dealer.
Where is the Isuzu Stylus made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Stylus's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Isuzu may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Stylus have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.