Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 69.2% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 5 complaints, typically at 6.8 years.
Isuzu i-290 years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 | 3 | yes | |
| 2007 | 10 | 7 | yes |
Among the 2 Isuzu i-290 years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2007, 2008; the three worth hunting are 2008, 2007.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 7.7% | covered | |
| 1 year | 30.8% | covered | |
| 3 years | 38.5% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 46.2% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 53.8% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 69.2% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 84.6% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 92.3% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 30.8% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 69.2% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 69% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Isuzu i-290, the early trouble is Engine And Engine Cooling and Power Train — reported at around 2 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Electrical System at 6.8 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6.8 yrs | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 yrs | — | — | |
| Power Train | 4 yrs | — | — | |
| Engine | 7.5 yrs | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 yrs | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 3 yrs | — | — | |
| Structure | 8 yrs | — | — | |
| Steering | 8 yrs | — | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the i-290's vehicle class.
| Same class as the i-290 | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Colorado | 84 | 2004–2026 | |
| GMC Canyon | 84 | 2004–2026 | |
| Dodge Rampage | 2 | 1982–1984 | |
| Suzuki Equator | 13 | 2009–2026 | |
| Isuzu Hombre | 9 | 1996–2000 | |
| Isuzu i-370 | 3 | 2007–2008 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Isuzu i-290 reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.3 against 3.73 for the average car.
When do i-290 problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 6.8 years, followed by Engine and Engine Cooling.
Will the warranty cover i-290 problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 30.8% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 69% of the complaints here.
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