The 1991 draws 1.57 complaints per run and the 1990 1, a 1.6-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 9 years of age, so 100% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 9 complaints, typically at 8.6 years.
Isuzu IMPULSE years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 22 | 14 | yes | |
| 1990 | 4 | 4 | yes |
Among the 2 Isuzu IMPULSE years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 1991, 1990; the three worth hunting are 1990, 1991.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 5.9% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 11.8% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 17.6% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 23.5% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 47.1% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 88.2% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 0% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 100% 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 16% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
What waits further out is Electrical System at 8.6 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 8.6 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7.2 yrs | — | — | |
| Unknown Or Other | 8.8 yrs | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9.3 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belts | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | — | — | — | |
| Power Train | — | 1 | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the IMPULSE's vehicle class. Per production run, the Honda Civic draws 2.82 and the Ford Mustang 3.87, against 1.35 for the IMPULSE. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the IMPULSE | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic | 413 | 1981–2026 | |
| Ford Mustang | 315 | 1981–2026 | |
| Nissan GT-R | 9 | 2009–2026 | |
| Chevrolet Camaro | 204 | 1981–2026 | |
| Toyota Supra | 35 | 1981–2026 | |
| Nissan Sentra | 158 | 1982–2026 |
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
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Isuzu IMPULSE reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.35 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 2 class rivals we compared.
When do IMPULSE problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 9 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 8.6 years, followed by Vehicle Speed Control.
Will the warranty cover IMPULSE problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 0% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 16% of the complaints here.
Is the IMPULSE more reliable than the Honda Civic?
Yes: 1.35 complaints per production run for the IMPULSE against 2.82 for the Honda Civic.
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