Too bad it doesn't last as good as it looks. I bought my 2002 "Pooper" with 70k miles on it for a grand under book. Thought I got a great steal on this gorgeous 4x4. Less than 5 months later, the bottom end failed when the engine used 5 qts of oil in 3000 miles. I spent $4000 to have it completely rebuilt, only to have the engine fail again after 14k miles - this time with a religious history of oil changes with Mobil 1 synthetic. I absolutely could not recommend this vehicle to anyone, regardless of the buying scenario.

I am on my 2nd Isuzu Trooper 4x4 and the 4th motor in it.

With my first Trooper (1994) I experienced excessive oil consumption; not a leak. I was told it was normal up until the wrist pin(s) failed at about 110K miles. Of course Isuzu would do noting due too mileage. I had had every service per schedule and oil changes every 3,000 to 3500 miles, half the interval required by the owner's manual.

The dealer worked me into a new 99 Trooper and almost immediately the excessive oil usage showed up. This time I demanded the dealer document the usage and at about 57K miles they had a warranty short block put in due to an accurate history of excessive oil consumption. The new motor used almost no oil?!?!? I felt relieved until it came apart on the interstate at a cruise controlled 70mph with about 45K miles on it. The pistons and rods came through the block and out the oil pan. Isuzu would do nothing to cover this as they only warranty their replacement engines, as all other parts for 12,000 miles, not the 60,000 the original equipment engines are under even though they all come off the same line. I paid $7500 to have a new long block put in.

The first one the dealer installed failed when they turned the key!!! The bottom end was bad out of the crate. The next one has showed no oil consumption. However, this morning when I started it I immediately noticed an abnormal metal ticking noise. The oil level was normal. The dealer could find nothing wrong and when they changed the oil the noise went away. I am sure damage has already been done to this engine that will show up catastrophically later.