Total Complaints
13 filings
ISUZU I MARK · model year
1989 ISUZU I MARK
13 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989ISUZUI MARK carries 13 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 I MARK is electrical system:ignition:module with 3 filings, followed by unknown or other (2) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 1989 I MARK. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
13
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20021210ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE ECU HAS CAUSED ERRATIC ENGINE BEHAVIOUR AND COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE LEAVING US STRANDED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN UNTRUSTWORTHY OVER IT'S ENTIRE LIFE. MANY TIMES THE IGNITION SYSTEM HAS FAILED IN TRAFFIC WITH OUR BABIES IN THE CAR LEAVING US STRANDED IN THE HEAT. THIS UNIT SHOULD BE RECALLED. IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE SOME OF THE HUNDREDS SPENT ON MIS-DIAGNOSIS, MOTEL BILL'S AND TOWING SERVICE, ETC. REIMBURSED BY GM/DELCO -ISUZU. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF NECESSARY. DT
20020307ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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
20020307VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
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
20010316ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE COMPUTER IN THIS CAR CAUSES FOR AN EXTREMELY ERRATIC IDLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST TURNED ON, THE IDLE SPEED IS NORMAL AND STEADY FOR ABOUT 5 TO 10 SECONDS, AND THEN ALL BETS ARE OFF. SOMETIMES IT GOES UP, SOMETIMES IT GOES DOWN, RANGING ANYWHERE FROM NEAR-STALL TO 3000 RPM. IT DOES THIS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS TURNED ON WHEN COLD, ONLY OCCASIONALLY AFTER IT IS WARMED UP. I WOULD TRY REPAIRING IT, BUT I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF EXPERIENCE WITH THIS ENGINE/ECU COMBINATION, AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM (INCLUDING DEALER-SUPPLIED REPLACEMENT ECUS, WHICH ARE FRIGHTFULLY EXPENSIVE) DO THIS. THANKFULLY, I AM AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, SO WHEN I AM IN CLOSE QUARTERS WITH A COLD ENGINE, I KEEP MY FOOT ON THE CLUTCH, READY TO SPRING INTO ACTION. THE CAR, DESPITE IT'S MILEAGE, HAS BEEN VERY WELL-TAKEN CARE OF, AND HAS A GREAT DEAL OF POWER. ONE TIME WHEN THE POWER HIT (IN FIRST GEAR, COASTING WITH MY FOOT OFF THE GAS), IT ACTUALLY SPUN THE TIRES. SPINNING THE TIRES WITH YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS IS NOT WHAT I
20010226ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ECU HAS FAILED, CAUSING ERRACTIC IDLE/ VEHICLES STALLING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
20010226ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ECU HAS FAILED, CAUSING ERRACTIC IDLE/ VEHICLES STALLING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
20000412UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE FIRST ECU FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER WARRANTY AND CAUSED THE CAR TO BARELY RUN. IT WAS REPLACED BY JOHN KRAFT CHEVROLET (THEY NO LONGER SELL ISUZU'S). DURING THE PAST 3 YRS/30000 MI I HAVE EXPERIENCED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING: ERRATIC IDLE, IDLE REVVING AND DROPPING (MOST COMMON), IDLE HANGING HIGH ABOVE 2000 RPM, AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, IDLE DROPPING WITH CAR OFTEN STALLING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED FOR A STOP. THE CAR SEEMS TO PICK BUSY INTERSECTIONS TO STALL. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AC DELCO ECU USED IN THIS CAR. AC DELCO USED AN INSULATIVE SPRAY ON THE CIRCUIT BOARDS WHICH SHRINKS OVER TIME WHEN EXPOSED TO WARM AND COLD TEMPS. THE SHRINKING INSULATIVE SPRAY CONTRACTS AND PULLS THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FROM THE CIRCUIT BOARD, BREAKING SOLDER CONNECTIONS AND CAUSING SHORTS. GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS FAULT AND HAS SINCE 1996 USED A DIFFERENT SPRAY ON THEIR ECU'S. ISUZU HAS REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE ANY PROBLEM AT ALL. I FEEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THESE DEFECTIV
19991024UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY LISTE DFOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
19990713POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
19990707ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ENGINE REVS UP TO 2500 RPMS WHILE IN NEUTRAL, THEN WHEN IT'S PUT INTO GEAR IT WILL STALL OUT. MECHANIC SAYS ITS THE ECU. PROBLEM IS HARD TO DUPLICATE. *AK
19990707VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE REVS UP TO 2500 RPMS WHILE IN NEUTRAL, THEN WHEN IT'S PUT INTO GEAR IT WILL STALL OUT. MECHANIC SAYS ITS THE ECU. PROBLEM IS HARD TO DUPLICATE. *AK
19951005SEAT BELTS
REAR SEAT BELTS HAVE FAILED, SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT FROM ITS POSITION, BOTH SEAT BELT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. TT
19950913SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WHEN CHANGED LATER THEY COME OFF IN A YEAR DIFFERENT . TT
Compare 1989ISUZUI MARK to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 ISUZU I MARK have?▼
The 1989 ISUZU I MARK has 13 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 ISUZU I MARK?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 ISUZU I MARK is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1989 ISUZU I MARK safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.