Isuzu MU-X Problems

It doesn't matter whether it's a common fault with this make and model, because the reality is that the vehicle is still under the factory warranty, so it's Isuzu's problem, not yours.

Provided, that is, that the fault occurred on its own and not as the result of an impact that would be deemed accidental damage.

Generally speaking, these LED information screens and other touch screens are pretty reliable and robust, but problems have been known to occur including loss of touch control and the sort of crazing you're noted. Isuzu is not alone either, and many brands have similar issues. The crazing can also be the result of temperature extremes (hot and cold) and will sometimes go away when the ambient temperature returns to a more moderate level.

The type of problem can often be fixed by replacing the actual screen (or in this case, rotary dial) rather than the entire control unit. But it's a specialist job and involves dismantling at least some of the dashboard to achieve.

This is not an uncommon complaint with MU-X owners nor the owners of many other makes and models. It seems as though some Bluetooth systems prefer an Apple phone to an Android and vice-versa. The solution for some owners has been to change their brand of phone, but that seems pretty extreme. Others have resorted to aftermarket Bluetooth systems, but since your car is still brand-new, it doesn't make sense to be changing the head unit.

The first thing to do is contact Isuzu to see if there's been a new download to reflash the head unit and improve the Bluetooth performance. Car makers constantly chase this stuff, and a reflash might suddenly make the thing play the game properly.

You can check whether the problem is phone incompatibility by trying to pair somebody else's phone (of a different type) to see if it works properly with the MU-X's system.

A lot of people buying this type of vehicle are horrified the first time they work out their real-world fuel consumption and compare it with the official sticker on the windscreen. Frankly, very very few cars can get anywhere near that official figure. It’s the result of a standard test that bears little relationship with real driving and it’s really only for comparisons with other vehicles, not a realistic idea of what to expect.

Even so, 14 litres per 100km at highway speeds does seem high. Being a 2019 model, it won’t be that the engine is still brand-new and tight, so we can rule that out. But, there are many other factors that affect fuel consumption more than you might imagine. Does the car have a roof rack fitted, for instance? If it does, you can easily use an extra litre per 100km at freeway speeds thanks to the extra drag. And that’s if there’s nothing on the rack (it will be worse loaded).

Is the car carrying a lot of accessories such as a bull-bar, rear step, extra fuel tanks and maybe even a winch? All these add weight and weight kills fuel economy. What tyres are you running? Big mud tyres with an aggressive tread can drastically ruin fuel economy, so can taller tyres than standard which mess up the gearing and force you to use more accelerator pedal than a car on standard tyres. Also, the road from Melbourne to Wagga is mostly freeway with a 110km/h limit. Experience has shown that most cars will give their best fuel economy around the 80 to 90km/h mark, and every kilometre over that sees fuel economy go downhill. There could be a very big difference in your car between 100km/h and 110km/h. Even a stiff headwind in a big, bluff-fronted car like a MU-X can make a difference over the distance you’ve quoted.

If none of those factors are at work, then you really should have the car scanned to see if there’s any problem with the mechanical or fuel systems. Even a dirty air filter can cause a big hike in fuel use, so a once over at the workshop might reveal the answer.

This is not an uncommon complaint with MU-X owners nor the owners of many other makes and models. It seems as though some Bluetooth systems prefer an Apple phone to an Android and vice-versa. The solution for some owners has been to change their brand of phone, but that seems pretty extreme. Others have resorted to aftermarket Bluetooth systems, but since your car is still brand-new, it doesn't make sense to be changing the head unit.

The first thing to do is contact Isuzu to see if there's been a new download to reflash the head unit and improve the Bluetooth performance. Car makers constantly chase this stuff, and a reflash might suddenly make the thing play the game properly.

You can check whether the problem is phone incompatibility by trying to pair somebody else's phone (of a different type) to see if it works properly with the MU-X's system.

Blown turbochargers are hardly an unknown problem on the MU-X or many of the other popular modern turbo-diesel engines that work pretty hard and make lots of horsepower and torque for their capacity.

Some owners report a rattling, metallic noise such as yours; others reckon the sound of a dying turbocharger is more like an air-raid siren. Either way, the turbo needs to be changed sooner rather than later, to avoid the chance of bits of broken turbo being sucked through the rest of the engine with catastrophic results.

I presume your MU-X is a first-generation model, not the second-generation that launched in mid-2021? The latter is engineered for a WDH, but the former is not.

Many people think a Weight Distribution Hitch (and also known as load levelling bars) will alter a caravan’s level or otherwise. But the truth is that these are really only designed to transfer some of the tow-ball loading to the tow vehicle’s front axle. `Level riders’ as they are known are more of the same. Many car-makers do not recommend or even permit the use of these hitches, so Isuzu is hardly alone there.

The problem you face in using them in direct contravention of Isuzu’s own advice is that, if there is a problem on the road, you might find your insurance company will attempt to disown you on the basis of having ignored that official advice.

Conventional wisdom is that an over-drive gearbox (such as your five-speed) shouldn’t tow anything heavy in top gear. The loads placed on the transmission via the over-driven fifth ratio can cause internal transmission damage.

Also, by leaving the engine in fourth gear (locking out over-drive in the automatic version) you stand to have the engine operating squarely in its comfort and torque zone, rather than lugging along in a too-tall ratio.

So that’s the nutshell answer: Save fifth gear for downhills and tail-winds and keep the load off the transmission.

I wouldn’t be concerned about the cylinder configuration of a particular engine. What’s more important is how much power and torque that engine makes, and how towing-friendly that power delivery is. By which we mean how smooth and flexible is the delivery. What you don’t want is a peaky engine that needs to be revved before it delivers the good as that puts a strain on everything and make the vehicle tricky and unpleasant to drive.

The good news is that all the vehicles you’ve nominated have good, solid powerplants that are well suited to towing a caravan. Modern turbo-diesels – especially with an automatic transmission – are ideal for this task.

What you should go for, however, is the vehicle with the highest towing rating. In this case, that’s any of the Grand Cherokee, MU-X or older Discovery, all of which have variants that can handle a towed load of 3.5 tonnes. The Everest is almost as good with 3.1 tonne, but only almost. The problem is that the van you’ve nominated can easily weigh between 2.2 and 2.8 tonnes which, with a 3.1-tonne limit, leaves you very little headroom for water tanks and camping gear. You’d be amazed at how much a fully loaded caravan weighs, so don’t rely on the brochure, load the van and take it to a weighbridge to make sure the vehicle you have can legally tow it.

When the new D-Max arrived in 2020, the big improvements included a step up in standard equipment and a big leap forward in refinement and ride quality. The engine and driveline, however, was carried over from the previous model, so performance and driveability were similar.

With that in mind, you can probably expect the all-new MU-X to offer a similar hike in standard equipment terms. But unlike the D-Max with its rear leaf springs, the MU-X already features coil springs all around, so there may not be quite the same boost to refinement or ride quality. That said, it’s unlikely Isuzu would go backwards in this department. If you can live without the creature comforts, then a run-out deal on the old model seems like a pretty good idea. It really all depends on how much importance you place on having the latest and greatest.

If the new clutch helped the vehicle climb hills, then I dare say that was money well spent. As for noises from the engine under load, I’m afraid that’s a job for somebody on the spot who can listen to the vehicle and make an assessment. The noise could be major internal problems or it could be something as simple as a loose heat shield under the car. Even a loose or worn engine mount can create all sorts of mysterious and expensive-sounding noises and rattles.

Don’t forget, your vehicle came with a five-year factory warranty, so a major failure that is not the result of mis-use or general wear and tear (provided the vehicle has travelled less than 130,000km) is still covered by Isuzu.