You have to realize that the "issue" is pertinent to the Isuzu 3.5L engine and not the VehiCROSS. The same engine is used domestically in the VX, Trooper, Axiom, Rodeo and in a great number of international models also. I've personally owned four vehicles powered by this engine with the highest mileage one currently at 120K miles. No problems of any kind and I live in what's considered a "severe duty" environment. But out of the hundreds of thousands produced of this particular engine, there's bound to be a few with defects that slipped past quality control or maybe were just perhaps abused by prior owners. No matter what, there's no substitute for good regular maintenance.