Isuzu Trooper Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 573 consumer complaints across the 17 model years of the Isuzu Trooper (1986–2002) that have at least 5 complaints. 1999 has the most, with 81. Across all years, the part named most often is engine cooling (184 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
Best and worst Trooper years →
All Trooper model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 12 | 47,000 | 0 | 37 | — | Not enough data |
| 2001 | 29 | 80,000 | 1 | 35 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 49 | 70,550 | 2 | 34 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 81 | 71,500 | 0 | 7 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 42 | 52,500 | 1 | 6 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 13 | 65,000 | 2 | 3 | — | Not enough data |
| 1996 | 51 | 118,500 | 2 | 3 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 54 | 118,000 | 1 | 3 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 47 | 85,150 | 2 | 3 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1993 | 33 | 22,300 | 2 | 3 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1992 | 25 | 179,000 | 2 | 3 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 57 | 135,000 | 2 | 3 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 23 | 130,000 | 2 | 3 | — | Stable |
| 1989 | 16 | — | 0 | 3 | — | Stable |
| 1988 | 17 | — | 1 | 3 | — | Stable |
| 1987 | 6 | — | 2 | 3 | — | Not enough data |
| 1986 | 18 | 226,000 | 1 | 3 | — | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Engine cooling184 37%
- Transmission and drivetrain74 15%
- Vehicle speed control44 8.8%
- Suspension42 8.4%
- Electrical system41 8.2%
- Tires40 8.0%
- Fuel system38 7.6%
- Brakes37 7.4%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
1999: “While driving the vehicle it began to surge as if it was stuck in high gear. The gas peddle seemed to be stuck and the vehicle started to go faster and faster. I applied the brakes and the tires screeched while the vehicle was still in motion forward. I shut off the engine and applied the brakes to stop the auto.”
NHTSA complaint #10911340, filed 2016-10, 152,500 miles2001: “Low beam headlight switch stopped working. Only high beams worked. Had to have the headlight switch replaced at a cost of $500. I see that the same problem is currently being addressed and recalled on later model Isuzu ascenders and GM vehicles. I believe Isuzu used many GM parts in this Trooper and it should be included in the current recall so that I can get reimbursed for the repairs.”
NHTSA complaint #10661923, filed 2014-12, 108,000 miles2000: “I had my truck serviced and was told by garage that my sidewall on all 4 of my tires are splitting. I told him they only had a little over 20000 miles on them and the truck was always garaged that they could not be splitting. He showed me and the sidewall is indeed splitting. I researched and found other instances of this happening with these tires resulting in crashes.”
NHTSA complaint #10455900, filed 2012-04, 142,000 milesOther Isuzu models
2,476 complaintsIsuzu Ascender
205 complaintsIsuzu Amigo
179 complaintsIsuzu Axiom
157 complaintsIsuzu Hombre
122 complaintsIsuzu Rodeo Sport
106 complaintsIsuzu Vehicross
68 complaintsIsuzu Pickup Truck
56 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology