ENTIRE FRAME AND CROSS MEMBERS HAVE SEVERE RUST WITH PERFORATION. SUSPENSION ATTACHMENT POINTS TO FRAME ARE SEVERLY COMPROMISED. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SHEET METAL BODY STRUCTURE APPEARS "RELATIVELY" RUST FREE. THE FRAME INTEGRITY WOULD NOT BE NOTICED UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED CLOSELY.
1986 Isuzu Trooper Ii
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Trooper Ii years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 9 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
9 reportsI TOOK THE TROOPER TO HAVE REAR AXLE SEAL REPLACED, AND NEW BRAKE SHOES INSTALLED. SEVERAL MECHANICS PUT TROOPER UP ON LIFT, AND REFUSED TO REPLACE BRAKE SHOES/REAR SEAL. THEY SAID THAT THE FRAME IS SO FAR GONE THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THE REAR SEAL OR BRAKES BECAUSE TROOPER IS TOTALLY UNSAFE DUE TO THE FRAME ROT. TO PERFORM SERVI…
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I TOOK THE TROOPER TO HAVE REAR AXLE SEAL REPLACED, AND NEW BRAKE SHOES INSTALLED. SEVERAL MECHANICS PUT TROOPER UP ON LIFT, AND REFUSED TO REPLACE BRAKE SHOES/REAR SEAL. THEY SAID THAT THE FRAME IS SO FAR GONE THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THE REAR SEAL OR BRAKES BECAUSE TROOPER IS TOTALLY UNSAFE DUE TO THE FRAME ROT. TO PERFORM SERVICE TO BRAKE AREA WOULD BE A WASTE OF TIME AND EXPENSE SINCE I HAVE FAR GREATER PROBLEMS WITH THE TROOPER. THEY SAID THAT THEY CAN'T IN GOOD CONSCIENCE TAKE MY MONEY FOR REPAIRS....AS ONCE AGAIN, THE PROBLEM WITH THE FRAME IS MONUMENTAL. I CANNOT HAVE THIS VEHICLE INSPECTED, THEREFORE I CANNOT DRIVE IT. AFTER SEEING IT UP ON THE FRAME, I AM PETRIFIED TO. ANOTHER REPUTABLE MECHANIC ( AT AN ISUZU DEARLERSHIP HERE IN MAINE) SAID THAT THE STEERING BOX IS ROTTING OFF THE FRAME, AND IF DRIVEN, CAN NOT ONLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, BUT A FATALIY. I CAN'T EVEN DONATE THIS VEHICLE FOR FEAR THAT SOMEONE MAY BE SEROIUSLY INJURED AS A RESULT OF OPERATING IT. PLEASE ADVISE ME ASAP OF ANY/ALL INFORMATION YOU MAY HAVE, AND WHERE I SHOULD GO FROM HERE. ISUZU DEALERSHIPS HAVE TRIED TO SELL ME ANOTHER ISUZU. IF ISUZU CAN'T STAND BEHIND WHAT THEY HAVE SOLD, I CANNOT SEE MY WAY CLEAR TO PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR INFERIOR PRODUCTS.IN THE MEANTIME, THE TROOPER SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY. UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN/SOLD/DONATED. PLEASE ADVISE ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS TO WHAT COUSE OF ACTION CAN BE TAKEN TO HOLD THIS CAR MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MANUFACTURING SHORTCOMINGS RESULTING IN THE PRODUCTION OF HIGHLY UNSAFE TRANSPORTATION. FROM EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD, THIS VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE COMING OFF OF THE ASSEMBLY LINES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIEM AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. SINCERELY, LORI BRIDGES.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS VERY SEROIUS MATTER. I PURCHASED A USED TROOPER THREE YEARS AGO, AND HAVE EXPERIENCED NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. I PURCHASED THE TROOPER FROM MY NEIGHBOR THREE YEARS AGO.HE PURCHASED IT FROM A DEALER HERE IN MAINE. THE TROOPER WAS ALWAYS VERY WELL MAINTAINED,U…
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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS VERY SEROIUS MATTER. I PURCHASED A USED TROOPER THREE YEARS AGO, AND HAVE EXPERIENCED NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. I PURCHASED THE TROOPER FROM MY NEIGHBOR THREE YEARS AGO.HE PURCHASED IT FROM A DEALER HERE IN MAINE. THE TROOPER WAS ALWAYS VERY WELL MAINTAINED,USUALLY GARAGED, AND ONLY DRIVEN BY MY NEIGHBOR TO HIS PALCE OFF BUSINESS 3 MILES AWAY. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED FROM AREA GARAGES THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. MY PROBLEMS ARE CENTERED AROUND THE POOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE FRAME. THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE IS JUST BARELY HELD ON TO THE CHASSIS, BY WHAT MEANS, I'M NOT SURE. EVERYTHING IS ROTTING OFF THE VEHICLE. EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE, REAR FRAME AND FLOOR PAN HAS HOLES....LOOKS LIKE A FLINSTONE MOBILE.YOU CAN ALMOST LITERALLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH YOUR FEET IN CERTAIN AREAS. THE FRONT SHOCKS ARE RUSTED THROUGH, AND THE BODY HAS HAD TO BE REPAIRED FOR RUST. THIS VEHICLE HAS CANCER, AND IT'S TERMINAL. I LIVE IN THE STATE OF MAINE WHERE YEARLY VEHICLE INSPECTION IS MANDATORY....THE TROOPER BARELY PASSED LAST YEAR. I HAVE PAID MONEY TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE RE-REGISTERED, AND INSURED (WHICH HERE IN MAINE PRECEEDS INSPECTION) AND NOW IT WON'T PASS INSPECTION. THIS IS AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE WORK TO IT....EVERY GARAGE TELLS ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS POORLY CONSTRUCTED/UNSAFE EVEN AFTER COSTLY REPAIRS/AND DON'T EVEN RECOMMEND THAT I SELL IT FOR FEAR THAT SOMEONE MAY HAVE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FRAME DETERIORIZATION. THOUGH THIS VEHICLE IS ALMOST 14 YEARS OLD, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WHICH AFFECTS EVERY TROOPER THAT I HAVE SEEN. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF WHAT TO DO WITH THIS VEHICLE AS IT IS A HAZARD, AND FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL GARAGES, CANNOT BE FIXED. PLEASE HELP ME WITH MY DILEMA, I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONCERN IN THIS MATTER. SINCERELY YOURS, LORI BRIDGES
AUDIBLE CLICKING COMING FROM FRONT AUTOMATIC LOCKING HUBS, CHECKED HUBS FOR PROPER GREASE, NOT SOURCE OF PROBLEM. MM
A BOLT ASSOCIATED WITH SUSPENSION FAILED, CAUSING FRONT WHEEL TO COME OFF.
REAR AXLE/LOCKNUT AND PANCAKE WASHER FAILED AND THE AXLE FELL OFF WITH THE WHEEL STILL ATTACHED.
REAR AXLE LOCK NUT AND PAN CAKE WASHER FAILED AND AXLE SLID OUT WITH WHEEL STILL ATTACHED. THIS IS THE 2ND OCCURANCE IN 2 YEARS. FIRST TIME VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 10 MPH, SECOND TIME 55 MPH.
MULTIPLE RUST SPOTS ON VEHICLE JEOPARDIZING INTEGRITY OF SUPPORT STRUCTURE. METAL USED ON SIDEWALLS OF FRAME IS TOO THIN. *AK
MAIN FRAME UNDER VEHICLE IS RUSTING THRU; METAL DISINTEGRATING; UNSAFE TO DRIVE; COULD FALL COMPLETELY APART CAUSING ACCIDENT. TT
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA93015 · Seat Belt Retractors Fail
Opened Jun 8, 1993 · Closed May 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:retractor
The predominant condition exhibited by the safety belt system of the vehicles subject to this investigation is not considered to be safety related. Therefore, further expenditure of agency resources is not recommended and this matter is closed.Please see closing report for addional information.
PE93003 · Seat Belt Retractors Fail
Opened Feb 5, 1993 · Closed Jun 8, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:retractor
There is no summary currently available
PE91040 · Lug Stud Fracture
Opened Jan 28, 1991 · Closed May 23, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Illustration