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: 2 of 25 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports3 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
25 reports
188,000 miles · Dec 5, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 ISUZU TROOPER. THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING ONTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. HE NOTICED THE ISSUE WHEN HEAVY SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V132000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE). THE M…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 ISUZU TROOPER. THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING ONTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. HE NOTICED THE ISSUE WHEN HEAVY SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V132000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE). THE MANUFACTURER INITIALLY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT LATER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 192,031 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 188,000.
NHTSA ODI #10250838
170,000 miles · Jul 31, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I HAD BEGUN HEARING A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES, KNEW IT WAS TIME TO CHANGE THE PADS. DROVE VEHICLE TO THE PARTS STORE TO OBTAIN NEW DISC BRAKE PADS TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. WHILE DRIVING HOME FELT A SLIGHT GIVE IN THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN COMING TO THE STOP, ALSO THERE WAS THE GRINDING PRESENT-PADS WERE PAD. WHEN I ARRIV…
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I HAD BEGUN HEARING A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES, KNEW IT WAS TIME TO CHANGE THE PADS. DROVE VEHICLE TO THE PARTS STORE TO OBTAIN NEW DISC BRAKE PADS TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. WHILE DRIVING HOME FELT A SLIGHT GIVE IN THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN COMING TO THE STOP, ALSO THERE WAS THE GRINDING PRESENT-PADS WERE PAD. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME AND BEGAN TO PERFORM REPAIRS I REMOVED THE LEFT REAR(DRIVERS SIDE) TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE COMPLETE BRAKE PAD HAD BEEN SHELLED OUT OF THE CALIPER AND THAT ALL THAT WAS STOPPING THE VEHICLE WAS THE CALIPER PISTON. I WOULDN'T REALLY BE TOO CONCERNED, ALTHOUGH I AM NOT SURE HOW IT WAS ABLE TO SHELL THE PAD COMPLETELY OUT(NOT JUST THE LINING BUT THE WHOLE PAD,BACKING AND ALL), BUT I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS A 94 TROOPER AND HE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME TROUBLE, JUST CURIOUS IF THIS DEFECT WITHIN THE TROOPER OF JUST AM ISOLATED COINCIDENCE. SEARCHED ALL YOUR DATA BASES(RECALLS,COMPLAINTS ETC..) AND DIDN'T SEE ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS,SO NOT REALLY SURE BUT THOUGHT IT MIGHT BEAR INVESTIGATION. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10130686
Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2004
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING ALL ELECTRICAL LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PLACED ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE FOR RESULTS. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. MECHANIC …
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WHILE DRIVING ALL ELECTRICAL LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PLACED ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE FOR RESULTS. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. MECHANIC ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA ODI #10087536
Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2000
Steering
STEERING LINKAGE IS LOOSE; CLICKS BACK AND FORTH WHEN DRIVEN ON A STRAIGHT ROAD.
NHTSA ODI #784762
Mileage unknown · May 1, 2000
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN SPEEDOMETER GOES TO ZERO. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHICH CAUSES THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER TO STOP WORKING. CONTACTED THE DEALER. THERE IS A SPEED SENSORY THAT IS MOUNTED ON THE TRANSMISSION THAT FAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #861173
Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
THE VEHICLE'S TAIL PIPE SEPARATED FROM THE MUFFLER'S DISCHARGE FLANGE WHICH IS TURNED 90 DEGREES UP, CAUSING THE HOT EHHAUST GASES TO HIT THE FLOOR DECK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, JUST BEHIND THE BACK SEAT. THE RESULT WAS BURNING THE UNDERCOATING OFF, SETTING FIRE TO THE CARPET PADDING AND SETING FIRE TO A DUFFEL BAG CONTA…
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THE VEHICLE'S TAIL PIPE SEPARATED FROM THE MUFFLER'S DISCHARGE FLANGE WHICH IS TURNED 90 DEGREES UP, CAUSING THE HOT EHHAUST GASES TO HIT THE FLOOR DECK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, JUST BEHIND THE BACK SEAT. THE RESULT WAS BURNING THE UNDERCOATING OFF, SETTING FIRE TO THE CARPET PADDING AND SETING FIRE TO A DUFFEL BAG CONTAININ CLOTHING THAT WAS PLACED OVER THAT LOCATION. THIS RESULTED IN FLAMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE, WHICH WERE PUT OUT BEFORE ANY OTHER DAMAGE COULD OCCUR. LOOKING AT NEWER TROOPER'S ISUZU CONTINUES TO USE THE SAME MUFFLER WITH NO HEAT SHIELD ABOVE THE FLANGE. IN A SIX MILE DRIVE THE THE DEALER WITH THE PIPE BROKEN ENOUGH, HEAT WAS GENERATED TO STARE THE MATTING SMOKING AGAIN. IN MY MIND THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN DESIGN THAT COULD CREATES A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD GIVEN THE FAILURE RATE OF EXHAUST COMPONENTS OVER TIME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #715053
Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment
PRESENT MILAGE GIVEN IS APPROXIMATE. IT HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN MONTHS AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE READING. OUR VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALER'S SHOP FOR WARRANTY WORK ON THE AIRCONDITIONER AND WATERPUMP. WITHOUT TELLING US, THEY PERFORMED AN OIL PUMP RELIEF VALVE REPLACEMENT AND CAM JOURNAL PLUG RETAINERS. UP TO THIS POINT, THE MOTOR…
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PRESENT MILAGE GIVEN IS APPROXIMATE. IT HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN MONTHS AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE READING. OUR VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALER'S SHOP FOR WARRANTY WORK ON THE AIRCONDITIONER AND WATERPUMP. WITHOUT TELLING US, THEY PERFORMED AN OIL PUMP RELIEF VALVE REPLACEMENT AND CAM JOURNAL PLUG RETAINERS. UP TO THIS POINT, THE MOTOR HAD NEVER EXHIBITED ANY OILING PROBLEMS WHATEVER. PRIOR TO REPAIR COLD OIL PRES=100 PSI HOT=50 PSI. UPON RETURN OF THE VEHICLE, COLD OIL PRES=55 PSI, HOT=10 PSI. WITHIN A MONTH THE MOTOR WOULD NOT MAINTAIN PROPER OIL PRESSURE CAUSING EXCESSIVE VALVE NOISE DUE TO COLLAPSED HYDRAULIC ADJUSTERS. WARRANTY RETURN ON THE JOB WAS DECLINED BY THE DEALER. WE HAVE HAD TO DRIVE IT IN THIS CONDITION AND IT HAS GOTTEN STEADILY WORSE TO THE POINT THAT IT IS NOT DRIVEN AT ALL LEAST IT SUFFER TERMINAL FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #711656
Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 1999
Power Train
TRANSMISSION LIGHT COMES ON, LOSS OF PRESSURE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705912
Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
A VALVE IN THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER OF THE V6 ENGINE IN THE TROOPER BURNT OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 60000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #704351
Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
TOOK VEHICLE FOR 90,000 CHECKUP & HAD TIMING CHAIN BELT REPLACED. LATER, NOTICED LEAKS UNDER VEHICLE. TOOK TO MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED ENGINE TWO HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING A LOT OF OIL. PROBLEM WAS NOT NOTICE AT TIME OF CHECK UP. *AK
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CAN STICK SO THAT THE ENGINE SPEED WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY DECREASE UPON RELEASE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE ACCELERATOR THROTTLE CABLE TO DELAY RPM AND VEHICLE SPEED REDUCTION FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED, WHICH IN TURN, CAN LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE CABLE RUBBER BOOT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.
CONSTANT EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSES THE CAMSHAFT SEAL END PLUG CAN BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS ALLOWS OIL TO LEAK FROM THE CAMSHAFT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE FROM OIL LEAKING ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL CAMSHAFT END SEAL PLUG RETAINER PLATES.
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
1
DP92015 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Jul 30, 1992 · Closed Nov 25, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
1992 Isuzu Trooper Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year