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1996 Isuzu Trooper

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Isuzu Trooper do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 25.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 5 of 51 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read 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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2001
Power Train

I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM W/ANTIFREEZE SMELL, I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO SHOP SEVERAL TIMES THE LAST HAVING A HOSE TO THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED WHICH SEEMED TO TEMPORARILY REMOVE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR BUT THE SMELL IS COMING BACK. IT TOOK THREE VISITS TO FIND IT THE FIRST TIME.. *AK

NHTSA ODI #755233

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVisibility

2 LEAKING O-RINGS IN THE WATER OUTLET NECK OF THE CORE CAUSED THE ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE TO ENTER THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO FEEL SICK, RADIATOR LEAKING FROM THE SEAM AT THE TANK NLM

NHTSA ODI #560919

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

AT 40,000 MILES COOLANT FUMES COMMENCED TO COME INTO VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER'S SHOP ON SEVEN OCCASIONS, AND MADE VARIOUS REPAIRS, BUT PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK CONSUMER FIRST COMPLAINED OF AN ANTI-FREEZE SMELL IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CAB, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT A HEAD GASKET …

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AT 40,000 MILES COOLANT FUMES COMMENCED TO COME INTO VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER'S SHOP ON SEVEN OCCASIONS, AND MADE VARIOUS REPAIRS, BUT PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK CONSUMER FIRST COMPLAINED OF AN ANTI-FREEZE SMELL IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CAB, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT A HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN, HOWEVER DEALER STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG, CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO REPLACED HEAD GASKET, AFTER REPAIR CONSUMER COULD STILL SMELL ANTIFREEZE, IN OCTOBER DEALER FOUND A HOLE IN THE HEATER HOSE AND REPLACED IT, SMELL WAS STILL PRESENT SO CONSUMER HAD ENGINE STEAM CLEANED WHICH STILL DID NOT GET RID OF ODOR, THE ODORS WERE CAUSING CONSUMER'S FACE TO GET NUMB AND CAUSED HIM TO GET SLEEPY, FINALLY 2 ORINGS WERE FOUND LEAKING IN THE PLASTIC NECK OF THE CORE. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK WHEN AT IDLE, DEALER REPLACED 2 HOSE CLAMPS FOR COOLANT LINES. CRUISE CONTROL CUTS OUT AND ENGINE RACES WHEN GOING UPHILL. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #882378

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION BLEWOUT REQUIRING TOTAL REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #739928

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 1999
Power Train

WHEN COMING TO A FULL STOP OR WHEN STARTING ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP, THE TRUCK WILL MAKE A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING BUMPED IT FROM THE REAR. I WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBLEM ON THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT WHEN REPORTED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WR…

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WHEN COMING TO A FULL STOP OR WHEN STARTING ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP, THE TRUCK WILL MAKE A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING BUMPED IT FROM THE REAR. I WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBLEM ON THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT WHEN REPORTED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.

NHTSA ODI #705078

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 1999
Power Train

FIRST VISIT TO DEALER FOR WARRANTY SERVICE RESULTED IN NOTHING BEING DONE. WAS TOLD THAT TAPPING NOISE WAS A NORMAL ENGINE SOUND, ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE WASN'T MAKING THAT SOUND WHEN I PURCHASED IT NEW. SECOND VISIT TO DEALER, AFTER ENGINE NOISE BECAME INCREASINGLY LOUDER, RESULTED IN THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION BEING REPLACED. CAR …

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FIRST VISIT TO DEALER FOR WARRANTY SERVICE RESULTED IN NOTHING BEING DONE. WAS TOLD THAT TAPPING NOISE WAS A NORMAL ENGINE SOUND, ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE WASN'T MAKING THAT SOUND WHEN I PURCHASED IT NEW. SECOND VISIT TO DEALER, AFTER ENGINE NOISE BECAME INCREASINGLY LOUDER, RESULTED IN THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION BEING REPLACED. CAR WAS IN SHOP FOR ALMOST THREE WEEKS. A THIRD AND FOURTH VISIT FOR THE SAME TAPPING NOISE IN THE ENGINE RESULTED IN MORE TRANSMISSION WORK TO REPLACE A CRACKED FLYWHEEL AND O-RING BEARING, ALL OF WHICH HAVE BE REPLACED NOW THREE TIMES. PROBLEM SEEMS TO RE-OCCUR ABOUT EVERY 5000-7000 MILES. OBVIOUSLY THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT. HAS YET TO IDENTIFY AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM AS IT KEEPS HAPPENING.

NHTSA ODI #702790

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 1997
Power Train

WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT IN REVERSE TRANSMISSION MAKES A GRINDING SOUND. DEALER SAYS THIS SOUND IS NORMAL FOR THESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #811747

Official recalls

2

97V092001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Jun 3, 1997

THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINES WERE INSTALLED IMPROPERLY AT THE ASSEMBLY LINE RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINE AND AN UPPER CONTROL ARM OF THE SUSPENSION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE LINE CAN BE DAMAGED DURING VEHICLE OPERATION AND CAN RESULT IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE, REDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS, AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINE AND THE UPPER CONTROL ARM. IF THE CLEARANCE IS NOT ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS, THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED.

96V248001 · Seat Belts:rear/other

Dec 12, 1996

CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AN INCORRECT REAR CENTER SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY BUCKLE. THE MISBUILD INVOLVED FITTING A BUCKLE FOR ANOTHER MARKET WITH THE CORRECT U.S. SPECIFICATION SEAT BELT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SUCH INSTALLATION RESULTS IN A REAR CENTER SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE BELT TONGUE CANNOT BE INSERTED INTO THE BUCKLE AND A CONSQUENT INABILITY OF THE SYSTEM TO PROVIDE PROPER OCCUPANT RESTRAINT DURING PANIC BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE OR AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT TONGUE AND BUCKLE AND INCORRECT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES WILL BE REPLACED.

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

DP96011 · Risk Of Rollover

Opened Aug 20, 1996 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Structure

CU ATTORNEY (NANCY PERKINS, ARNOLD & PORTER) AND ODI AGREED THAT AN EXTENSION IN THE PETITION REVIEW PROCESS WILL BE NECESSARY TO ALLOW ODI TIME TO CONDUCT A PROPER REVIEW OF THE NEW MATERIAL SUBMITTED BY CU ON DECEMBER 23, 1996.THEREFORE, THE NEW DUE DATE WILL BE APRIL 21, 1997.CONSUMERS UNION (CU) PETITIONED THE AGENCY TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE 1995 AND 1996 MODEL ISUZU TROOPER AND ACURA SLX VEHICLES ARE DEFECTIVE WITHIN THE MEANING OF 49 U.S. C. CHAPTER 301.SPECIFICALLY, CU ALLEGED THAT TESTING DEMONSTRATED A DANGEROUS PROPENSITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO ROLL OVER WHILE PERFORMING A DYNAMIC STEERING MANEUVER TO AVOID EMERGANCY SITUATIONS.