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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.

About this comparison →

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

Suspension complaints

13 reports
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124,567 miles · Jun 3, 2017
Fuel/propulsion SystemSteeringSuspension

IT IS A STRONG VEHICLE GOOD PERFORMANCE BUT THE FRAME DOES NOT SUPPORT ENOUGH PROBLEMS WITH THE STABILITY OF THE VEHICLE ON THE ROADS OR IN EMERGENCY MANEUVERS ALONG THE WAY. DUE TO CORROSION AND RUPTURE IN THE CHASSIS SPECIFICALLY IN THE CONNECTIONS WITH THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS. (POOR QUALITY STEEL) ANO…

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IT IS A STRONG VEHICLE GOOD PERFORMANCE BUT THE FRAME DOES NOT SUPPORT ENOUGH PROBLEMS WITH THE STABILITY OF THE VEHICLE ON THE ROADS OR IN EMERGENCY MANEUVERS ALONG THE WAY. DUE TO CORROSION AND RUPTURE IN THE CHASSIS SPECIFICALLY IN THE CONNECTIONS WITH THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS. (POOR QUALITY STEEL) ANOTHER POINT IS A SMELL OF FUEL AND SPILLAGE, BY THE FUEL TANK. (FIRE RISK) ALL THESE CONDITIONS RESULT IN RISK MANAGEMENT, LOOSE VEHICLE CONTROL AND ROLLOVER POSSIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI #10993016

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 1998
SteeringSuspension

OWNER COMPLAINING TRUCK HAS HANDLING PROBLEMS. THE FRONT VEHICLE HEIGHT NEEDED TO BE REDUCED. TORSION BAR ADJUSTED TO ELIMINATE THE TOP-HEAVY, TIPPY FEELING. ALSO, IT HAS A LOOSE STEERING BOX; EXCESSIVE PLAY BETWEEN THE INPUT AND OUTPUT SHAFTS; CAUSING PRONOUNCED ROAD DRIFT WHEN IT IS WINDY AND CAUSES DRIVER TO OVERSHOOT STEERI…

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OWNER COMPLAINING TRUCK HAS HANDLING PROBLEMS. THE FRONT VEHICLE HEIGHT NEEDED TO BE REDUCED. TORSION BAR ADJUSTED TO ELIMINATE THE TOP-HEAVY, TIPPY FEELING. ALSO, IT HAS A LOOSE STEERING BOX; EXCESSIVE PLAY BETWEEN THE INPUT AND OUTPUT SHAFTS; CAUSING PRONOUNCED ROAD DRIFT WHEN IT IS WINDY AND CAUSES DRIVER TO OVERSHOOT STEERING INPUT, AT TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #780664

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1997
Suspension

VEHICLE SUSPENSION VERY POOR, FEELS AS IF IT WILL ROLL OVER.

NHTSA ODI #507981

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 1997
Suspension

VEHICLE LEANS FAR TOO MUCH IN TURNS, ROLLOVER COULD EASILY OCCUR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #518477

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 1997
Suspension

VEHICLE HAS A HIGH TENDENCY TO ROLL OVER. A QUICK RIGHT WAS MADE TO AVOID GOING OFF THE ROAD, THIS ACTION CAUSED THE TWO WHEELS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTACT WITH THE PAVEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #515608

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 1996
SuspensionCrash

WHILE DRIVING ON A DARK ROAD VEHICLE HIT A BOBCOT, LOST CONTROL/ROLLED OVER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #511736

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 1996
Suspension

VEHICLE SUSPENSION EXPERIENCES INSTABILITY.

NHTSA ODI #510188

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 1996
Suspension

OWNER CONCERNED ABOUT WARNING REGARDIN VEHICLE ABILITY TO FLIP OVER WHILE TRAVELING A LOW RATE OF SPEED.

NHTSA ODI #508631

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1996
Suspension

OWNER CONCERNED THAT VEHICLE IS UNSAFE DUE POSSIBLE ROLLOVER PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #509310

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 1996
Suspension

THE CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT THE SUSPENSION IS CAUSING UNSTABLE TURNS; THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE MIGHT ROLLOVER.

NHTSA ODI #509144

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.