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
What owners actually said
51 reports
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 · Nov 20, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #605085
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 · Oct 27, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling
OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #604680
Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentExterior Lighting
ENGINE HESITATES AND STALLS.
NHTSA ODI #603826
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1997
Equipment
CD CHANGER DOES NOT HAVE A COUNT ON BUMPS AND ODD TURNS.
NHTSA ODI #603833
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 · Aug 13, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMER IS HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS.
NHTSA ODI #520983
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.
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.
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.
1996 Isuzu Trooper Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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