NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
42 reports50,000 miles · Jan 13, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A 1998 ISUZU TROOPER (3.5L V6 MOTOR). I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 43K MILES ON IT. AT JUST OVER 50K MILES, THE MOTOR BEGAN TO BURN OIL AT THE RATE OF ONE QUART EVERY 700-1000 MILES DRIVEN. THE RATE OF CONSUMPTION IS MUCH HIGHER IF DRIVEN LONG DISTANCES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ISUZU IS TRYIN…
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I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A 1998 ISUZU TROOPER (3.5L V6 MOTOR). I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 43K MILES ON IT. AT JUST OVER 50K MILES, THE MOTOR BEGAN TO BURN OIL AT THE RATE OF ONE QUART EVERY 700-1000 MILES DRIVEN. THE RATE OF CONSUMPTION IS MUCH HIGHER IF DRIVEN LONG DISTANCES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ISUZU IS TRYING TO SAY THAT USING ONE QUART OF OIL PER 1000 MILES IS ACCEPTABLE. I SAY DIFFERENTLY, AS NO OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED USES OIL ACCORDINGLY. (INCLUDING MY 1993 ISUZU TROOPER). THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WELL KNOWN BY ISUZU USA, BUT THEY REFUSE TO TAKE ANY CORRECTIVE MEASURE. THE GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE DEFECT RELATES TO THE OIL DRAIN BACK HOLES IN THE PISTONS. THIS IS A FLAWED DESIGN AND CAUSES ENGINE FAILURE ROUTINELY. I FEEL WITH THE NUMBER OF FAILURES IN THE 1998+ ISUZU 3.5L V6 MOTOR, A RECALL SHOULD BE CONDUCTED TO PROPERLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THANK YOUR FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10106287
12,800 miles · Sep 9, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline
AFTER SMELLING GAS CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED GAS LEAKING. IF THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON THE GAS LEAKS. VEHICLE IS BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10091669
68,000 miles · Aug 6, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. 1998 ISUZU TROOPER ENGINE BEGAN USING EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. ENGINE WITH 68,000 MILES WENT FROM FULL OIL LEVEL TO WARNING LIGHT AND MOTOR FAILURE (BEARING AND BLOCK BREAKAGE) WITHIN 2-3,000 MILES. SEVERAL EXPERIENCED MECHANICS AND EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY (THAT DENIED COVERAGE) SAY THERE IS A KNOW FA…
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THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. 1998 ISUZU TROOPER ENGINE BEGAN USING EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. ENGINE WITH 68,000 MILES WENT FROM FULL OIL LEVEL TO WARNING LIGHT AND MOTOR FAILURE (BEARING AND BLOCK BREAKAGE) WITHIN 2-3,000 MILES. SEVERAL EXPERIENCED MECHANICS AND EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY (THAT DENIED COVERAGE) SAY THERE IS A KNOW FAILURE OF THESE ENGINES.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10086330
55,000 miles · Jul 21, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
98 ISUZU TROOPER 3.5 ENGINE BURNS OIL EXCESSIVELY. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER AND REGULARLY SERVICED PER OWNERS MANUAL. AT 55000 MILES, ENGINE OIL LIGHT TURNED ON 2,500 MILES AFTER OIL CHANGE. OVER 4 QTS LOW. $1400 REPAIR BILL (NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY) UNABLE TO FIX OIL BURNING ISSUE. ENGINE NOW AT 75000 MI AND BURNING APPROXIMATE…
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98 ISUZU TROOPER 3.5 ENGINE BURNS OIL EXCESSIVELY. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER AND REGULARLY SERVICED PER OWNERS MANUAL. AT 55000 MILES, ENGINE OIL LIGHT TURNED ON 2,500 MILES AFTER OIL CHANGE. OVER 4 QTS LOW. $1400 REPAIR BILL (NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY) UNABLE TO FIX OIL BURNING ISSUE. ENGINE NOW AT 75000 MI AND BURNING APPROXIMATELY. 1 QT PER 600-700 MILES. SEEMS TO BE COMMON ENGINE DEFECT AND KNOWN BY MECHANICS AND OWNERS, BUT ISUZU UNWILLING ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM. THOUGH MONITORING CONSTANTLY, AM JUST WAITING FOR SIGNIFICANT ENGINE FAILURE. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10082336
74,000 miles · Jun 10, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
1998 ISUZU TROOPER 3.5 LITER ENGINE FAILURE AT 74,000 MILES. NO REBUILT OR USED ENGINES AVAILABLE ANYWHERE IN USA. ONE GARAGE IN CHANDLER, AZ SAID IT WAS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM WITH FAILURE #1 ENGINE CYLINDER WITH 60 TO 90,000 MILES. THEY ARE DOING ALOT OF BUSINESS WITH THIS, EVEN SELLING OVERHAULS ON E-BAY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10075138
Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
ISUZU TROOPER INTAKE MANIFOLD IS FAULTY. MFR. WILL NOT ISSUE RECALL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10060709
34,594 miles · Jan 11, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10052862
Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
1998 TROOPERS HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING FAULTY INTAKE GASKETS, WHICH THEY WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN REPLACING IF THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THERE IS A SAFETY FACTOR TO THIS ISSUE, MY VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE AT LOWER RPM'S CAUSING LOSE OF CONTROL, AFTER CHANGING TO UPDATED GASKETS THE CAR NO LONGER STALLS. …
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1998 TROOPERS HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING FAULTY INTAKE GASKETS, WHICH THEY WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN REPLACING IF THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THERE IS A SAFETY FACTOR TO THIS ISSUE, MY VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE AT LOWER RPM'S CAUSING LOSE OF CONTROL, AFTER CHANGING TO UPDATED GASKETS THE CAR NO LONGER STALLS. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10041534
40,000 miles · Jul 17, 2003
Electrical SystemFire
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING WHILE PARKED. A WITNESS STATED THAT FIRE BEGAN UNDER DASH. FIRE MARSHAL DETERMINED THAT FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A SHORT CIRCUIT IN ELECTRICAL WIRING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10029579
Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2003
Power Train
WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE STALLED. SERVICE TECHNICIAN NOTICED AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10022215
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