1997 Isuzu Trooper

Routine

Owners filed 13 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › clutch assembly. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Clutch Assembly2
000
Structure › Frame and Members1
000
Steering › Gear Box › Shaft Sector1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip1
000
Power Train › Clutch Assembly › Pedal/Hand Lever(motorcycle)1
000
Fuel System, Other › Fuel Injection System1
000
Fuel System, Other1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings97V092001
Filed Jun 3, 19976,667 vehiclesIsuzu Motors Limited

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Suspension97V035001
Filed Mar 11, 1997270 vehiclesIsuzu Motors Limited

Defect. THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A LOCK WASHER AND/OR SCREWS IN THE FRONT HUB.

Risk. THE BEARING ADJUSTMENT NUT CAN LOOSEN, RESULTING IN TOO MUCH FREE PLAY BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND AXLE. THE BEARING CAN SEIZE, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO LOCK AFFECTING VEHICLE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT HUBS TO DETERMINE IF THE LOCK WASHER AND SCREWS WERE PROPERLY INSTALLED. IF NOT, THEY WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Oct 2, 2010154,000 milesMA

WE BOUGHT A 1997 ISUZU TROOPER IN FEBRUARY OF 2010 FROM A USED DEALER...THE REAR AXLE AND THE FRAME ARE SEVERELY ROTTED...THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND WE HAVE THAT IN WRITING..WHAT CAN WE DO?...WE CAN'T GET OUR MONEY BACK...THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE....PLEASE HELP. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 7, 20058,150 milesFL

HYDROLIC LIFTERS STICK, VERY LOUD AND NOTICABLE ENGINE NOISE. THEY HAVE STUCK SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. THEY UNSTICK IMMEDIATELY AFTER SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE, BUT ONLY FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME.*AK DEALERSHIP(S) USED THIS WINDOW OF TIME TO THIER ADVANTAGE TO AVOID REPAIRING VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY, SENDING CONSUMER AWAY TO SEE IF IT WORKS. MANAUFACTURER RECOMMENDS SYNTHETIC OIL TO CORRECT. DOES NOT WORK. SEVERAL INCIDENTS. COUNTLESS FAILURES. WILL PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR NEW LIFTERS, APPROXIMATELY $1,800.00.

Fuel System, Other › Fuel Injection System
Filed Sep 19, 200465,000 milesFL

DURING BRAKING, WITH NO GAS PEDAL PRESSURE BEING APPLIED, ENGINE CONTINUED AT HIGH RPMS MAKING BRAKING DIFFICULT. VEHICLE WITH NO GAS PEDAL PRESSURE WOULD PROCEED AT 30 MPH IN DRIVE POSITION OF AUTO TRANS. UPON EXITING ROADWAY, WHEN APPLING GAS PEDAL WHILE IN PARK POSITION, AND RELEASING PEDDLE, RPMS WERE AT 2200. PEDAL WAS OPPERATING FREELY AND THROTTLE CABLE/YOKE WAS IN FULLY RETURNED POSITION. I THEN CONTINUED LOOKING FOR ANY OBVIOUS OBSTRUCTIONS OR SEPERATED VACUMN LINES. NOTHING APPEARED WRONG. I THEN DISCONNECTED THE MASS AIR SENSOR CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. UPON RECONNECTING AMS AND RESTARTING ENGINE, IDLE RETURNED TO AROUND 700 RPM'S AND NO FURTHER PROBLEMS OCCURED FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY DRIVE(APPROX 100MI MORE) NO FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS WERE PERFORMED YET. VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS 65000 MILES USE.*AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jan 26, 200350,126 milesOH

CLUTCH THROWOUT BEARING FAILED CAUSING VEHICAL TO BE INOPERABLE STRANDING DRIVER IN TRAFFIC

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jan 26, 200387,773 milesOH

CUTCH FAILURE CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE INOPERABLE STRANDING DRIVER IN TRAFFIC. SECOND CLUTCH FAILURE FOR THIS VEHICLE WITH IN 37,000 MILES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Jul 17, 2002VA

A HIDEOUS, LOUD NOISE COMES FROM UNDERNEATH THE CHASSIS. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT COMES FROM THE MUFFLER. IT WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT IT WOULD COST IN EXCESS OF $800 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE FIXED EITHER BY THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN OR A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE DEALER, WHEN I MENTIONED THE PROBLEM THE VERY FIRST TIME, PICKED UP ON IT RIGHT AWAY.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Aug 31, 2001TX

BRAKE FLUID LEAKS. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPL STEERING SHAFT. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Aug 17, 2000OH

WHILE ACCELERATING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN I DEPRESSED THE CLUTH TO ENGAGE SECOND GEAR. THE CLUTCH PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AND I COASTED TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD OUT OF HARMS WAY. THE FAILURE WAS IN THE

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Jul 31, 2000CO

THE BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE IN A STEEP SLOPE AND VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES CONTINUALLY. *MJS

Power Train › Clutch Assembly › Pedal/Hand Lever(motorcycle)
Filed Mar 7, 2000GA

THE THROWOUT BEARING FAILED WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE PRESSURE PLATE. THE ATTACHMENT POINT IS COMPOSED OF A SERIES OF SPRING STEEL FINGERS THAT ARE HELD TO THE PRESSURE PLATE WITH A SPRING STEEL CLIP. THE SPRING STEEL CLIP SEPARATED FROM THE FINGERS CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO BE INOPERABLE. THE PRESSURE PLATE AND DRIVEN PLATE ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND HAD ONLY MINIMAL WEAR. INSTEAD OF PUSHING THE FINGERS ON THE PRESSURE PLATE THIS DESIGN PULLS THE FINGERS. THE DESIGN IS EXTREMELY WEAK AND AN ADDITIONAL FAILURE WILL OCCUR. ONCE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE THROWOUT BEARING AND PRESSURE PLATE FAIL IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER IS STUCK IN THE ROAD AND UNABLE TO AVOID OTHER VEHICLES OR MANUEVER AROUND DANGEROUS SPOTS. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS A STRURDIER DESIGN THAT IS ABLE TO ABSORB THE DAILY USE OF THE CLUTCH. *AK.

Fuel System, Other
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

FUEL WARNING LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. *YC

Steering › Gear Box › Shaft Sector
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

POWER STEERING BOX SHAFT SECTOR AND PITMAN ARM FAILED. MJS

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Apr 3, 1997WA

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH, IMPACT 30 MPH, DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER. *AK

13 of 13 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200212000Routine
200129100Routine
200049200Routine
199981010Routine
199842120Routine
1997 — this page13200Routine
199651210Routine
199554130Routine
199447230Routine
199333200Routine
199225230Routine
1991573153Fatalities reported
199023350Routine

Compare every Trooper year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jun 3, 1997. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.