1991 Isuzu Trooper Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1991 Isuzu Trooper, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine1319.1%
- Transmission1217.6%
- Other / unspecified811.8%
- Electrical68.8%
- Fuel system68.8%
- Driver assistance57.4%
- Tires & wheels45.9%
- Brakes34.4%
- Seat belts34.4%
- Interior & seats22.9%
- Body & structure22.9%
- Exterior lighting22.9%
- Suspension22.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE.*MR CONSUMER WAS AT A TOLL BOTH WHEN SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SHE PULL OVER INTO THE EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT AND EXITED THE VEHICLE WITH THREE OTHER OCCUPANTS. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *PH *NLM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*JB
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEEL LUGS AND NUTS MADE FROM WEAK METAL RESULTING IN FAILURE.
VEHICLE HAS SOFT METAL FOR LUGS, EACH TIME WHEEL IS REMOVED SOFT LUGS STRIP OR CROSS THREAD, UNABLE TO INSTALL NUTS. *AK
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I JUST EXITED THE HOLLYWOOD FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE 1991 ISUZU TROOPER CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND GET OUT.THE FIRE APPEARED TO BE UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK WITH GAS OR SOME OTHER LIQUID POURING OUT. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE MELTED AND EXPLODED, THEN THERE WAS A SECOND EXPLOSION. ALL THE PARTS OF THE ENGINE, BATTERY ETC. WERE IN FLAMES. TWO FIRE TRUCKS AND POLICE CARS WERE DIPATCHED. IT WAS A VERY BIG BLAZE. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. OUR INSURANCE COMPNAY CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE SINCE THE DAMAGE IS SO EXTENSIVE. PLEASE HELP. I AM NOT SURE HOW TO PROCEED. I'D LIKE TO WARN OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE AND CONTACT ISUZU. SO FAR, THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED MY PHONE CALLS.
TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SHIFTING ROUGH SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 1991. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND SOME MINOR REPAIRS/ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE BY THE DEALER. THE SECOND INCIDENT REQUIRED MORE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION AND I WAS REQUIRED TO PAY A PORTION OF THE REPAIRS SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED BY SOME 2-3K MILES. UPON THE THIRD INCIDENT WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN, I REQUESTED SOMEONE FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO INVESTIGATE. THEY REQUESTED THAT I KEEP A LOG FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS OF THE CONDITIONS OCCURRING WHILE DRIVING. AFTER THIS PERIOD, THEY FELT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE UNIVERSAL JOINTS. THESE WERE REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. OTHER COMPLAINTS IN THE DRIVE TRAIN INVOLVE THE INABILITY OF THE CRUISE CONTROL TO MAINTAIN SPEED ON SLIGHT INCLINES AND WOULD SUFFER A GREAT REDUCTION IN SPEED ON A MODERATE TO STEEP INCLINE. WITH REGARDS TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, A FUEL INJECTOR PLUG EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND ERUPTED IN A FIRE THAT SELF-EXTINGUSHED. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME. I PROCEEDED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS ABLE TO USE A GM PART (I FOUND OUT THAT THE DRIVE TRAIN AND ENGINE ARE ACTUALLY MADE IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY GM EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE IS AN ISUZU). THERE WAS A SECOND INCIDENT IDETICAL TO THE FIRST AND THE REPAIRS WERE AGAIN MADE. I HAD THE DEALER CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS FAILURE. THEY WER ONLY ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS NOT OPERATING AT FULL CAPACITY, BUT COULD NOT SAY THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE INJECTOR FAILURES.
FUEL PUMP FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 ISUZU TROOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS STUCK WHICH CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOT TO RELEASE. THE FAILURE WAS PROGRESSING MORE FREQUENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SPEED WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY DECREASE UPON THE RELEASE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO ADJUST THE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V199000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 5/29/15*CN
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE AND VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON 1991, TROOPER, P235/75R15 SIZE. TREAD ON LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK CONSUMER STATES VIBRATION STARTED AT 40 MPH AND THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN, BRIDGESTONE DESERT DUELER TIRE. *SLC
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 75MPH ON HIGHWAY AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE BECAUSE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE, AND FLIPPED MULTIPLE TIMES. *AK DRIVER DIED FROM HEAD INJURIES, I PERSON WAS INJURED, TIRES WERE BRIDGESTONE DESERT DUELLER, SIZE P235/75R15, DOT WK13356. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE AND VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. *AK
UNDER HOOD FIRE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS NO COLLSION, NO WARNING, LIGHTS ON THE PANEL WERE ACTIVATED AND THERE WAS NO SUDDEN ACCELERATION.DECELERATION NOTICED, NO NOISES, CONSUMER WAS AT STOP LIGHT AND NOTICED BLACK SMOK FROM THE ENGINE AND HE PROMPTLY TURNED OFF ENGINE AND RELEASED THE HOOD, CONSUMER OBSERVED THE FIRE IN ITS ENTIRETY, STARTING FROM THE ENGINE MOVING TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO INCIDENT CONSUMER HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS RIGHT REAR BUMPER, BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING FUSES HAD TO BE REPLACED, REAR ARM REST, ENTIRE HYDRALIC SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ROTORS WARPED, EXHAUST WAS SLIGHTLY BENT, MOUNTS WERE BALANCED, BACK SEAT SLIDE FOWARD WHEN BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED, RIGHT HEAD LIGHT INOPERABLE, SIDE TURN SIGNAL INOPERABLE, FUEL INJECTION SERVICED..*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE 1991 TROOPER HAD SEATBELT LATCHES RAISED OFF THE SEAT (FOR CONVENIENCE OF SECURING) HOWEVER THIS FURTHER EXPOSED THE RELEASE BUTTON, WHICH HAD NO COVER. LATER MODELS LOWERED THE LATCH, MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO SECURE, BUT ALSO MAKING IT LESS LIKELY TO BE ACCIDENTLY RELEASED (BY THE PASSENGER OR FOREIGN OBJECT) AT IMPACT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE, BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN MY WIFE'S DEATH. THANK YOU. JOHN M. RICCI (617)308-4833
VEHICLE FIRE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE HAD A HISTORY (DOCUMENTED) OF ELECTRICAL/TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 1991 ISUZU TROOPER. ON 11/95, A FAULTY COMPUTER CONTROL PANEL CAUSED MY TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. I HAD A WEEK LEFT ON MY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ISUZU SANTA MONICA. THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER PANEL UNDER WARRANTY ON 11/95. 15 MONTHS LATER, MY TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING AGAIN. SAME SYMPTOMS. THIS TIME, I SPENT $2,000 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. ISUZU REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. ON 6/12/99, WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING AND WITHIN SECONDS THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT. CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. NOW THE TRUCK IS COMPLETELY TOTALED. I AM IN THE MIDST OF HAVING INSURANCE INSPECTORS DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FIRE. I HAVE ALL OF MY SERVICE RECORDS FOR THE VEHICLE. IT WAS KEPT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.
UNDER HOOD FIRE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS NO COLLSION, NO WARNING, LIGHTS ON THE PANEL WERE ACTIVATED AND THERE WAS NO SUDDEN ACCELERATION.DECELERATION NOTICED, NO NOISES, CONSUMER WAS AT STOP LIGHT AND NOTICED BLACK SMOK FROM THE ENGINE AND HE PROMPTLY TURNED OFF ENGINE AND RELEASED THE HOOD, CONSUMER OBSERVED THE FIRE IN ITS ENTIRETY, STARTING FROM THE ENGINE MOVING TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO INCIDENT CONSUMER HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS RIGHT REAR BUMPER, BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING FUSES HAD TO BE REPLACED, REAR ARM REST, ENTIRE HYDRALIC SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ROTORS WARPED, EXHAUST WAS SLIGHTLY BENT, MOUNTS WERE BALANCED, BACK SEAT SLIDE FOWARD WHEN BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED, RIGHT HEAD LIGHT INOPERABLE, SIDE TURN SIGNAL INOPERABLE, FUEL INJECTION SERVICED..*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
UNDER HOOD FIRE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS NO COLLSION, NO WARNING, LIGHTS ON THE PANEL WERE ACTIVATED AND THERE WAS NO SUDDEN ACCELERATION.DECELERATION NOTICED, NO NOISES, CONSUMER WAS AT STOP LIGHT AND NOTICED BLACK SMOK FROM THE ENGINE AND HE PROMPTLY TURNED OFF ENGINE AND RELEASED THE HOOD, CONSUMER OBSERVED THE FIRE IN ITS ENTIRETY, STARTING FROM THE ENGINE MOVING TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO INCIDENT CONSUMER HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS RIGHT REAR BUMPER, BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING FUSES HAD TO BE REPLACED, REAR ARM REST, ENTIRE HYDRALIC SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ROTORS WARPED, EXHAUST WAS SLIGHTLY BENT, MOUNTS WERE BALANCED, BACK SEAT SLIDE FOWARD WHEN BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED, RIGHT HEAD LIGHT INOPERABLE, SIDE TURN SIGNAL INOPERABLE, FUEL INJECTION SERVICED..*JB
ALL 4 DOORS STICK AT TIMES DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOST SPRING DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR IS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEADLIGHT SWITCH SHORTS HOURS AFTER TURNING LIGHTS OFF CAUSING SIDE LIGHTS TO COME ON IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT.
UNDER HOOD FIRE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS NO COLLSION, NO WARNING, LIGHTS ON THE PANEL WERE ACTIVATED AND THERE WAS NO SUDDEN ACCELERATION.DECELERATION NOTICED, NO NOISES, CONSUMER WAS AT STOP LIGHT AND NOTICED BLACK SMOK FROM THE ENGINE AND HE PROMPTLY TURNED OFF ENGINE AND RELEASED THE HOOD, CONSUMER OBSERVED THE FIRE IN ITS ENTIRETY, STARTING FROM THE ENGINE MOVING TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO INCIDENT CONSUMER HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS RIGHT REAR BUMPER, BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING FUSES HAD TO BE REPLACED, REAR ARM REST, ENTIRE HYDRALIC SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ROTORS WARPED, EXHAUST WAS SLIGHTLY BENT, MOUNTS WERE BALANCED, BACK SEAT SLIDE FOWARD WHEN BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED, RIGHT HEAD LIGHT INOPERABLE, SIDE TURN SIGNAL INOPERABLE, FUEL INJECTION SERVICED..*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS IN PASSING LANE AND THERE WAS A SEMI-TRUCK IN RIGHT HAND LANE. LOOKED DOWN TO TURN OFF AIR CONDITIONER, AND FRONT END OF VEHICLE WAS ABOUT A FOOT AWAY FROM HITTING THE SIDE OF SEMI-TRUCK. DRIVER JERKED WHEEL TO THE LEFT IN ORDER TO CORRECT BACK INTO PASSING LANE. VEHICLE FISHTAILED/LOST CONTROL AND HIT SEMI-TRUCK, CAUSING TROOPER TO SLIDE TO EDG EOF HIGHWAY AND ROLL OVER 7 TIMES. ONE PASSENGER WAS KILLED, AND TWO SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER IN MINOR ACCIDENT DUE TO POOR STABILITY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .