1997 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 1997 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
- Transmission426.7%
- Brakes320.0%
- Fuel system213.3%
- Engine213.3%
- Airbags16.7%
- Steering16.7%
- Suspension16.7%
- Body & structure16.7%
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
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
CLUTCH THROWOUT BEARING FAILED CAUSING VEHICAL TO BE INOPERABLE STRANDING DRIVER IN TRAFFIC
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
BRAKE FLUID LEAKS. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPL STEERING SHAFT. *AK
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
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
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
FUEL WARNING LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. *YC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER STEERING BOX SHAFT SECTOR AND PITMAN ARM FAILED. MJS
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
POWER STEERING BOX SHAFT SECTOR AND PITMAN ARM FAILED. MJS
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
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
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 .