What breaks most · 1990 to 2002 model years
Isuzu Trooper problems by year
Owners have filed 516 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Isuzu Trooper across model years 1990 to 2002. Three years stand out: 1999 for engine and cooling complaints, 1991 for engine and cooling complaints and 1995 for suspension complaints. The quietest years are 1997, 1990 and 1992.
- Years to check closely: 1999, 1991, 1995
- Fewest complaints: 1997, 1990, 1992
- Complaints on file
- 5161990 to 2002, all trims
- Worst year
- 199981 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 5633 fires · 53 injuries · 3 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 72kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 21Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 2 | 3 | Engine and cooling (6) | |
| 57 | 5 | 3 | Engine and cooling (13) | |
| 25 | 4 | 2 | Engine and cooling (8) | |
| 33 | 5 | 2 | Engine and cooling (7) | |
| 47 | 5 | 2 | Engine and cooling (12) | |
| 54 | 14 | 1 | Suspension (9) | |
| 51 | 5 | 2 | Suspension (13) | |
| 13 | 1 | 2 | Powertrain and transmission (4) | |
| 42 | 2 | 1 | Engine and cooling (19) | |
| 81 | 5 | 0 | Engine and cooling (56) | |
| 49 | 5 | 2 | Engine and cooling (23) | |
| 29 | 2 | 1 | Powertrain and transmission (9) | |
| 12 | 1 | 0 | Engine and cooling (4) |
What fails on the 1999 Isuzu Trooper
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and coolingRadiators, thermostats and cooling | 69% |
56 | 1 | Shop engine and cooling parts for the 1999 Isuzu Trooper |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 10% |
8 | 3 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 9% |
7 | 1 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 1999 Isuzu Trooper |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 6% |
5 | 1 | Shop electrical system parts for the 1999 Isuzu Trooper |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 5% |
4 | 0 | Shop steering parts for the 1999 Isuzu Trooper |
| VisibilityMirrors and glass | 4% |
3 | 1 | Shop all visibility parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| SuspensionStruts, springs and control arms | 2% |
2 | 1 | Shop suspension parts for the 1999 Isuzu Trooper |
| Body and structureDoors, latches and body hardware | 2% |
2 | 0 | Shop body and structure parts for the 1999 Isuzu Trooper |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
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Engine dies while driving at various speeds. From 5 mph to 60 mph. Dies while turning, then steering wheel locks up. Almost been in a few accidents. Has happened several times this summer. Seems to be a common problem. *ak engine also burns 1qt oil ever 1,000 miles.
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Consumer states that there is a general recall on the engine cooling system. She contacted the manufacturer and was informed that the truck was not included under the recall . Owner thinks that vehicle should have been included in the recall. *ak
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When the brakes are applied the vehicle may fishtail in other than normal road conditions and high winds. This vehicle has been in two collisions. Please describe details. *ak
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Isuzu Trooper years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 1999, 1991, 1995 carry the most filings on the Isuzu Trooper. The 1999 alone has 81 complaints, led by engine and cooling.
What is the most common Isuzu Trooper problem?
On the 1999 model year, the most-reported component is engine and cooling with 56 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Isuzu Trooper problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Isuzu Trooper complaints that include mileage is about 72,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.