The 1994 Isuzu Trooper has 2 safety recalls and 47 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (12 complaints).
Problem: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CAN STICK SO THAT THE ENGINE SPEED WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY DECREASE UPON RELEASE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Risk: THIS CAN CAUSE THE ACCELERATOR THROTTLE CABLE TO DELAY RPM AND VEHICLE SPEED REDUCTION FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED, WHICH IN TURN, CAN LEAD TO A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE CABLE RUBBER BOOT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.
Problem: CONSTANT EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSES THE CAMSHAFT SEAL END PLUG CAN BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS ALLOWS OIL TO LEAK FROM THE CAMSHAFT.
Risk: THIS CAN CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE FROM OIL LEAKING ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL CAMSHAFT END SEAL PLUG RETAINER PLATES.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
1994 Isuzu Trooper 4-DR 4x4
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Trooper
15mpg combined
City / highway
14 / 17 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.2 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel
Trooper
15mpg combined
City / highway
14 / 17 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.2 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel
Trooper
14mpg combined
City / highway
13 / 16 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.2 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline
12
0
2
0
—
Tires Tread/belt
8
1
0
0
—
Electrical system Ignition; Starter assembly
6
0
1
0
—
Structure Frame and members; Frame and members › Underbody shields
6
0
0
1
—
Suspension Front; Multiple axle
5
3
0
2
—
Vehicle speed control Cables
4
0
0
0
139,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline Fuel injection system
2
0
0
0
—
Wheels Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
2
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Pads
2
0
0
0
—
Power train Automatic transmission
2
0
0
0
—
Seat belts Front › Buckle assembly
1
0
0
0
—
Latches/locks/linkages Tailgate › Latch
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Jun 22, 2023Engine Rear main seal is leaking oil massively.
Feb 22, 1995 · 3,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryAir bags 22 YEARS AGO, ON FEB. 22, 1995 I WAS DRIVING DOWN SILVERADO CANYON RD., WHICH IS A VERY CURVY 2 LANE ROAD. AFTER A CURVE I SAW 2 CARS DRIVING TOWARDS ME, ONE PASSING THE OTHER, COMING TOWARDS ME IN MY LANE. I DID THE ONLY THING I COULD AND MOVED ~5-7 FEET TOWARDS THE RIGHT AND FLIPPED OVER IN A COUNTER-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION. MY TRUCK DID NOT HAVE TAKATA AIRBAGS (SO THEY TOLD ME) BUT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WHEN I TOLD THIS TO THE ISUZU SPOKESPERSON (2-3 YRS LATER) HE TOLD ME THAT NO CAR'S AIRBAGS DEPLOY IN ROLLOVERS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT PROGRAMMED TO DO SO. WHEN I ASKED WHY HE SAID THAT IN STUDIES THAT WERE DONE THERE WASN'T ANY INCREASE IN SURVIVAL IN ROLLOVERS EITHER WITH OR WITHOUT…
Nov 4, 2008 · 139,000 milesEngine and engine cooling TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 ISUZU TROOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLES FEEL LIKE THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ALWAYS ACTIVE. IN ADDITION, THE RPMS ARE CONSTANTLY IDLING. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN AN OIL LEAK; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. OIL LEAKED ONTO THE STEER PLATE AND COATED THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE COMPONENTS OF THE ENGINE. HE FOUND TWO RECALLS THAT LISTED THE EXACT FAILURE HE WAS EXPERIENCING; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 04V199000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES) AND 04V132000 (EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,600.
Mar 1, 2007Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel POWER STEERING HOSE STARTED HAVE MASSIVE LEAK ALL OF A SUDDEN, AND IT WAS REPLACED THE FOLLOWING MORNING. THE POWER STEERING FLUID HAD SPRAYED ALL OVER EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD, WHICH INCLUDED SOAKING THE ALTERNATOR, WHICH IN TURN MADE THE ALTERNATOR START TO SURGE AT TIME, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GO IN TO BACK UP MODE, AND WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT ON ITS OWN AFTER COMING TO STOP. ALSO EVERY WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD WAS LIGHT UP, CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY, O2, AUTO CRUISE, LOW FUEL, AND CHECK TRANS. WHICH WAS ODD CAUSE I HAD FULL TANK OF GAS, THE BATTERY WAS SHOWING TO BE WITH IN RANGE ON THE VOLTAGE GAUGE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF......AND THE TRUCK WAS NOT DOING ANYTHING STRANGE,…
Oct 7, 2006Tires I HAVE A 94 ISUZU TROOPER SUBN, MY MOTOR NEEDS REPLACING THIS IS LESS THEN A YEAR. I REPLACED A WATER PUMP 2XS, MOTOR VEALCOVER KASITS/MOTOR INSIDE WAS NO GOOD. I REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, THE DRIVER SHIFT IS LOOSE. I GIVE THE CARE THE BEST CAR SOME THING ABOUT THIS CAR IS FALLING APART. IN LESS THEN A YEAR $8,000 WAS PUT ON THIS TRUCK. I NEED HELP IM A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE SONS THIS TRUCK IS THE ONE TRANSPORTATION I HAVE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF MY TRUCK IS ON THE RECALL LIST. *NM
Sep 22, 2006Engine and engine cooling › Engine DT*: THE CONTACT STATED OIL HAD LEAKED FROM THE CAMSHAFT. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #94V132000, REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Dec 27, 2005 · fireEngine and engine cooling › Engine DEC. 26, 2005 MY HUSBAND WENT TO WORK AT 3:00PM IN THE AFTERNOON. ON DEC 27,2005 HE CAME HOME AT 3:30 AM IN THE MORNING, HE GOT IN THE SHOWER AND WHEN HE GOT OUT OUR DOG STARTED TO BARK, SO HE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHEN HE HEARD A POP. SO HE LOOKED AGAIN AND FLAMES STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE PASSENGER FRONT FENDER. HE YELLED, I RAN OUT THERE AND HE WAS USING THE HOSE I CALLED 911 AND WE WERE TRYING TO POP THE HOOD FINALLY RIGHT BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT HERE MY HUSBAND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE FIREMEN OPENED THE HOOD AND THEN THEY OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR AND THEN ANOTHER FIRE STARTED IN THE DRIVERS FLOORBOARD COMING THROUGHOUT THE FIREWALL. THEY PUT THAT OUT. THEY ASKED…
Dec 26, 2005 · fireEngine and engine cooling MY HUSBAND CAME HOME FROM WORK , TURNED THE TRUCK OFF CAME IN THE HOUSE. GOT IN THE SHOWER 30 MINUTES LATER WHEN HE GOT OUT OF THE SHOWER HE HEARD A POP AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE WHOLE TRUCK , ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WAS NO SMELL OR ANYTHING TO THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG IF HE WOULD HAVE WENT TO SLEEP IT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT OUR HOUSE ON FIRE AND MY HUSBAND , TWO KIDS AND ME WOULD PROBLEY BE DEAD BECAUSE THATS WHAT THE FIREMEN SAID IT WAS SPREADING SO FAST. *JB
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.