Model year record

1996 Isuzu Trooper recalls & problems

The 1996 Isuzu Trooper has 2 safety recalls and 51 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is suspension (13 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints51filed by owners

Crashes · fires5 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths5 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Service brakes, hydraulicJun 3, 1997

Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 97V0920016,667 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.

Seat beltsDec 12, 1996

Rear/other

Recall 96V2480012,345 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AN INCORRECT REAR CENTER SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY BUCKLE. THE MISBUILD INVOLVED FITTING A BUCKLE FOR ANOTHER MARKET WITH THE CORRECT U.S. SPECIFICATION SEAT BELT.
Risk: SUCH INSTALLATION RESULTS IN A REAR CENTER SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE BELT TONGUE CANNOT BE INSERTED INTO THE BUCKLE AND A CONSQUENT INABILITY OF THE SYSTEM TO PROVIDE PROPER OCCUPANT RESTRAINT DURING PANIC BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE OR AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT TONGUE AND BUCKLE AND INCORRECT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES WILL BE REPLACED.

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

1996 Isuzu Trooper 4-DR 4x4

OverallNot 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 · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Trooper

14mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 17 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.2 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-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*
SuspensionFront; Front › Springs › Torsion bar	13	2	0	1	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	10	0	0	0	—
TiresSidewall	7	0	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines	7	0	0	0	—
StructureBody; Frame and members	6	1	0	4	—
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal	4	0	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	3	2	0	0	—
EquipmentElectrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.	3	0	0	0	—
Seats	2	0	0	0	—
VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer; Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core	2	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system › Injectors; Storage › Tank assembly	2	0	1	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	2	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Fuel/propulsion system
IT IS A STRONG VEHICLE GOOD PERFORMANCE BUT THE FRAME DOES NOT SUPPORT ENOUGH PROBLEMS WITH THE STABILITY OF THE VEHICLE ON THE ROADS OR IN EMERGENCY MANEUVERS ALONG THE WAY. DUE TO CORROSION AND RUPTURE IN THE CHASSIS SPECIFICALLY IN THE CONNECTIONS WITH THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS. (POOR QUALITY STEEL) ANOTHER POINT IS A SMELL OF FUEL AND SPILLAGE, BY THE FUEL TANK. (FIRE RISK) ALL THESE CONDITIONS RESULT IN RISK MANAGEMENT, LOOSE VEHICLE CONTROL AND ROLLOVER POSSIBILITY.
Sep 30, 2016 · 124,567 miles
Structure › Body
THE FRAME IS RUSTED OUT AND FALLING OFF IN CHUNKS. I DIDN'T GET AN INSPECTION DONE IN JAN 2013 BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THE YEAR BEFORE THAT THE RUST IS GETTING BAD. OTHER THAN THE FRAME, THE VEHICLE IS IN OUTSTANDING CONDITION. IT ISN'T A SAFE VEHICLE. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? *TR
Dec 31, 2012 · 72,075 miles
Vehicle speed control
THE ACCELERATOR STICKS. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO CUT THE IGNITION. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 92-95 MODELS, HOWEVER, MINE IS A 96 MODEL. *TR
Feb 14, 2009 · 180,000 miles
Tires
TIRE DELAMINATION. *NLM
Mar 15, 2003 · 118,500 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Other fuel types › Turbo/supercharger
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING HAVING PROBLEM WITH FUEL RAILS. DEALER INSTALL THE WRONG HOSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Jan 17, 2003
Air bags › FrontalCrash
WHILE DRIVING AROUND 25 MPH , CONSUMERS VEHICLE BROADSIDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STTED THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.*SLC
Jan 26, 2002
Power train › Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines
I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM W/ANTIFREEZE SMELL, I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO SHOP SEVERAL TIMES THE LAST HAVING A HOSE TO THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED WHICH SEEMED TO TEMPORARILY REMOVE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR BUT THE SMELL IS COMING BACK. IT TOOK THREE VISITS TO FIND IT THE FIRST TIME.. *AK
Dec 3, 2001
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly
2 LEAKING O-RINGS IN THE WATER OUTLET NECK OF THE CORE CAUSED THE ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE TO ENTER THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO FEEL SICK, RADIATOR LEAKING FROM THE SEAM AT THE TANK NLM
Apr 25, 2001

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

RISK OF ROLLOVEROpen
CU ATTORNEY (NANCY PERKINS, ARNOLD & PORTER) AND ODI AGREED THAT AN EXTENSION IN THE PETITION REVIEW PROCESS WILL BE NECESSARY TO ALLOW ODI TIME TO CONDUCT A PROPER REVIEW OF THE NEW MATERIAL SUBMITTED BY CU ON DECEMBER 23, 1996.THEREFORE, THE NEW DUE DATE WILL BE APRIL 21, 1997.CONSUMERS UNION (CU) PETITIONED THE AGENCY TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE 1995 AND 1996 MODEL ISUZU TROOPER AND ACURA SLX VEHICLES ARE DEFECTIVE WITHIN THE MEANING OF 49 U.S. C. CHAPTER 301.SPECIFICALLY, CU ALLEGED THAT TESTING DEMONSTRATED A DANGEROUS PROPENSITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO ROLL OVER WHILE PERFORMING A DYNAMIC STEERING MANEUVER TO AVOID EMERGANCY SITUATIONS.
DP96011 · opened Aug 20, 1996