The 1998 Isuzu Trooper has 1 safety recall and 42 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (19 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints42filed by owners
Crashes · fires2 · 2reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths4 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Power train › Transfer case (4-wheel drive)
NHTSA recall 98V180000 · Aug 3, 1998 · 3,062 vehicles
Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE TRANSFER GEARBOX FLANGE NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, CAUSING THE NUTS TO LOOSEN.
Risk: IF THE FLANGE NUTS LOOSEN, THE PROPELLER SHAFT CAN SEPARATE, RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPEATIVE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FRONT AND REAR FLANGE NUTS AND, IF FOUND LOOSE, TIGHTEN TO SPECIFIED TORQUE AND SECURED STAKED AT TWO PLACES.
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.
Fuel economy
Trooper
15mpg combined
City / highway
13 / 18 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel
Trooper
15mpg combined
City / highway
14 / 18 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/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
19
0
1
0
59,172 mi
Power train Automatic transmission; Transfer case (4-wheel drive)
6
0
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control Accelerator pedal
4
0
0
0
—
Tires Tread/belt
4
0
0
0
—
Electrical system Ignition › Switch; Wiring › Interior/under dash
3
0
1
0
—
Visibility Power window devices and controls; Windshield wiper/washer
2
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components; Foundation components › Disc
2
0
0
0
—
Air bags Side/window; Frontal
2
2
0
4
—
Fuel system, gasoline Storage › Tank assembly
2
0
0
0
—
Seats
1
0
0
0
—
Unknown or other
1
0
0
0
—
Parking brake Conventional
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
Mar 15, 2002 · 30,000 milesPower train TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ISUZU TROOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO ANY OTHER GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AN UNKNOWN DEALER THAT WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS WAS CONTACTED. THE DEALER RETAINED THE VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN TWO WEEKS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Jun 19, 2010 · 86,444 milesFuel system, gasoline WHEN IDLING THE VEHICLE IS IDLING VERY HIGH. ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS COMING ON, AND WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS YOU START TO LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE JERKS YOU, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF GETTING WHIPLASH. WE HAVE HAD IN THE SHOP AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES AND LOTS OF TIMES FOR A WEEK AT A TIME. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS DUE TO THE GAS CAP, THEY REPLACED THAT, 2 DAYS LATER IT WAS BACK ON. THEY ALSO SAID IT WAS THE FUEL SENSOR, REPLACED THAT AND ITS STILL ACTING AS THOUGH ITS NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS. AS FAR AS THE JERKING OF THE VEHICLE THEY WONT TELL US WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THAT. ALSO THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO TO RESOLVE THESE…
Feb 1, 2010 · 50,000 milesEngine and engine cooling › Engine ENGINE IS EXHIBITING ABNORMALLY HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION. ONE QUART PER 500 MILES. IMMINENT ENGINE FAILURE IF PROBLEM IS NOT CORRECTED. *TR
Aug 3, 2008 · 119,000 milesTires TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ISUZU TROOPER. THE VEHICLE HAS ORIGINAL BRIDGESTONE DUELER 684 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RIDE AS IF THE TIRES WERE UNBALANCED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THERE WAS NO BLOW OUT. THE CONTACT DID NOT DRIVE OVER ANY POTHOLES. THE VIN AND TIRE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
Jun 22, 2007Engine and engine cooling USING 1 QT OIL EVERY 450 MILES. *TR
Jan 6, 2007 · 82,000 milesEngine and engine cooling › Engine I AHVE A 1998 ISUZU TROOPER. 3.5 V6. I USED 1QT OF OIL EVERY 500 MILES. ISUZU STATSE THIS IS WITHIN SPECS. I DISAGREE. SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL AS ENGINES COMPLETELY NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE HELP IN MAKING ISUZU OF NORTH AMERICA OWN UP TO THIS FLAWED ENGINE.
Apr 21, 2006 · 63,344 milesEngine and engine cooling › Engine JUST BOUGHT A 98' TROOPER WITH THE 3.5L. DROVE IT FOR 1 WEEK AND GOT THE OIL CHANGED. DROVE IT FOR ANOTHER WEEK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND HAD IT CHECKED WITH A HANDHELD SCANNER. IT SAID LOW FLOW THROUGH EGR VALVE. TECH SAID TAKE IT OFF AND CLEAN IT, SHOULD BE OK. NEXT DAY ON THE WAY HOME MOTOR STARTS KNOCKING. BABIED IT HOME, NOW KNOCKING VERY BAD. CHECKED OIL, IT WAS DRY. NO WARNING! NOTHING! I ONLY WENT 500 MILES AFTER THE OIL CHANGE. THE TRUCK IS GOING IN FOR A REBUILD. THIS IS GOING TO COST $4000. I HAVE NOT EVEN MADE A PAYMENT ON IT YET! THIS IS ABSURD. NOW, AFTER THE FACT, I HAVE READ ALL THE FORUMS ON THIS SITUATION. TOO LATE FOR ME. AFTER…
Jan 15, 2006Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline I HAVE A 1998 ISUZU TROOPER WITH A 3.5L MOTOR AND IT EATS MOTORS OIL LIKE NO OTHER. IT DOES IT EVERYTIME I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL SINCE AFTER ABOUT 50K MILES. THE MOTOR CONSUMES ROUGHLY 1QT OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES, EVEN AFTER A RECENT OIL CHANGE. I HAVE LOOKED ON COUNTLESS WEB SITES AND FORUMS ALL OVER AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. PEOPLE JUST DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS WEB SITE AND WHAT YOU DO. THIS PROBLEM WILL PERSIST AND EVENTUALLY END UP IN ENGINE FAILURE AND CAN BE A VERY COSTLY PROBLEM. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS LATER AND A NEW MOTOR, ONE WILL STILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM FOR THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX IT. THE DRAIN BACK HOLES IN THE OILS RINGS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE PROBLEM IS. PLEASE…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.