2002 Isuzu Trooper recalls & problems

Safety recalls

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

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

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

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

Recent owner complaints

• Tires › Tread/belt

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU TROOPER EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH MUD TERRAIN T/A KM2 TIRES, SIZE: LT265/75R16. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-65 MPH, THREE OF THE TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THERE WERE MOMENTARY VIBRATIONS JUST BEFORE THE FAILURES. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER WHERE THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES WERE DEEMED DEFECTIVE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE REPLACEMENT TIRES WITH ONLY 12,000 MILES ON THEM PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

  Jun 12, 2012 · 49,000 miles
• Electrical system

  I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH ON A RURAL ROAD AND I NOTICED THAT UPON GIVING SOME GAS THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AT ALL. THEN I NOTICED THAT ALL MY INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE OUT....EVERYTHING GONE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND WITH DIFFICULTY IN STEERING (THERE WAS NO POWER), I PULLED TO STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I THEN PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND TURNED THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE AWAY. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THIS HAPPENED (LAST WEEK).....A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. I KNOW ISUZU SHARES PARTS WITH GM (E.G. MY TRANSMISSION IS GM). I HOPE THIS IS NOT AN EXAMPLE OF THAT GM IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM.....BUT CERTAINLY HAS THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS OF IT. BUT IT IS VERY…

  Apr 4, 2014 · 81,897 miles
• Engine and engine cooling › Engine

  ENGINE IN MY 2002 ISUZU TROOPER BURNED UP THE MAIN ROD BEARING IN PISTON ONE DUE TO INSUFFICIENT OIL PRESSURE. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. TRUCK HAS 79K MILES ON IT AND WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. ISUZU OF NORTH AMERICA STATED NOTHING WOULD BE DONE VIA THE MANUFACTURER. I REPLACED THE ENGINE MYSELF AT A COST OF $4800. *TR

  May 18, 2007 · 79,000 miles
• Engine and engine cooling

  EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. 1 QT. EVERY 600 MILES OR SO. 5 QTS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES (3000 MILES!) *JB

  Mar 23, 2007
• Structure › Frame and members › Underbody shields

  I TOOK MY 2002 ISUZU TROOPER LTD. TO THE DEALER (FITZGERALD DODGE ISUZU, ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, COMPLAINING OF A GROWLING NOISE. WHILE IT WAS MIS-DIAGNOSED, THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE UNDERPLATING ON THE CAR WAS SUFFERING FROM FAULTY WELDS, AND THAT IF I DIDN'T HAVE IT REMOVED IT WOULD FALL OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAD TO PAY SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THIS TO BE PERFORMED. I NOW HAVE NO UNDERPLATING TO PROTECT THE CAR. IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, AND THE OWNER SHOULD NOT BE OBLIGATED TO REMOVE PORTIONS OF HER AUTOMOBILE TO CORRECT FAULTY MANUFACTURE, AND BE SUBJECTED TO RISK OF POTENTIAL DEATH OR INJURY TO HERSELF OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THE TROOPER ONLY HAS 45,000…

  Mar 6, 2005 · 45,000 miles
• Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift

  DT: CONSUMER OWNS A 2002 ISUZU TROOPER. CONSUMER SAYS THAT WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK THE INDICATOR POSITION WILL READ PARK, BUT THE VEHICLE WILL BE IN A NEUTRAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE CAN ROLE FREELY FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, BUT COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SHE WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CALLED WHEN VEHICLE WAS AT CONSUMER'S HOUSE AND PROBLEM WAS RECURRING. DEALER SENT SOMEONE OUT BUT STILL NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT PROBLEM, WHICH DID NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, AND DID NOT SEEM TO FOLLOW ANY PATTERN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TWICE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER…

  Jul 2, 2005 · 38,000 miles
• Power train › Automatic transmissionCrash

  WHEN THE CONSUMER APPROACHED A TRAIN TRACK, ANOTHER VEHICLE BEGAN TO APPROACH FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION. THE CONSUMER STOPPED AND SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE TO CLEAR UP THE ROAD WAY. THE TRANSMISSION JUMPED TO PARK AND LOCKED PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. A TRAIN APPROACHED AND STRUCK THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

  Jul 15, 2004
• Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal

  WHEN CHANGING GEARS AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

  Aug 5, 2003

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