Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Isuzu Trooper problems
Owners filed 42 complaints about the 1998 Isuzu Trooper with NHTSA between Jun 1998 and Mar 2019. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (19).
Complaints
42
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling19
- Power train6
- Vehicle speed control4
- Tires4
- Electrical system3
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Air bags2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Visibility2
- Interior lighting1
- Parking brake1
- Seats1
- Other / unknown1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
3
3
6
5
6
6
3
2
2
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 2 |
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
19 reports1 fire
“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.”
Power train
6 reports1 related recall
“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.”
Vehicle speed control
4 reports
“AFTER PARKING PULLED UP PARKING BRAKE WHEN ENGINE STARTED TO RACE. WHILE SITTING BEHIND STEERING WITH FOOT ON BRAKE VEHICLE TOOK OFF, AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK”
Tires
4 reports
“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.”
Electrical system
3 reports1 fire
“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 PROBLEMS. THIS VEHICLE IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO TAKE OTHERS LIVES. *TR”
Fuel system, gasoline
2 reports
“AFTER SMELLING GAS CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED GAS LEAKING. IF THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON THE GAS LEAKS. VEHICLE IS BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER.*AK”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.