The Isuzu Trooper has 13 NHTSA recall campaigns on record covering 1984–2001. On average a defect was admitted 3.64 years after the car was built, the slowest took 12 years. The most recalled system is Engine And Engine Cooling (3 campaigns). Owners also filed 423 complaints on this model — see what breaks.
What was recalled on the Isuzu Trooper
Grouped by system. Open any row for the campaigns themselves — what failed, what it risks and how the dealer fixes it, straight from the NHTSA filing.
Engine And Engine Cooling 3 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 4-wheel drive and automatic transmissions built with tod (torque-on-demand). In certain high speed, frontal crashes, movement of engine compartment components can cause the potential for fuel leakage
Risk. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire
Fix. Dealers will install a new, reinforced fuel hose assembly. Note: the fuel leakage issue in this recall campaign is not the same as the one addressed in their previous campaign 00V-253
What's wrong. Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 4-wheel drive and automatic transmissions built with tod (torque-on-demand). In certain high speed, frontal crashes, movement of engine compartment components can cause the potential for fuel leakage
Risk. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire
Fix. Dealers will install a new, reinforced fuel hose assembly. Note: the fuel leakage issue in this recall campaign is not the same as the one addressed in their previous campaign 00V-253
What's wrong. 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
Power Train 2 Read
What's wrong. 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
What's wrong. Putting in more transmission oil than specified can cause oil to bleed through air groove on to the exhaust manifold if oil temperature rises
Risk. This could cause smoke emission from the manifold, whichcould ignite rubber hoses and result in a fire
Fix. Replace oil level gauge and notify owners to use only the specified amount of automatic transmission fluid
What's wrong. Putting in more transmission oil than specified can cause oil to bleed through air groove on to the exhaust manifold if oil temperature rises
Risk. This could cause smoke emission from the manifold, whichcould ignite rubber hoses and result in a fire
Fix. Replace oil level gauge and notify owners to use only the specified amount of automatic transmission fluid
Fuel System, Gasoline 1 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 4-wheel drive and automatic transmissions built with tod (torque-on-demand). In certain high speed frontal crashes, an interior fuel line and fuel hose can be separated, allowing fuel to leak
Risk. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire
Fix. Dealers will install fuel system shields
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1 Read
What's wrong. 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
What's wrong. 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
Suspension 1 Read
What's wrong. These vehicles were manufactured without a lock washer and/or screws in the front hub
Risk. The bearing adjustment nut can loosen, resulting in too much free play between the wheel and axle. The bearing can seize, causing the wheel to lock affecting vehicle directional control increasing the risk of a crash
Fix. Dealers will inspect the front hubs to determine if the lock washer and screws were properly installed. If not, they will make the necessary repairs
Seat Belts 1 Read
What's wrong. 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
Vehicle Speed Control 1 Read
What's wrong. 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
What's wrong. 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
What's wrong. 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
Trailer Hitches 1 Read
What's wrong. The weld on the receiver unit of the trailer hitch can break
Risk. If the failure occurs, the trailer can separate from thetowing vehicle, and could result in a vehicle crash without warning
Fix. Replace the trailer hitch
What's wrong. The weld on the receiver unit of the trailer hitch can break
Risk. If the failure occurs, the trailer can separate from thetowing vehicle, and could result in a vehicle crash without warning
Fix. Replace the trailer hitch
What's wrong. The weld on the receiver unit of the trailer hitch can break
Risk. If the failure occurs, the trailer can separate from thetowing vehicle, and could result in a vehicle crash without warning
Fix. Replace the trailer hitch
Visibility 1 Read
What's wrong. Due to insufficient clearance between a bolt that fixes the heater to the vehicle body and a fuel delivery pipe and between a rear heater hose clip, use under servere conditions could cause pipe rupture and fuel leakage
Risk. This could result in a fire
Fix. Install new lines and a clip
What's wrong. Due to insufficient clearance between a bolt that fixes the heater to the vehicle body and a fuel delivery pipe and between a rear heater hose clip, use under servere conditions could cause pipe rupture and fuel leakage
Risk. This could result in a fire
Fix. Install new lines and a clip
Structure 1 Read
What's wrong. Trucks used in the salt-belt states can have accumulated corrosion in the hinges of the rear doors. If the vehicles also have misaligned door latches and strikers, it is possible to close the doors in a "false latch" condition
Risk. In the "false latch" condition, the rear doors may givethe impression that the door is properly latched when it is not. This could leadto passengers and/or cargo falling from rear doors which can open without priorwarning
Fix. Check the door latches and strikers for correct alignment and repair if necessary; also inspect rear door hinges for corrosion and replace if necessary
What's wrong. Trucks used in the salt-belt states can have accumulated corrosion in the hinges of the rear doors. If the vehicles also have misaligned door latches and strikers, it is possible to close the doors in a "false latch" condition
Risk. In the "false latch" condition, the rear doors may givethe impression that the door is properly latched when it is not. This could leadto passengers and/or cargo falling from rear doors which can open without priorwarning
Fix. Check the door latches and strikers for correct alignment and repair if necessary; also inspect rear door hinges for corrosion and replace if necessary
What's wrong. Trucks used in the salt-belt states can have accumulated corrosion in the hinges of the rear doors. If the vehicles also have misaligned door latches and strikers, it is possible to close the doors in a "false latch" condition
Risk. In the "false latch" condition, the rear doors may givethe impression that the door is properly latched when it is not. This could leadto passengers and/or cargo falling from rear doors which can open without priorwarning
Fix. Check the door latches and strikers for correct alignment and repair if necessary; also inspect rear door hinges for corrosion and replace if necessary
How long a defect stays unadmitted
Campaign numbers encode the year of the announcement, so each recall on this model can be dated against the car it applies to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average gap before admission | 3.64 years |
| Slowest campaign | 12 years |
| Admitted 5+ years later | 39.3% |
| Campaigns on record | 13 |
Which Trooper years were recalled most
Campaigns per model year. A year with more campaigns is not automatically worse — it may simply have sold in far greater numbers.
| Model year | Campaigns | Most recalled system |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Engine And Engine Cooling | |
| 2000 | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1998 | Power Train | |
| 1997 | Suspension | |
| 1996 | Seat Belts | |
| 1995 | Vehicle Speed Control | |
| 1994 | Vehicle Speed Control | |
| 1993 | Vehicle Speed Control | |
| 1992 | Vehicle Speed Control | |
| 1991 | Engine And Engine Cooling | |
| 1990 | Engine And Engine Cooling | |
| 1989 | Trailer Hitches | |
| 1988 | Visibility | |
| 1987 | Visibility | |
| 1986 | Structure | |
| 1985 | Structure | |
| 1984 | Structure |
Check your own car
A campaign applies to a range of production, not to every car of the model. The only way to know whether yours is affected — and whether the repair was already done — is by VIN.
| Step | What you get |
|---|---|
| Enter the VIN above | Open campaigns for that exact vehicle, straight from NHTSA |
| Check the repair status | Whether the free fix has already been carried out on this car |
| Book at any franchised dealer | Recall work is free regardless of age, mileage or owner |
Go deeper
A campaign covers a production range. Yours is one car.
- Check whether this exact VIN is affected — and whether the fix was done
- Alerts if a new campaign lands on a car in your garage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Isuzu Trooper have?
13 NHTSA campaigns on record, covering 1984–2001. Not every campaign applies to every car — coverage is by production range, so check your VIN.
Is recall work free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer regardless of the car's age, mileage or how many owners it has had. That is a federal requirement, not a courtesy.
How do I know if my Trooper still has an open recall?
Enter its VIN above. We show campaigns that apply to that exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been recorded as done.
Why did a defect take years to be recalled?
On this model the average gap between the car being built and the defect being admitted is 3.64 years, and the slowest campaign came 12 years later. Defects usually surface as they accumulate in the field: complaints pile up, an investigation opens, and only then is a campaign issued.