Total Complaints
20 filings
ISUZU TROOPER · model year
1988 ISUZU TROOPER
20 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988ISUZUTROOPER carries 20 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 2 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1988 TROOPER is engine and engine cooling:engine with 4 filings, followed by wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (4) and engine and engine cooling (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1988 TROOPER. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
20
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 |
| WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020717SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
RETRACTOR FOR DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT WAS REPLACED AT 75000 MILES, AND AT 150,000 MILES, RETRACTOR FAILED AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT SEATBELT MIGHT NOT HOLD IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20000418ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE(CYLINDER HEAD) BROKE, REFUSED TO DO THE CHECK UP ON THE CAR BEFORE THE GUARANTEE EXPIRED. PLEASE HELP ME THIS DEALER IS DOING INJUSTICE TO PEOPLE LIKE ME. THANKS. *AK
20000310STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
FRONT AND REAR DOOR HINGES WILL BIND, AND WHEN DOOR IS SHUT, WILL NOT HATCH. AK
19990419FireVISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
HEATER HOSE CLIP/BOLT RUPTURED FUEL LINE PIPE CAUSING FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL. (89V-001)
19980331CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DURING A COLLISION DRIVER'S SEAT BACK FAILED, CAUSING INJURY.
19980323FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP CAUGHT FIRE, CAUSING AN EXPLOSION.
19980302WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
THREE WHEEL STUDS SHEERED OFF, 5 STUDS FAILED DUE TO WEAK METAL.
19971204SUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLE ROLLED OVER IN ACCIDENT.
19971009WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHEEL LUG STUDS SHEER OFF UPON ROUTINE REMOVAL/REPLACEMENT OF TIRE.
19961210WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHEEL LUG NUTS STRIPPED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE FLAT TIRE.
19961210TIRES
WHEEL LUG NUTS STRIPPED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE FLAT TIRE.
19961205ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE HEADS BLEW OUT SEVERAL TIMES. *AK
19960912FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER STATES THAT HE STARTED SMELLING , WHEN INVESTIGATED FOUND THAT THE VENT PUMP ON THE GAS TANK WAS RUSTED AND HE HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE GAS TANK.*AK
19960725ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CRACKED HEAD CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. *DH
19951207SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE ROTORS FAILED. *SKD
19951207SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
BRAKE PADS OVERHEAT DUE TO DUST.
19950615EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHT COVER SEALS FAIL, ALLOWING WATER TO COLLECT INSIDE OF HEADLIGHT, RESULTING IN LIGHTS BEING REFRACTED/POOR VISIBILITY. *SKD
19950526WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
LUG NUTS DISINTEGRATED; COULD CAUSE WHEEL TO FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. TT
19950302ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED AT WEAK POINT AND WAS REPLACED/SECOND CYLINDER HEAD WARPED DUE TO ENGINE HEAT. *AK
19950302ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED TO INDICATE THAT ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING.
Compare 1988ISUZUTROOPER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 ISUZU TROOPER have?▼
The 1988 ISUZU TROOPER has 20 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 ISUZU TROOPER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 ISUZU TROOPER is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Is the 1988 ISUZU TROOPER safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.