Total Complaints
18 filings
ISUZU TROOPER · model year
1997 ISUZU TROOPER
18 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997ISUZUTROOPER carries 18 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 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 1997 TROOPER is power train:clutch assembly with 3 filings, followed by air bags (1) and air bags:frontal (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 1997 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.
18
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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 |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | 1 |
| STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20101002STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WE BOUGHT A 1997 ISUZU TROOPER IN FEBRUARY OF 2010 FROM A USED DEALER...THE REAR AXLE AND THE FRAME ARE SEVERELY ROTTED...THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND WE HAVE THAT IN WRITING..WHAT CAN WE DO?...WE CAN'T GET OUR MONEY BACK...THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE....PLEASE HELP. *TR
Mileage: 154,000
20050307ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HYDROLIC LIFTERS STICK, VERY LOUD AND NOTICABLE ENGINE NOISE. THEY HAVE STUCK SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. THEY UNSTICK IMMEDIATELY AFTER SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE, BUT ONLY FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME.*AK DEALERSHIP(S) USED THIS WINDOW OF TIME TO THIER ADVANTAGE TO AVOID REPAIRING VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY, SENDING CONSUMER AWAY TO SEE IF IT WORKS. MANAUFACTURER RECOMMENDS SYNTHETIC OIL TO CORRECT. DOES NOT WORK. SEVERAL INCIDENTS. COUNTLESS FAILURES. WILL PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR NEW LIFTERS, APPROXIMATELY $1,800.00.
Mileage: 8,150
20040919FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
DURING BRAKING, WITH NO GAS PEDAL PRESSURE BEING APPLIED, ENGINE CONTINUED AT HIGH RPMS MAKING BRAKING DIFFICULT. VEHICLE WITH NO GAS PEDAL PRESSURE WOULD PROCEED AT 30 MPH IN DRIVE POSITION OF AUTO TRANS. UPON EXITING ROADWAY, WHEN APPLING GAS PEDAL WHILE IN PARK POSITION, AND RELEASING PEDDLE, RPMS WERE AT 2200. PEDAL WAS OPPERATING FREELY AND THROTTLE CABLE/YOKE WAS IN FULLY RETURNED POSITION. I THEN CONTINUED LOOKING FOR ANY OBVIOUS OBSTRUCTIONS OR SEPERATED VACUMN LINES. NOTHING APPEARED WRONG. I THEN DISCONNECTED THE MASS AIR SENSOR CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. UPON RECONNECTING AMS AND RESTARTING ENGINE, IDLE RETURNED TO AROUND 700 RPM'S AND NO FURTHER PROBLEMS OCCURED FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY DRIVE(APPROX 100MI MORE) NO FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS WERE PERFORMED YET. VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS 65000 MILES USE.*AK
Mileage: 65,000
20030126POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH THROWOUT BEARING FAILED CAUSING VEHICAL TO BE INOPERABLE STRANDING DRIVER IN TRAFFIC
Mileage: 50,126
20030126POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CUTCH FAILURE CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE INOPERABLE STRANDING DRIVER IN TRAFFIC. SECOND CLUTCH FAILURE FOR THIS VEHICLE WITH IN 37,000 MILES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING
Mileage: 87,773
20020719ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
A HIDEOUS, LOUD NOISE COMES FROM UNDERNEATH THE CHASSIS. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT COMES FROM THE MUFFLER. IT WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT IT WOULD COST IN EXCESS OF $800 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE FIXED EITHER BY THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN OR A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE DEALER, WHEN I MENTIONED THE PROBLEM THE VERY FIRST TIME, PICKED UP ON IT RIGHT AWAY.*AK
20010831SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKE FLUID LEAKS. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPL STEERING SHAFT. *AK
20010831EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BRAKE FLUID LEAKS. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPL STEERING SHAFT. *AK
20000831SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
WHILE ACCELERATING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN I DEPRESSED THE CLUTH TO ENGAGE SECOND GEAR. THE CLUTCH PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AND I COASTED TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD OUT OF HARMS WAY. THE FAILURE WAS IN THE
20000831POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
WHILE ACCELERATING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN I DEPRESSED THE CLUTH TO ENGAGE SECOND GEAR. THE CLUTCH PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AND I COASTED TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD OUT OF HARMS WAY. THE FAILURE WAS IN THE
20000829SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE IN A STEEP SLOPE AND VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES CONTINUALLY. *MJS
20000307POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
THE THROWOUT BEARING FAILED WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE PRESSURE PLATE. THE ATTACHMENT POINT IS COMPOSED OF A SERIES OF SPRING STEEL FINGERS THAT ARE HELD TO THE PRESSURE PLATE WITH A SPRING STEEL CLIP. THE SPRING STEEL CLIP SEPARATED FROM THE FINGERS CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO BE INOPERABLE. THE PRESSURE PLATE AND DRIVEN PLATE ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND HAD ONLY MINIMAL WEAR. INSTEAD OF PUSHING THE FINGERS ON THE PRESSURE PLATE THIS DESIGN PULLS THE FINGERS. THE DESIGN IS EXTREMELY WEAK AND AN ADDITIONAL FAILURE WILL OCCUR. ONCE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE THROWOUT BEARING AND PRESSURE PLATE FAIL IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER IS STUCK IN THE ROAD AND UNABLE TO AVOID OTHER VEHICLES OR MANUEVER AROUND DANGEROUS SPOTS. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS A STRURDIER DESIGN THAT IS ABLE TO ABSORB THE DAILY USE OF THE CLUTCH. *AK.
19990528STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
POWER STEERING BOX SHAFT SECTOR AND PITMAN ARM FAILED. MJS
19990528STEERING:LINKAGES
POWER STEERING BOX SHAFT SECTOR AND PITMAN ARM FAILED. MJS
19990528SUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLE'S FRONT END VERY OFTEN NEEDS WHEEL ALIGNMENT AFTER TRAVELING OFF ROAD. MJS
19990422FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
FUEL WARNING LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. *YC
19970403CrashAIR BAGS
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH, IMPACT 30 MPH, DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER. *AK
19970403CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH, IMPACT 30 MPH, DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER. *AK
Compare 1997ISUZUTROOPER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 ISUZU TROOPER have?▼
The 1997 ISUZU TROOPER has 18 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 ISUZU TROOPER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 ISUZU TROOPER is POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1997 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.