Total Complaints
105 filings
ISUZU TROOPER · model year
105 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999ISUZUTROOPER carries 105 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 12 crashes, 1 fire, 7 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 1999 TROOPER is engine and engine cooling:engine with 29 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (17) and engine and engine cooling (10). 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 1999 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.
Total Complaints
105 filings
Crashes Reported
12 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 29 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 17 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 10 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 7 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 2 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 2 |
| STRUCTURE | 2 |
| ENGINE | 2 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL | 1 |
75000 MILES. BURNS A QUART OF OIL EVERY FEW HUNDRED MILES. NO OIL LIGHT COMES UP. I RAN IT ALMOST OUT OF OIL IN 06/2018
Mileage: 73,000
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO SURGE AS IF IT WAS STUCK IN HIGH GEAR. THE GAS PEDDLE SEEMED TO BE STUCK AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO GO FASTER AND FASTER. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE TIRES SCREECHED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN MOTION FORWARD. I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP THE AUTO.
Mileage: 152,500
LAST 3 WEEKS - INITIALLY SEEMED LIKE POWER LOSS/SURGE, THEN HEARD UNUSUAL SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT 1 WEEK AGO, ENGINE STARTED TO DIE WHILE OPERATING ON CITY/RESIDENTIAL STREETS WHENEVER NOT PUSHING GAS (SLOWING TO TURN OR STOP) FRIDAY, WOULD NOT EVEN HOLD IDLE TO START, PUSHED GAS AND HELD RPM'S AT 1 - 1.5 FOR A WHILE AND FINALLY STARTED. TODAY, INITIALLY WOULD NOT START. NEXT TIME STARTED RPM'S AT OVER 2, DROPPED WHEN SHIFTED TO REVERSE, WHEN SHIFTED TO DRIVE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT USE OF GAS PEDAL UP TO STEADY 35 MPH ON CITY STREET. AFTER 1 MILE, AT NEXT INTERSECTION STARTED MAKING THAT STRANGE NOISE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT (LIKE AIR OR FLUID UNDER PRESSURE IE AIR COMPRESSOR/HIGH PRESSURE WATER SOUND) WHILE PRESSING BRAKE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL RPM'S REVVED TO 2.5, IN DRIVE AND REVERSE DROPPED TO 1.5, IN PARK REVVED TO 2.5, AFTER TURN AUTOMOBILE ACCELERATED TO STEADY 40 MPH ON CITY STREET WITHOUT GAS BEING PUSHED AT NEXT STOP (1 MILE) RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE A
Mileage: 160,500
LAST 3 WEEKS - INITIALLY SEEMED LIKE POWER LOSS/SURGE, THEN HEARD UNUSUAL SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT 1 WEEK AGO, ENGINE STARTED TO DIE WHILE OPERATING ON CITY/RESIDENTIAL STREETS WHENEVER NOT PUSHING GAS (SLOWING TO TURN OR STOP) FRIDAY, WOULD NOT EVEN HOLD IDLE TO START, PUSHED GAS AND HELD RPM'S AT 1 - 1.5 FOR A WHILE AND FINALLY STARTED. TODAY, INITIALLY WOULD NOT START. NEXT TIME STARTED RPM'S AT OVER 2, DROPPED WHEN SHIFTED TO REVERSE, WHEN SHIFTED TO DRIVE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT USE OF GAS PEDAL UP TO STEADY 35 MPH ON CITY STREET. AFTER 1 MILE, AT NEXT INTERSECTION STARTED MAKING THAT STRANGE NOISE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT (LIKE AIR OR FLUID UNDER PRESSURE IE AIR COMPRESSOR/HIGH PRESSURE WATER SOUND) WHILE PRESSING BRAKE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL RPM'S REVVED TO 2.5, IN DRIVE AND REVERSE DROPPED TO 1.5, IN PARK REVVED TO 2.5, AFTER TURN AUTOMOBILE ACCELERATED TO STEADY 40 MPH ON CITY STREET WITHOUT GAS BEING PUSHED AT NEXT STOP (1 MILE) RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE A
Mileage: 160,500
LAST 3 WEEKS - INITIALLY SEEMED LIKE POWER LOSS/SURGE, THEN HEARD UNUSUAL SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT 1 WEEK AGO, ENGINE STARTED TO DIE WHILE OPERATING ON CITY/RESIDENTIAL STREETS WHENEVER NOT PUSHING GAS (SLOWING TO TURN OR STOP) FRIDAY, WOULD NOT EVEN HOLD IDLE TO START, PUSHED GAS AND HELD RPM'S AT 1 - 1.5 FOR A WHILE AND FINALLY STARTED. TODAY, INITIALLY WOULD NOT START. NEXT TIME STARTED RPM'S AT OVER 2, DROPPED WHEN SHIFTED TO REVERSE, WHEN SHIFTED TO DRIVE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT USE OF GAS PEDAL UP TO STEADY 35 MPH ON CITY STREET. AFTER 1 MILE, AT NEXT INTERSECTION STARTED MAKING THAT STRANGE NOISE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT (LIKE AIR OR FLUID UNDER PRESSURE IE AIR COMPRESSOR/HIGH PRESSURE WATER SOUND) WHILE PRESSING BRAKE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL RPM'S REVVED TO 2.5, IN DRIVE AND REVERSE DROPPED TO 1.5, IN PARK REVVED TO 2.5, AFTER TURN AUTOMOBILE ACCELERATED TO STEADY 40 MPH ON CITY STREET WITHOUT GAS BEING PUSHED AT NEXT STOP (1 MILE) RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE A
Mileage: 160,500
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME HARD TO PRESS THEN ENGAGED AND UNABLE TO CONTROL SPEED. ALL THE WHILE FRANTICLY APPLYING THE BRAKE TRYING TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR, I HAD TO FORCE THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR [PARK] WHERE THE VEHICLE THEN REVVED INTO THE RED ZONE BEFORE PUTTING OFF. I THEN TRIED RESTARTING THE VEHICLE UP AND AGAIN THE ACCELERATOR REMAINED ENGAGED [STUCK] AND WOULD NOT RELEASE.
Mileage: 164,538
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME HARD TO PRESS THEN ENGAGED AND UNABLE TO CONTROL SPEED]. ALL THE WHILE FRANTICLY APPLYING THE BRAKE AN TRYING TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR, I HAD TO FORCE THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR [PARK] WHERE THE VEHICLE THEN REVVED INTO THE RED ZONE BEFORE CUTTING OFF. I THEN TRIED RESTARTING THE VEHICLE UP AND AGAIN THE ACCELERATOR REMAINED ENGAGED [STUCK] AND WOULD NOT RELEASE.
Mileage: 164,538
I WAS TRAVELING ON HILLEN ROAD AND E. 33RD ST IN BALTIMORE, MD. THE WEATHER WAS LIGHT RAINING AND MISTY. AS I APPROACHED 33RD AND THE ALAMEDA I ENGAGED MY BRAKES, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AT FIRST AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD AND HAD FLAT TIRES. I TIRED TO DRIFT OUT OF THE INTERSECTION INTO A SAFE LOCATION AND PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON. MY GRANDSON GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND CHECKED FOR ANY VISUAL DAMAGES. THERE WERE NONE. AS I TRIED TO DRIVE OUT OF THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC THE NOISE WAS HORRIFIC AND AS IF ALL COMPONENTS OF MY BRAKES WERE RATTLING WITHIN THE WHEELS. I PULLED ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED FOR A TOW. AFTER INSPECTION AT THE REPAIR SHOP I WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS RING HAD SHATTERED INSIDE THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY. WHEN I WENT TO THE SHOP, THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE ABS RING, SHATTERED INTO MANY SMALL PIECES. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE AND AVOID WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. *TR
Mileage: 139,224
99 ISUZU TROOPER 3.5 ENGINE BURNS OIL EXCESSIVELY. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER AND REGULARLY SERVICED PER OWNERS MANUAL. AT 50K MILES, ENGINE OIL LIGHT TURNED ON 2,500 MILES AFTER OIL CHANGE AND WAS OVER 4 QTS LOW. ENGINE NOW AT 60K MI AND BURNING APPROX. 1 QT PER 600-700 MILES. SEEMS TO BE COMMON ENGINE DEFECT KNOWN BY MECHANICS AND OWNERS, BUT ISUZU UNWILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM. THOUGH MONITORING CONSTANTLY, I AM JUST WAITING FOR SIGNIFICANT ENGINE FAILURE. *TR
Mileage: 50,000
HI, THIS IS THE SECOND USED CAR I BOUGH FROM INFINITY AUTOS, THE FIRST ONE WAS A 97 DODGE CARAVAN, IT HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING I PAID $300.00 TO FIX SOMETHING IN THE MOTOR OMAR FROM THIS DEALERSHIP NEVER TOOK CARE OF THIS FOR LIKE HE SAID SO I PAID OFF THE VAN I NEED A NEWER BETTER CAR SO I TRADED THIS CAR IN FOR A ISUZU 1999, I USED THE VAN AS A DOWN PAYMENT +I GAVE HIM $300.00 DOLLARS, I TOLD HIM THAN MARCH, 2009 THIS CAR BETTER BE IN BETTER CONDITION AGAIN HE SAID NO PROBLEM, THERE WERE THINGS ON THIS CAR THAT NEEDED TO REPLACED, LIKE PANEL IN THE BACK OF THE CAR NO SPARE TIRE, PARTS OF THE CAR INSIDE WERE MISSING NO RADIO, I BOUGHT ONE ALL THESE THINGS HE SAID JUST LIKE MY VAN WERE NOT TAKEN CARE OF, I AM ANGRY WITH HIM BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL CUSTOMER OF HIS, I WENT BACK TO HIM BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONLY DEALER SHIP THAT WOULD GIVE ME CREDIT, BEFORE THIS I PAID MY PAYMENTS, ON TIME, ONE TIME WITH THE VAN I HAD RO SKIP A PAYMENT BECAUSE THE VAN WAS IN TH
HI, THIS IS THE SECOND USED CAR I BOUGH FROM INFINITY AUTOS, THE FIRST ONE WAS A 97 DODGE CARAVAN, IT HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING I PAID $300.00 TO FIX SOMETHING IN THE MOTOR OMAR FROM THIS DEALERSHIP NEVER TOOK CARE OF THIS FOR LIKE HE SAID SO I PAID OFF THE VAN I NEED A NEWER BETTER CAR SO I TRADED THIS CAR IN FOR A ISUZU 1999, I USED THE VAN AS A DOWN PAYMENT +I GAVE HIM $300.00 DOLLARS, I TOLD HIM THAN MARCH, 2009 THIS CAR BETTER BE IN BETTER CONDITION AGAIN HE SAID NO PROBLEM, THERE WERE THINGS ON THIS CAR THAT NEEDED TO REPLACED, LIKE PANEL IN THE BACK OF THE CAR NO SPARE TIRE, PARTS OF THE CAR INSIDE WERE MISSING NO RADIO, I BOUGHT ONE ALL THESE THINGS HE SAID JUST LIKE MY VAN WERE NOT TAKEN CARE OF, I AM ANGRY WITH HIM BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL CUSTOMER OF HIS, I WENT BACK TO HIM BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONLY DEALER SHIP THAT WOULD GIVE ME CREDIT, BEFORE THIS I PAID MY PAYMENTS, ON TIME, ONE TIME WITH THE VAN I HAD RO SKIP A PAYMENT BECAUSE THE VAN WAS IN TH
HI, THIS IS THE SECOND USED CAR I BOUGH FROM INFINITY AUTOS, THE FIRST ONE WAS A 97 DODGE CARAVAN, IT HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING I PAID $300.00 TO FIX SOMETHING IN THE MOTOR OMAR FROM THIS DEALERSHIP NEVER TOOK CARE OF THIS FOR LIKE HE SAID SO I PAID OFF THE VAN I NEED A NEWER BETTER CAR SO I TRADED THIS CAR IN FOR A ISUZU 1999, I USED THE VAN AS A DOWN PAYMENT +I GAVE HIM $300.00 DOLLARS, I TOLD HIM THAN MARCH, 2009 THIS CAR BETTER BE IN BETTER CONDITION AGAIN HE SAID NO PROBLEM, THERE WERE THINGS ON THIS CAR THAT NEEDED TO REPLACED, LIKE PANEL IN THE BACK OF THE CAR NO SPARE TIRE, PARTS OF THE CAR INSIDE WERE MISSING NO RADIO, I BOUGHT ONE ALL THESE THINGS HE SAID JUST LIKE MY VAN WERE NOT TAKEN CARE OF, I AM ANGRY WITH HIM BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL CUSTOMER OF HIS, I WENT BACK TO HIM BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONLY DEALER SHIP THAT WOULD GIVE ME CREDIT, BEFORE THIS I PAID MY PAYMENTS, ON TIME, ONE TIME WITH THE VAN I HAD RO SKIP A PAYMENT BECAUSE THE VAN WAS IN TH
I GET FREQUENT OIL CHANGES IN MY 99 ISUZU TROOPER AND HAD JUST GOTTEN ONE LAST MONTH. I HAD AT LEAST 2700 MILES BEFORE MY NEXT ONE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM MY HOOD AND ALL MY DASH LIGHTS CAME ON LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE. I PULLED OVER AND FOUND OUT THAT MY ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPT TO PUT IT OUT AND GOT IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE TO LATER FIND OUT THAT THE PISTON HAD GOT THROWN FROM THE ENGINE BECAUSE IT LOCKED UP DUE TO NO OIL GETTING TO THAT PISTON. SO NOW I HAVE TO GET A NEW ENGINE WHICH COST ABOUT THE SAME AS THE CAR. *TR
Mileage: 77,800
I TOOK MY '99 ISUZU TROOPER TO GET AN OIL CHANGE, AND 3 WEEKS LATER THE OIL LIGHT TURNED ON. I WENT TO THE ISUZU DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND AFTER CHECKING THE OIL, THEY NOTICED THAT THERE ARE LESS THAN A LITER IN THE ENGINE. THEY FILLED IT AND ADDED A CONDITIONER TELLING ME THAT THAT SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. A FEW MONTHS LATER, DRIVING BACK FROM A TRIP, THE ENGINE BEGAN KNOCKING AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. MOMENTS LATER I LOST POWER (RPMS) AND PULLED THE CAR OVER. THE MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT MY CAR TOLD ME (AND THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY A CONSUMER REPORT WEBSITE) THAT '99 TROOPERS OFTEN HAVE "UNEXPLAINED LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE RESULTING IN THE ENGINE SEIZING." THE CAR NOW NEEDS A NEW ENGINE (APPROX 4000-9000 DOLLARS) OR A NEW CAR. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE OR DEFECT. *TR
Mileage: 102,000
ENGINE DIES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. FROM 5 MPH TO 60 MPH. DIES WHILE TURNING, THEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. ALMOST BEEN IN A FEW ACCIDENTS. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THIS SUMMER. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK ENGINE ALSO BURNS 1QT OIL EVER 1,000 MILES.
SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, THE ENGINE FAILED ON OUR 1999 ISUZU TROOPER, POSSIBLY DUE TO LOW OIL. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR SYMPTOMS OF ANY KIND - VEHICLE JUST QUIT ON ROUTE 95 IN MANSFIELD WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME FROM BOWLING. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL GARAGE, WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED - IN FACT, THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD LITERALLY PICKED PIECES UP FROM THE PAVEMENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. UPON SEARCHING FOR A NEW ENGINE, WE DISCOVERED THAT THEY WERE NOT EASY TO FIND UNLESS PURCHASED DIRECTLY FROM ISUZU, AND ACCORDING TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS WEBSITE, THIS IS PRIMARILY BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IS COMMON AMONG ISUZUS MANUFACTURED IN LATE 1990'S/EARLY 2000'S. OUR REGULAR MECHANIC, AND SEVERAL OTHERS QUESTIONED, CONFIRMED THAT THE ISUZU'S WERE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. BOTTOM LINE, IT WOULD COST US $5000-$6000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, WHICH IS ABOUT WHAT WE OWED ON THE CAR. *NM
Mileage: 93,000
FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS ONLY A COUPLE YEARS OLD, EVERY TIME I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THEY SAID IT WAS ALMOST EMPTY OF OIL. I BROUGHT IT IN TO A DEALER SEVERAL TIMES SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY COULD NEVER FIND THE REASON FOR IT BURNING OIL. EVERY DEALER SAID IT WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE ISUZU, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIX IT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *JB
Mileage: 66,366
EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING. *JB
Mileage: 55,000
ENGINE OIL BURNING ISSUE. 1999 ISUZU TROOPER S. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE BURNS OVER 1 QUART OF OIL PER 3K MILES. HAS DONE THE SAME SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2003 WITH 52K MILES. NOW HAS 93K MILES. BASED ON ONLINE RESEARCH, THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE OIL FLOW PORTS WITHIN THE 3.5 LITER V6 AND IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. *JB
Mileage: 52,000
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND THE OIL WAS DRY ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENGINE.
Mileage: 83,000
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.