Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Isuzu Trooper, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling19
- Power train6
- Tires4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Electrical system3
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Air bags2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Visibility2
- Seats1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Isuzu Trooper failed the safety check 1.37% of the time — 20% less often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 159,894 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
169 cars built in 1998 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 553 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 268 of these cars first registered in 1998 took their annual MOT test. 61% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1998 the figure was 64%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1998 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 17.5% | 16.0% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 16.4% | 9.3% |
| Brakes | 14.2% | 11.8% |
| Suspension | 11.6% | 12.4% |
| Visibility | 8.6% | 6.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.6% | 7.2% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In New Zealand
3 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 33% arrived as used imports, 67% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 15.6–15.9 L/100 km (about 15 mpg US), CO₂ 359–366 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trooper 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 17.6 | 13.3 | 15.6 |
| Trooper 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 17.9 | 13.5 | 15.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1998 Isuzu Trooper.
| 1999039 16 Mar 1999 | Powertrain On certain vehicles, the front and rear output flange lock nuts of the Torque-On-Demand (TOD) 4WD system transfer case might not be staked. In such cases there… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE TRANSFER GEARBOX FLANGE NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, CAUSING THE NUTS TO LOOSEN.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Isuzu told its dealers about the 1998 Isuzu Trooper: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 633996 | MOUNTING POSITION OF SPEEDOMETER DRIVEN GEAR BUSHING WORK SHOP MANUAL REVISION. *JG |
| 633944 | REPLACEMENT ODOMETER PROGRAMING. *JG |
| 615678 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THE P1640 AND P1650 OUTPUT DRIVE CODES WHICH REFER TO OUTPUT DRIVER CIRCUIT CONDITIONS RELATED TO THE PCM. *TT |
| 615673 | ON SOME VEHICLES UP TO VIN W7907635, THE FRONT AND REAR OUTPUT FLANGE LOCK NUTS OF THE TORQUE-ON-DEMAND (TOD) 4-WD SYSTEM TRANSFER CASE MIGHT BE WITHOUT STAKING. IN SUCH CASES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE LOCK NUT MAY LOOSEN, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE PROPELLER SHAFT RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 614139 | THIS INFORMATION BULLETIN OUTLINES THE PROPER STEPS TO INDEX THE CAMSHAFTS WITH THE CRANKSHAFT FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DIRECT ATTACK DOHC 3.2L / 3.5L V6 ENGINE. IN THE EVENT THAT CAMSHAFT TIMING HAS BEEN DISRUPTED, DUE TO TIMING BELT BREAKAGE OR CAMSHAFTS / CRANKSHAFT BEING ROTATED WITHOUT A TIMING BELT, THIS IS IMPORTANT PRIOR TO TIMING BELT INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 614137 | ON SUV VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, SOME REMOTE STARTER INSTALLATIONS MAY CAUSE THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT TO SET AND STORE P0705. AMERICAN ISUZU MOTORS DOES NOT SELL REMOTE STARTER KITS AND DOES NOT RECOMMEND ANY PARTICULAR INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 612593 | SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH THE P1441 EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CODE THAT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH NO FAULT FOUND FROM THE APPROPRIATE FLOW CHART IN THE DRIVEABILITY AND EMISSIONS MANUAL. *TT |
| 612584 | EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT ROUGH IDLE AND / OR THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP IS ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171, P0174, OR P1171. *TT |
| 612582 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT OF STATIC NOISE IN THE DOOR RADIO SPEAKER WHEN ADJUSTING THE OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS. *TT |
| 610116 | MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE INFORMATION: TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT INTERVAL AND DOHC V6 VALVE ADJUSTMENT SCHEDULE. *TT |
| 606029 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHOR KIT. *TT |
| 603839 | SERVICE INFORMATION ON REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY / SECURITY SYSTEM REPROGRAMMING. *YC |
| 602437 | WORKSHOP MANUAL REVISIONS ON COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. *YC |
| 602255 | A NEW TYPE OF LSD LUBRICANT WAS INTRODUED WHICH CONTAINS FRICTION MDIFIERS, NECESSARY FOR PROPER LSD FUNCTION. *YC |
| 602252 | WORKSHOP MANUAL REVISIONS ON FAN BELT INFORMATION. *YC |
| 10237146 | This bulletin outlines the procedures for using the Alpine Exchange Program (the "Exchange Program"). The Exchange Program must be used when any Alpine radio or other component covered by this bulletin is repaired under warranty and may also be used for radio and component repairs not covered under warranty. Contact Alpine directly for pricing and payment methods applicable to radio and component repairs not covered under warranty. |
| 10218932 | Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural recommendations to improve dealer efficiency when submitting Parts Warranty claims. We strongly recommend dealers follow these procedures in order to avoid delays in Parts Warranty claim payments and/or claim chargeback. This bulletin was revised to add a Parts Warranty Form |
| 10218927 | Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural recommendations to improve dealer efficiency when submitting Parts Warranty claims. We strongly recommend dealers follow these procedures in order to avoid delays in Parts Warranty claim payments and/or claim chargeback. |
| 10217004 | The Isuzu Commercial Truck of America (ICTA) Service Technical Assistance Center (TAC) provides diagnostic support to Isuzu dealer technicians repairing Isuzu vehicles in and out of vehicle warranty. A TAC case number will be issued solely for information tracking purposes and future contact reference. |
| 10217001 | The following is a list of the Isuzu-recommended Threebond product part numbers identified in the various Isuzu Workshop Manuals and bulletins. If a Threebond product is unavailable, we recommend that you utilize the chart below to find equivalent of similar products (when available) from Loctite and Permatex. |
| 10137901 | This informational bulletin provides the technician with information on what E85 fuel may due to a non E85 vehicle. |
| 10002798 | V-6 FAN CLUTCH REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10002795 | REAR CUP HOLDER DOES NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION. *TT |
| 10001772 | THROTTLE BODY MOUNTING BOLT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. *TT |
| 10001770 | TRANSMISSION INDICATOR LIGHT MAY BE ON AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1870 IS SET IN THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM). *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)