Most common 1996 Isuzu Trooper problems
Share of the 51 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Isuzu Trooper complaints by model year
Best Trooper years: 2002, 1997, 2001. Years to avoid: 1999. Compare all years →
1996 Isuzu Trooper recalls (2)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
Remedy: 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.
Seat belts › Rear/other
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear center seat belt tongue and buckle and incorrect buckle assemblies will be replaced.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1996 Isuzu Trooper:
Risk of rollover
Cu attorney (nancy perkins, arnold & porter) and odi agreed that an extension in the petition review process will be necessary to allow odi time to conduct a proper review of the new material submitted by cu on December 23, 1996.therefore, the new due date will be April 21, 1997.consumers union (cu) petitioned the agency to open an investigation to determine whether the 1995 and 1996 model Isuzu trooper and Acura…
What 1996 Isuzu Trooper owners say
Suspension
It is a strong vehicle good performance but the frame does not support enough problems with the stability of the vehicle on the roads or in emergency maneuvers along the way. Due to corrosion and rupture in the chassis specifically in the connections with the front and rear suspension control arms. (poor quality steel) another point is a smell of fuel and spillage, by the fuel tank. (fire risk) all these conditions result in risk management, loose vehicle control and rollover possibility.
Owner complaining truck has handling problems. The front vehicle height needed to be reduced. Torsion bar adjusted to eliminate the top-heavy, tippy feeling. Also, it has a loose steering box; excessive play between the input and output shafts; causing pronounced road drift when it is windy and causes driver to overshoot steering input, at times.
Engine & cooling
At 40,000 miles coolant fumes commenced to come into vehicle while driving. Vehicle been in / out of dealer's shop on seven occasions, and made various repairs, but problem still reoccurring. Consumer first complained of an anti-freeze smell in engine compartment and cab, an independent mechanic stated that a head gasket had blown, however dealer stated nothing was wrong, consumer went to another dealer who replaced head gasket, after repair consumer could still smell antifreeze, in October dealer found a hole in the heater hose and replaced it, smell was still present so consumer had engine steam cleaned which still did not get rid of odor, the odors were causing consumer's face to get numb and caused him to get sleepy, finally 2 orings were found leaking in the plastic neck of the core. Transmission fluid leak when at idle, dealer replaced 2 hose clamps for coolant lines. …
My '96 Isuzu Trooper has been a lemon from day one. I have had the same problems three times with my engine valve cover gaskets. They leak oil onto my exhaust manifold, causing, a nauseous odor. Around christmas of 98, I had to use evasive steering maneuvers to avoid rocks in the road. While steering quickly to the left then back to the right, Trooper felt as if it might rollover into the oncoming traffic. I do not know what I would have expected from a so-called well engineered vehicle. I have also a long list of documented problems that I should share, but do not have the room.
Transmission & drivetrain
At 40,000 miles coolant fumes commenced to come into vehicle while driving. Vehicle been in / out of dealer's shop on seven occasions, and made various repairs, but problem still reoccurring. Consumer first complained of an anti-freeze smell in engine compartment and cab, an independent mechanic stated that a head gasket had blown, however dealer stated nothing was wrong, consumer went to another dealer who replaced head gasket, after repair consumer could still smell antifreeze, in October dealer found a hole in the heater hose and replaced it, smell was still present so consumer had engine steam cleaned which still did not get rid of odor, the odors were causing consumer's face to get numb and caused him to get sleepy, finally 2 orings were found leaking in the plastic neck of the core. Transmission fluid leak when at idle, dealer replaced 2 hose clamps for coolant lines. …
First visit to dealer for warranty service resulted in nothing being done. Was told that tapping noise was a normal engine sound, although the engine wasn't making that sound when I purchased it new. Second visit to dealer, after engine noise became increasingly louder, resulted in the entire transmission being replaced. Car was in shop for almost three weeks. A third and fourth visit for the same tapping noise in the engine resulted in more transmission work to replace a cracked flywheel and o-ring bearing, all of which have be replaced now three times. Problem seems to re-occur about every 5000-7000 miles. Obviously the dealer's service dept. Has yet to identify and correct the problem as it keeps happening.
1996 Isuzu Trooper engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Isuzu Trooper a good car?
Based on 51 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Trooper rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Trooper at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Isuzu Trooper?
The suspension — 13 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front. Next are the engine & cooling (8) and transmission & drivetrain (7).
How many recalls does the 1996 Isuzu Trooper have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1996 Isuzu Trooper, the most recent from June 3, 1997 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Isuzu Trooper?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002, 1997 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999. See the full Isuzu Trooper years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Isuzu Trooper problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 119,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.