Most common 2001 Isuzu Trooper problems
Share of the 29 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 →
2001 Isuzu Trooper recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 4-wheel drive and automatic transmissions built with tod (torque-on-demand). In certain high speed, frontal crashes, movement of engine compartment components can cause the potential for fuel leakage.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new, reinforced fuel hose assembly. Note: the fuel leakage issue in this recall campaign is not the same as the one addressed in their previous campaign 00v-253.
What 2001 Isuzu Trooper owners say
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2001 Isuzu Trooper. The contact stated while entering and starting the vehicle, he noticed an extreme heat in the interior of the vehicle coming from the engine. The contact proceeded to shift the gear into drive however, while his foot was still on the brake pedal the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact had to pulled up the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times afterwards. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the failure as a bypass for the fuel line and brake line failure that needed to be replaced however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause for the heat entering the vehicle from the engine. …
We have had to add 1-2 qts of oil every couple thousand miles although we did not see an oil leak (no marks on the driveway) mechanic could find no oil leak or problem our check engine light has been on,and mechanic said we needed emissions sensor replaced. We did replace it. On our way to thanksgiving in oklahoma from michigan our engine blew ! We are now without that vehicle but still making payments. A dealership in tulsa said that those engines are replaced a lot at his shop due to this problem. He said that there is carbon build up in the valve that goes to the engine causing the oil to burn up. After so long of it being built up it gets clogged and ends up blowing. He said if we had been taking the car to an Isuzu dealer to get the oil changed they know about it and can clean it. Problem for us is there isn't an Isuzu dealer in the city we live in so we didn't have a chance. …
Transmission & drivetrain
Dt: the vehicle is a 2001 Isuzu Trooper. Transmission has been replaced twice. The first time consumer took it to the dealer it was skipping or stalling like it was not getting enough fuel. When pushing the gas pedal the rpms went up. Then, transmission was replaced on 7-31-2004. The second time he took the vehicle to dealer was on 6-28-05. This time the problem was about the same as before. Consumer was told that there was internal problems with the transmission. He took the vehicle back a third time on 7-18-05. The vehicle is at the dealers right now waiting for the transmission part to come in so that it can be replaced.
2001 Isuzu Trooper with faulty transmission accumulator and bad u-joint customer states that they want us to review the safety issues** the consumer stated having 3 separate issues with the vehicle the first being a bad u joint, the second being a faulty transmission accumulator and the third was having to replace a long engine block. The consumer was also informed the electrical hydraulic brake system needed to be replaced. The consumer stated recently requested a goodwill adjustment and was ultimately denied by the dealer due to the fact the vehicle was 40,000 miles over the base warranty.
Brakes
The contact owns a 2001 Isuzu Trooper. The contact stated while entering and starting the vehicle, he noticed an extreme heat in the interior of the vehicle coming from the engine. The contact proceeded to shift the gear into drive however, while his foot was still on the brake pedal the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact had to pulled up the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times afterwards. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the failure as a bypass for the fuel line and brake line failure that needed to be replaced however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause for the heat entering the vehicle from the engine. …
2001 Isuzu Trooper with faulty transmission accumulator and bad u-joint customer states that they want us to review the safety issues** the consumer stated having 3 separate issues with the vehicle the first being a bad u joint, the second being a faulty transmission accumulator and the third was having to replace a long engine block. The consumer was also informed the electrical hydraulic brake system needed to be replaced. The consumer stated recently requested a goodwill adjustment and was ultimately denied by the dealer due to the fact the vehicle was 40,000 miles over the base warranty.
2001 Isuzu Trooper engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Isuzu Trooper a good car?
Based on 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Trooper rates better than average: 41% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Trooper at the same age. It is one of the best Trooper years by this measure. 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 2001 Isuzu Trooper?
The engine & cooling — 9 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (9) and brakes (7).
How many recalls does the 2001 Isuzu Trooper have?
There is 1 recall for the 2001 Isuzu Trooper, the most recent from November 14, 2000 (gasoline). 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 2001 Isuzu Trooper problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 24% 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.