Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 Isuzu Trooper, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 18% |
| Tires | 6 | 15% |
| Power train | 5 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 10% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 8% |
| Air bags | 2 | 5% |
| Structure | 2 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 5% |
| Wheels | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owned a 1993 Isuzu Trooper. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed. During the crash the vehicle experienced a rollover and the frontend
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
MY 93 ISUZU TROOPER SUDDENLY LOSS TURN SIGNALS AND POWER WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THIS CONFUSED THE CAR ON THE OTHER DIRECTION, AND ALMOST CAUSED COLLISION. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
HIT A COW AT 55 MPH, NO BRAKES APPLIED, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TOTALED CAR, DID NOT ROLL, FRONT IMPACT ONLY CAUSED ENOUGH DAMAGE TO DECLARE AUTO TOTALED. HAVE PHOTOS. 93 ISUZU TROOPER. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
DT: TREAD CAME OFF 3/4 OF TIRE. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BUT THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Tires
THE DRIVER NOTICED LIQUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT AND PULLED OVER. OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUM
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
CAM SHAFT SEAL PLUG BECAME DISLODGED FROM CYLINDER HEAD. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS, BUT THE COMPONENT THAT WAS AFFECTED WAS ALREADY DESTROYED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DESTROYED COMPONENT, BUT WILL REPAIR THE RECALLE WORK. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
IN LESS THAN 6,000 MILES, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF A FAILURE. *AK *SC
NHTSA complaint: Tires
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1993 Isuzu Trooper. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CAN STICK SO THAT THE ENGINE SPEED WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY DECREASE UPON RELEASE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Risk: THIS CAN CAUSE THE ACCELERATOR THROTTLE CABLE TO DELAY RPM AND VEHICLE SPEED REDUCTION FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED, WHICH IN TURN, CAN LEAD TO A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE CABLE RUBBER BOOT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.
CONSTANT EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSES THE CAMSHAFT SEAL END PLUG CAN BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS ALLOWS OIL TO LEAK FROM THE CAMSHAFT.
Risk: THIS CAN CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE FROM OIL LEAKING ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL CAMSHAFT END SEAL PLUG RETAINER PLATES.
| Reliability raw | 91 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 83 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 69 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 66 | good |
| Efficiency | 29 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 7 of them (18%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 91/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 83/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.