1998 Isuzu Trooper

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

72/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Isuzu Trooper, and it carries 1 recall. 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Engine and engine cooling	18	43%
Tires	4	10%
Power train	3	7%
Electrical system	2	5%
Air bags	2	5%
Service brakes	2	5%
Vehicle speed control	2	5%
Visibility	2	5%
Power train	1	2%
Fuel system	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ISUZU TROOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO ANY OTHER GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY
NHTSA complaint: Power train

WHEN IDLING THE VEHICLE IS IDLING VERY HIGH. ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS COMING ON, AND WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS YOU START TO LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE JERKS YOU, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF GETTING WHIPLASH
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system

ENGINE IS EXHIBITING ABNORMALLY HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION. ONE QUART PER 500 MILES. IMMINENT ENGINE FAILURE IF PROBLEM IS NOT CORRECTED. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ISUZU TROOPER. THE VEHICLE HAS ORIGINAL BRIDGESTONE DUELER 684 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RIDE AS IF THE TIRES WERE UNBALANCED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO FIND A SAFE PL
NHTSA complaint: Tires

I AHVE A 1998 ISUZU TROOPER. 3.5 V6. I USED 1QT OF OIL EVERY 500 MILES. ISUZU STATSE THIS IS WITHIN SPECS. I DISAGREE. SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL AS ENGINES COMPLETELY NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE HEL
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

JUST BOUGHT A 98' TROOPER WITH THE 3.5L. DROVE IT FOR 1 WEEK AND GOT THE OIL CHANGED. DROVE IT FOR ANOTHER WEEK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND HAD IT CHECKED WITH A HANDHELD SCANNE
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

I HAVE A 1998 ISUZU TROOPER WITH A 3.5L MOTOR AND IT EATS MOTORS OIL LIKE NO OTHER. IT DOES IT EVERYTIME I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL SINCE AFTER ABOUT 50K MILES. THE MOTOR CONSUMES ROUGHLY 1QT OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES, EVEN AF
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

WE WERE DRIVING IN MY 1998 ISUZU TROOPER WITH THE 3.5 LITER ENGINE AND ABOUT 90,000 MILES ON A FAMILY VACATION TO MONTANA, AS WE CAME TO OUR DESTINATION WE WERE IN THE MOUNTAINS. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS BEING USED IN OUR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1998 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.

Power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive) 98V180000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE TRANSFER GEARBOX FLANGE NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, CAUSING THE NUTS TO LOOSEN.

Risk: IF THE FLANGE NUTS LOOSEN, THE PROPELLER SHAFT CAN SEPARATE, RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPEATIVE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FRONT AND REAR FLANGE NUTS AND, IF FOUND LOOSE, TIGHTEN TO SPECIFIED TORQUE AND SECURED STAKED AT TWO PLACES.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	91	excellent
Longevity est.	83	excellent
Maintenance	68	good
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	67	good
Efficiency	29	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 75% of other
Longevity: better than 85% of other
Running costs: better than 33% of other
Value retention: better than 48% of other

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 91: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 83: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1998 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 68: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1998 Isuzu Trooper?

Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 18 of them (43%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1998 Isuzu Trooper reliable?

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.

How long will a 1998 Isuzu Trooper last?

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 1998 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1998 Isuzu Trooper?

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.