1999 Isuzu Trooper

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

70/100

Worth a look

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

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Isuzu Trooper, and it carries no 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Engine and engine cooling	51	63%
Vehicle speed control	4	5%
Power train	3	4%
Steering	3	4%
Visibility	2	2%
Electrical system	2	2%
Engine	1	1%
Fuel/propulsion system	1	1%
Vehicle speed control	1	1%
Service brakes	1	1%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

75000 MILES. BURNS A QUART OF OIL EVERY FEW HUNDRED MILES. NO OIL LIGHT COMES UP. I RAN IT ALMOST OUT OF OIL IN 06/2018
NHTSA complaint: Engine

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO SURGE AS IF IT WAS STUCK IN HIGH GEAR. THE GAS PEDDLE SEEMED TO BE STUCK AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO GO FASTER AND FASTER. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE TIRES SCREECHED WHILE THE VEH
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system

LAST 3 WEEKS - INITIALLY SEEMED LIKE POWER LOSS/SURGE, THEN HEARD UNUSUAL SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT 1 WEEK AGO, ENGINE STARTED TO DIE WHILE OPERATING ON CITY/RESIDENTIAL STREETS WHENEVER NOT PUSHING GAS (SL
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME HARD TO PRESS THEN ENGAGED AND UNABLE TO CONTROL SPEED. ALL THE WHILE FRANTICLY APPLYING THE BRAKE TRYING TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR, I HAD TO FORCE THE VEHICLE INTO
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME HARD TO PRESS THEN ENGAGED AND UNABLE TO CONTROL SPEED]. ALL THE WHILE FRANTICLY APPLYING THE BRAKE AN TRYING TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR, I HAD TO FORCE THE VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

I WAS TRAVELING ON HILLEN ROAD AND E. 33RD ST IN BALTIMORE, MD. THE WEATHER WAS LIGHT RAINING AND MISTY. AS I APPROACHED 33RD AND THE ALAMEDA I ENGAGED MY BRAKES, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AT FIRST AND HEARD A LOUD BANG.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

99 ISUZU TROOPER 3.5 ENGINE BURNS OIL EXCESSIVELY. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER AND REGULARLY SERVICED PER OWNERS MANUAL. AT 50K MILES, ENGINE OIL LIGHT TURNED ON 2,500 MILES AFTER OIL CHANGE AND WAS OVER 4 QTS LOW. ENGINE NOW A
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

HI, THIS IS THE SECOND USED CAR I BOUGH FROM INFINITY AUTOS, THE FIRST ONE WAS A 97 DODGE CARAVAN, IT HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING I PAID $300.00 TO FIX SOMETHING IN THE MOTOR OMAR FROM THIS DEALERS
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

The seven scores

Reliability raw	82	excellent
Longevity est.	79	good
Maintenance	68	good
Depreciation	67	good
Performance	67	good
Efficiency	29	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 67% of SUVs
Longevity: better than 77% of SUVs
Running costs: better than 34% of SUVs
Value retention: better than 69% of SUVs

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 82: 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 79: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1999 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 1999 Isuzu Trooper?

Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 51 of them (63%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 1999 Isuzu Trooper reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (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 1999 Isuzu Trooper last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1999 Isuzu Trooper?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. 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.