Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 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 | 22 | 45% |
| Power train | 5 | 10% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 8% |
| Tires | 3 | 6% |
| Air bags | 3 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 2% |
| Suspension | 1 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
PERFORATION WHICH HAS CAUSED BACK BRACKET UNDERNEATH TO DETACH. BOLT IS IN PLACE. ENGINE LIGHT ON WBICH IS CSUSED BY THE ENGINE AN ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. I HAVE PRINT OUT FROM ORIELLYS WHICH HAS MESSED UP THE TRANSMISSIO
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ISUZU TROOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE OWNER AS A CER
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I HAD MY TRUCK SERVICED AND WAS TOLD BY GARAGE THAT MY SIDEWALL ON ALL 4 OF MY TIRES ARE SPLITTING. I TOLD HIM THEY ONLY HAD A LITTLE OVER 20000 MILES ON THEM AND THE TRUCK WAS ALWAYS GARAGED THAT THEY COULD NOT BE SPLIT
NHTSA complaint: Tires
I CHECKED MY OIL LEVEL 3 WEEKS AGO AND IT WAS FINE. I CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 3000 MILES. I ADDED A QUART 3 DAYS AGO FOR A LONG TRIP I WAS TAKING. WHILE DRIVING DOWN TO BILLINGS, MT, MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED. IT HAD NOT OVER
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
AT HIGHWAY SPEED (75MPH) A BOOM NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE JUST AFTER CONTACTING THE WARNING STRIP ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE AND FISHTAIL THEN FLIPPED END OVER END 3-4 TIMES APPROX. O
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
AFTER MAINTAINING OUR 2000 ISUZU TROOPER BY THE BOOK AND BEING FULLY AWARE OF THE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM, IT BLEW THE ENGINE AT 103000. I KEPT VERY GOOD DOCUMENTATION OF ALL THE REPAIRS- AND THERE WERE A LOT OF THEM, IS
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
I BOUGHT IT USED IN OCT 2007 WITH 60,000 MI ON IT. THE OIL GETS CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MI BUT I NEED TO ADD A QT OF OIL EVERY 700 MI. AS FAR AS GAS MILEAGE (IT'S THE PITS ) MAYBE 11 MPG AT BEST. I THOUGHT ISUZU WAS A G
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ISUZU TROOPER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND LUNGED FORWARD. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE GASKET TRANSMISSION PAN HAD A LEAK AND THE GASKET WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY ONE
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2000 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.
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.
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: 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.
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, AN INTERIOR FUEL LINE AND FUEL HOSE CAN BE SEPARATED, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK.
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL FUEL SYSTEM SHIELDS.
| Reliability raw | 85 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 68 | good |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 29 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 22 of them (45%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (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 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 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 71/100. 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.