AI Damage1992 Isuzu Trooper: common problems
Owners of the 1992 Isuzu Trooper filed 25 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 25
- involving a crash
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 32% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 12% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 12% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 12% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 12% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 8% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 8% of all complaints
- 8 Electrical system 4% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 8 complaints (32% of all).
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (12% of all).
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (12% of all).
- Steering: 3 complaints (12% of all).
- Suspension: 3 complaints (12% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.2 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 25 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The driver's seat belt did not stay latch in the buckle assembly when this happend there was no protection to the driver in the collision.
While traveling down a gravel road at 25 mph, animal came out onto the road, vehicle swerved to the shoulder to aviod it. When vehicle was steered back onto the road, it rolled over at a very low speed.
Consumer was driving and mat got caught on the gas pedal accelerate and cause an accident . Tt
The contact noticed oil leaking onto the intake manifold. He noticed the issue when heavy smoke appeared from the engine while driving approximately 55 mph. The dealer stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 94v132000 (engine and engine cooling:engine).
I had begun hearing a grinding sound coming from the brakes, knew it was time to change the pads. Drove vehicle to the parts store to obtain new disc brake pads to perform the repairs. While driving home felt a slight give in the brake pedal when coming to the stop, also there was the grinding present-pads were pad.
Vehicle stalled. Consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic stated that the vehicle had to be placed on a diagnostic machine for results. Consumer informed the mechanic that this problem occurred more than once. Mechanic advised consumer that the problem could not be determined at this time.
Steering linkage is loose; clicks back and forth when driven on a straight road.
While driving on the highway all of a sudden speedometer goes to zero. This is an intermittent problem which causes the speedometer and odometer to stop working. Contacted the dealer. There is a speed sensory that is mounted on the transmission that fails.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 7,448 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Trooper has 31 complaints (19 years in the data). This year has 25, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
- Trooper 19853 sources
- Trooper 198618 sources
- Trooper 19876 sources
- Trooper 198817 sources
- Trooper 198916 sources
- Trooper 199023 sources
- Trooper 199157 sources
- Trooper 199333 sources
- Trooper 199447 sources
- Trooper 199554 sources
- Trooper 199651 sources
- Trooper 199713 sources
- Trooper 199842 sources
- Trooper 199981 sources
- Trooper 200049 sources
- Trooper 200129 sources
- Trooper 200212 sources
- Trooper 99995 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1992 Isuzu Trooper?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, powertrain, service brakes. Total complaints: 25. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (8%), smoke, burning smell, fire (8%), brake failure (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1992 Isuzu Trooper?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1992 Isuzu Trooper from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1992 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.