IllustrationWHILE DRIVING, PULLED OFF TO REST STOP, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE AS SLOWING DOWN, AT REST STOP, OBSERVED FLAMES COMING THROUGH CREVICE OF VEHICLE, ANOTHER MOTORIST USED FIRE EXTINGUISHER. VEHICLE AT REPAIR SHOP. WAS INFORMED SEAL WENT OUT IN TRANSMISSION. *AK
1990 Isuzu Trooper
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 Isuzu Trooper do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 25.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Trooper years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 23 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports5 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
23 reportsWHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT NO WARNING DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. *AK *SLC
FUEL LINE LEAK, CAUSING FIRE.
ENGINE HEAD CRACKED.
DUE TO THE HOSE LYING AGAINST THE MANIFOLD AND MELTING IT BURST WHILE DRIVING, COMPONENT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AS A RECALL HOWEVER FAILED AFTER REPAIR.
EXPERIENCED A ROLLOVER WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL, THE CAR STARTED TO FISHTAIL AND TURNED AROUND INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC AND THE TROOPER ROLLED OVER ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE. CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC
ENGINE OIL COLER HOSE THAT WAS LAYING AGAINST THE MANIFOLD MELTED/BURST. *AK
ENGINE COOLER HOSE RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO MODEL (90V-166). *AK
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
PASSENAGER FT/RR AND DRIVER DOOR FLY OPEN WHILE TURNING A CURVE, AFTER BEING CLOSED AND LOCKED, POSSIBLY DUE TO BROKEN HINGES. *AK
Official recalls
290V166000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:hoses/lines/piping/fittings
Sep 20, 1990
IMPROPERLY INSTALLED HOSE ON THE OIL COOLER COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND COULD MELT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: ENGINE OIL COULD LEAK OUT WITH POTENTIAL FOR ENGINESEIZURE AND DAMAGE AND COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: PROPERLY INSTALL COOLER HOSE CLIP TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
90V167000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Sep 20, 1990
PUTTING IN MORE TRANSMISSION OIL THAN SPECIFIED CAN CAUSE OIL TO BLEED THROUGH AIR GROOVE ON TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IF OIL TEMPERATURE RISES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE SMOKE EMISSION FROM THE MANIFOLD, WHICHCOULD IGNITE RUBBER HOSES AND RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE OIL LEVEL GAUGE AND NOTIFY OWNERS TO USE ONLY THE SPECIFIED AMOUNT OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
6DP92015 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Jul 30, 1992 · Closed Nov 25, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
EA92018 · Heater Core Failure
Opened Jun 2, 1992 · Closed Apr 2, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
There is no summary currently available
DP92005 · Defective Heater Cores
Opened Mar 3, 1992 · Closed Jun 2, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
DEFECTIVE HEATER CORES
EA91033 · Rear Door Hinge Separation
Opened Jul 15, 1991 · Closed Jul 28, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE91046 · Rear Door Hinge Separation
Opened Feb 19, 1991 · Closed Jul 15, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE90087 · Diesel Engine Surge
Opened Jun 6, 1990 · Closed Oct 12, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available