The 1997 Isuzu Trooper has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 6,937 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC97V0920011997-06-036,667 affected
Defect
THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINES WERE INSTALLED IMPROPERLY AT THE ASSEMBLY LINE RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINE AND AN UPPER CONTROL ARM OF THE SUSPENSION.
Consequence
THE LINE CAN BE DAMAGED DURING VEHICLE OPERATION AND CAN RESULT IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE, REDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS, AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINE AND THE UPPER CONTROL ARM. IF THE CLEARANCE IS NOT ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS, THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED.
SUSPENSION97V0350011997-03-11270 affected
Defect
THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A LOCK WASHER AND/OR SCREWS IN THE FRONT HUB.
Consequence
THE BEARING ADJUSTMENT NUT CAN LOOSEN, RESULTING IN TOO MUCH FREE PLAY BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND AXLE. THE BEARING CAN SEIZE, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO LOCK AFFECTING VEHICLE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT HUBS TO DETERMINE IF THE LOCK WASHER AND SCREWS WERE PROPERLY INSTALLED. IF NOT, THEY WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
3
AIR BAGS
1
1crashes2injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1
1crashes2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
1
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
1
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
1
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1
Total complaints18
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“We bought a 1997 isuzu trooper in february of 2010 from a used dealer...the rear axle and the frame are severely rotted...the vehicle is unsafe and we have that in writing..what can we do?...we can't get our money back...the vehicle is not drivable....please help. *tr”
“During braking, with no gas pedal pressure being applied, engine continued at high rpms making braking difficult. Vehicle with no gas pedal pressure would proceed at 30 mph in drive position of auto trans. Upon exiting roadway, when appling gas pedal while in park position, and releasing peddle,…”
“Hydrolic lifters stick, very loud and noticable engine noise. They have stuck since shortly after purchase of vehicle. They unstick immediately after synthetic oil change, but only for a brief period of time.*ak dealership(s) used this window of time to thier advantage to avoid repairing vehicle…”
“Cutch failure causing vehicle to be inoperable stranding driver in traffic. Second clutch failure for this vehicle with in 37,000 miles of highway driving”
“Clutch throwout bearing failed causing vehical to be inoperable stranding driver in traffic”
“Brake fluid leaks. Brake light would come on. Brake pedal would go to the floor when appl steering shaft. *ak”
“Brake fluid leaks. Brake light would come on. Brake pedal would go to the floor when appl steering shaft. *ak”
“While accelerating away from a stop sign I depressed the cluth to engage second gear. The clutch pedal dropped to the floor and I coasted to a stop in the middle of traffic and had to push the vehicle off the road out of harms way. The failure was in the”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Isuzu Trooper as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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