2002 Isuzu Trooper problems
The Isuzu Trooper is a full-size SUV that was produced by the Japanese automaker Isuzu between September 1981 and September 2002. In the domestic Japanese market it was sold as the Isuzu Bighorn, the car was exported internationally mainly as a Trooper but it also received several other nameplates including Acura SLX, Chevrolet Trooper, Subaru Bighorn, SsangYong Korando Family, Honda Horizon, Opel Monterey, Vauxhall Monterey, Holden Jackaroo, and Holden Monterey.
In total, there were two generations of this vehicle: the first, produced between 1981 and 1991; and the second (UBS) produced between 1991 and 2002, with a substantial refresh in 1998.
The Trooper began as a rather basic and somewhat underpowered on- and off-road vehicle, offered only with four-cylinder motor, four-speed manual transmission, and part-time four-wheel drive. The first generation evolved to add both amenities and luxuries, including optional air-conditioning, power windows, and a more powerful V6 engine. The second generation was even more refined and available in two-wheel drive as well as four-wheel drive.
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Common 2002 Isuzu Trooper problems
Based on complaints from owners of the 2002 Isuzu Trooper, several common problems have been reported:
- Dashboard Lights Malfunction:
- Some owners have reported issues with dashboard lights, specifically the drive gear indicator and the back wheels of the TOD display being out. This could indicate a problem with the display itself or the lights. Troubleshooting may involve checking the bulbs and connections to determine if replacements are needed.
- Transmission Problems:
- The Isuzu Trooper 2002 has been associated with transmission issues, including the check transmission light with code 37. This problem could be related to various transmission components or systems, necessitating a diagnostic scan to pinpoint the exact cause and subsequent repairs.
- Valve Train Noise:
- Varnish build-up in the hydraulic lash adjusters can lead to valve train noise in the engine. Using higher quality oil is often recommended to address this issue and reduce the noise coming from the engine.
- Excessive Engine Oil Consumption:
- Some owners have reported excessive engine oil consumption, which could be indicative of leaks or internal engine issues. Regular checks for leaks and monitoring of oil levels are essential to address this problem and prevent potential engine damage.
- Fuel Level Sensor Problems:
- Issues with the fuel level sensor have been noted, causing inaccuracies in fuel readings. This problem may require inspection of the sensor and related components to ensure accurate fuel level readings and prevent fuel-related issues while driving.
These common problems with the 2002 Isuzu Trooper highlight the importance of regular maintenance, timely diagnostics, and addressing issues promptly to ensure the vehicle's optimal performance and longevity.
How much horsepower does a 2002 Isuzu Trooper have?
Used 2002 Isuzu Trooper - Specs & Features
| Engine | |
|---|---|
| Horsepower | 215 hp @ 5,400 rpm |
| Torque | 230 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm |
| Valves | 24 |
| Cam type | Double overhead cam (DOHC) |
Why did Isuzu stop making the Trooper?
SUV market changes and safety concerns doomed the Trooper
Unfortunately for Isuzu, mid-size classics like the Honda CRV and Toyota Rav-4 essentially cornered that market before they could find footing with their oddly conceived Vehicross and other compact models.
What problems did the 2004 Isuzu Trooper have?
Isuzu Trooper Common Problems and Solutions
- Warm Start Failure. Problem: ...
- Engine Oil Light Illuminated. Problem: ...
- Excessive Fuel Use. Problem: ...
- Rough Idling. Problem: ...
- Ticking From Valve Train. Problem: ...
- Oil Leak. Problem: ...
- Rattling From Front of the Car. Problem: ...
- Power Loss. Problem:
Where is Isuzu Trooper made?
Japan
| Isuzu Trooper | |
|---|---|
| Assembly | Japan: Fujisawa, Kanagawa (Fujisawa Plant) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size SUV |
| Layout | front engine, selectable four-wheel-drive |
2002 Isuzu Trooper car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Isuzu Trooper problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Power train problems
- Tires problems
- Electrical system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2002 Isuzu Trooper vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2002 Isuzu Trooper complaints
The NHTSA has received 12 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2002 Isuzu Trooper.
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2012-06-12
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU TROOPER EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH MUD TERRAIN T/A KM2 TIRES, SIZE: LT265/75R16. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-65 MPH, THREE OF THE TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THERE WERE MOMENTARY VIBRATIONS JUST BEFORE THE FAILURES. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER WHERE THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES WERE DEEMED DEFECTIVE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE REPLACEMENT TIRES WITH ONLY 12,000 MILES ON THEM PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2014-04-04
- VIN: JACDJ58X927
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH ON A RURAL ROAD AND I NOTICED THAT UPON GIVING SOME GAS THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AT ALL. THEN I NOTICED THAT ALL MY INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE OUT....EVERYTHING GONE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND WITH DIFFICULTY IN STEERING (THERE WAS NO POWER), I PULLED TO STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I THEN PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND TURNED THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE AWAY. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THIS HAPPENED (LAST WEEK).....A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. I KNOW ISUZU SHARES PARTS WITH GM (E.G. MY TRANSMISSION IS GM). I HOPE THIS IS NOT AN EXAMPLE OF THAT GM IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM.....BUT CERTAINLY HAS THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS OF IT. BUT IT IS VERY SCARY LOOSING COMPLETE POWER LIKE THAT. *TR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2007-05-18
- VIN: JACDJ58X727
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: ENGINE IN MY 2002 ISUZU TROOPER BURNED UP THE MAIN ROD BEARING IN PISTON ONE DUE TO INSUFFICIENT OIL PRESSURE. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. TRUCK HAS 79K MILES ON IT AND WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. ISUZU OF NORTH AMERICA STATED NOTHING WOULD BE DONE VIA THE MANUFACTURER. I REPLACED THE ENGINE MYSELF AT A COST OF $4800. *TR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2007-03-23
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. 1 QT. EVERY 600 MILES OR SO. 5 QTS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES (3000 MILES!) *JB
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-03-06
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: I TOOK MY 2002 ISUZU TROOPER LTD. TO THE DEALER (FITZGERALD DODGE ISUZU, ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, COMPLAINING OF A GROWLING NOISE. WHILE IT WAS MIS-DIAGNOSED, THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE UNDERPLATING ON THE CAR WAS SUFFERING FROM FAULTY WELDS, AND THAT IF I DIDN'T HAVE IT REMOVED IT WOULD FALL OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAD TO PAY SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THIS TO BE PERFORMED. I NOW HAVE NO UNDERPLATING TO PROTECT THE CAR. IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, AND THE OWNER SHOULD NOT BE OBLIGATED TO REMOVE PORTIONS OF HER AUTOMOBILE TO CORRECT FAULTY MANUFACTURE, AND BE SUBJECTED TO RISK OF POTENTIAL DEATH OR INJURY TO HERSELF OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THE TROOPER ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT AND IS JUST OVER 3 YEARS OLD. *JB
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-07-02
- VIN: JACDJ58X027
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: DT: CONSUMER OWNS A 2002 ISUZU TROOPER. CONSUMER SAYS THAT WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK THE INDICATOR POSITION WILL READ PARK, BUT THE VEHICLE WILL BE IN A NEUTRAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE CAN ROLE FREELY FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, BUT COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SHE WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CALLED WHEN VEHICLE WAS AT CONSUMER'S HOUSE AND PROBLEM WAS RECURRING. DEALER SENT SOMEONE OUT BUT STILL NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT PROBLEM, WHICH DID NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, AND DID NOT SEEM TO FOLLOW ANY PATTERN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TWICE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WANTED VEHICLE TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. *AK
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-07-15
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JACDJ58X627
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: WHEN THE CONSUMER APPROACHED A TRAIN TRACK, ANOTHER VEHICLE BEGAN TO APPROACH FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION. THE CONSUMER STOPPED AND SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE TO CLEAR UP THE ROAD WAY. THE TRANSMISSION JUMPED TO PARK AND LOCKED PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. A TRAIN APPROACHED AND STRUCK THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-08-05
- VIN: JACDJ58X627
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: WHEN CHANGING GEARS AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-11-09
- VIN: JACDS58XX27
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: WHEN IN MOTION FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE ACCELERATION POWER. THIS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL CONSUMER IS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE EGR VALVE HAS REPEATEDLY BEEN REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL IN EXISTENCE. *JG TS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-04-07
- VIN: JACDS58XX27
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, IF YOU TRY TO PASS SOMEONE OR ACCELERATE, SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL LOOSE POWER. CONSUMER STATES' ONCE WHEN VEHICLE LOSS POWER IT ALMOST RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-08-02
- VIN: JACDJ58X027
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: MOTOR WILL REV UP WHEN SITTING STILL AT A RED LIGHT AND TRY TO LUNGE FORWARD. I HAVE EVEN HAD IT GO 35 MILES AN HOUR WITHOUT MY FOOT EVEN BEING ON THE ACCELERATOR. I HAVE HAD MY TRUCK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES NOW AND THEY KEEP SAYING THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. UNLESS THEY CAN SEE THE VEHICLE DO IT THEY CAN'T FIX IT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON AND THEY SAY UNTIL THAT HAPPENS THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. DEALER REFUSES TO KEEP VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT UNTIL IT DOES IT SO THEY CAN SEE IT. THEY MAKE IT SOUND LIKE I AM MAKING THIS UP. THERE IS A PROBLEM AND IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I DO NOT WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A ACCIDENT THAT I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER. THE STATE POLICE SAYS IT IS ILLEGAL TO DRIVE A UNSAFE VEHICLE ON THE STATE HIGHWAYS. I OWNED A BRAND NEW VEHICLE THAT IS ILLEGAL FOR ME TO DRIVE ON THE STATE HIGHWAY AND ISUZU WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE CONTACTED ISUZU CORPORATION AS WELL AS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES AND IT IS STILL DOING IT.*AK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-06-02
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP VEHICLE WILL START TO REV. IF CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE FOOT ON BRAKES VEHICLE WILL START TO MOVE FORWARD. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
Negative 2002 Isuzu Trooper car reviews
Positive 2002 Isuzu Trooper car reviews
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This is my third Trooper since 1986, and I plan to drive it until the tires fall off. With 108,000 miles on it, I've only had to replace the oxygen sensor, which only cost me $50. I truly believe that all SUVs should be this reliable!
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You know what? This is the best vehicle I've ever owned!
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Hi there! I just wanted to share our experience with our 1992 Trooper and the search for a new vehicle. We test drove a bunch of different options like Pathfinders, 4runners, Escapes, and more, but we kept coming back to the 2002 Trooper. We were lucky enough to find a used one with only 14,000 miles on it and it's been running great ever since! It's roomy, looks sharp, and fits all of our SUV needs perfectly. It's such a shame that Isuzu won't be making any more models in the future. Our oldest son now drives the 1992 Trooper and it will always hold a special place in our hearts!
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Someone used the expression Storm-Trooper. Despite its ambiguous connotation, it is quite adequate. This no-nonsense tough guy on wheels can go ANYWHERE and smoothly covers highways and country roads. While the gas mileage is certainly not great, this vehicle is ALWAYS ready to fight the elements, bad weather, and inaccessible corners. The only other vehicle in this league is the Land Rover, but it is made in Britain...
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I really appreciate everything about it! It's more spacious than any other SUVs in its class and even some above it. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an amazing vehicle!
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2002 Isuzu Trooper problems:
What were the common issues for troopers that you've encountered ...
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Other years of Isuzu Trooper
Are you having problems with your 2002 Isuzu Trooper?
Antone Pagac 2025-01-12
I have a 2002 Isuzu Trooper and I'm disappointed with the transmission. It's not only mechanical but also computer-driven, which makes it difficult to find someone who can work on it. I spent $3400.00 on rebuilding it, but it only lasted 50,000 miles. I would love to see a transmission revamp or an alternate transmission to replace the current one. If there were a solution to this problem, I would be able to enjoy my Trooper again.
Johnny Pfannerstill 2024-04-28
When we moved from Los Angeles to an area with snow, we needed a 4WD and decided to buy a Trooper. We found a used one with only 32000 miles and it looked very clean. Unfortunately, we've had a few issues with it and it's been in the shop twice in the past 4 months. The parts were hard to get, but the mechanic was able to fix it up for us. We did notice that the gas mileage wasn't great before our first trip to the mechanic, and now we've discovered that the transmission leaks and it's not easy to fill. We were surprised to find that there was no dip stick and the fluid has to be pumped in under the car. It's definitely not the easiest SUV to maintain! While there may be other trucks out there that are better, we still think the Trooper is a decent choice for a 4WD. It may not be the most comfortable or reliable, but it gets the job done. We would recommend it with some reservations.
Alexie Greenfelder 2024-03-23
I bought this truck half a year ago and it was a great buy! It has lots of space, good off-road capabilities, a high payload, a huge trunk, and a low trunk level thanks to the outside-mounted spare tire. The 4WD system is great, and even the base model gives you all you need and nothing you don't. Plus, the price is low - I got a brand new 2001 Trooper S with 4WD for less than $22K!
Manuel Kovacek 2024-02-14
I was a bit hesitant about the Trooper due to the professional reviewer's claim of significant body roll on turns. However, I found that it did not roll any more than my old Windstar (which I would NOT buy again). The drive is very soft, which can be both good and bad as you cannot feel the road.