Family SUV · 1996–2015 cars
Isuzu Trooper reliability
The Isuzu Trooper fails 38.8% of first MOT tests, 10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 8,440 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Isuzu Trooper before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 38.8%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 10% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 8,440
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Isuzu Trooper ages
Each point is the share of Isuzu Troopers of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Isuzu Trooper | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | 40.6% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 35.6% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 39.4% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 39.7% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 40.6% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 37.1% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 42.8% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 37.1% | 37.1% |
| 25 | 36.7% | 35.8% |
By year
The best and worst Isuzu Trooper years
2002 cars come out best and 1999 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 622 | 39.7% | 12% fewer fails | 128,687 |
| 2004 | 984 | 36.8% | 18% fewer fails | 122,316 |
| 2003 Trooper | 1,050 | 39.5% | 12% fewer fails | 123,937 |
| 2002 Trooper | 1,357 | 38.6% | 13% fewer fails | 126,314 |
| 2001 | 853 | 38.5% | 11% fewer fails | 129,095 |
| 2000 | 762 | 41.7% | 1% fewer fails | 126,036 |
| 1999 Trooper | 1,112 | 39% | 5% fewer fails | 138,304 |
| 1998 Trooper | 1,013 | 36.5% | 9% fewer fails | 142,857 |
| 1997 | 405 | 39.5% | 1% fewer fails | 153,868 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Isuzu Trooper
Its weak spot is body, chassis and structure: 60% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Body, chassis and structure17.1%60% above avg
- Lights and electrics16.6%21% below avg
- Brakes15%3% above avg
- Suspension14.5%15% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors7%7% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks6.4%18% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags4.8%29% above avg
- Tyres2.9%52% below avg
- Steering2.5%48% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
CV joint boot split or insecure 6.33% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 2
Position lamp not working 4.66% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Exhaust has major gas leak 4.14% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 4
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 3.51% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 5
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.78% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 6
Stop lamp not working 2.63% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 7
Seat belt anchor area weakened 2.55% of tests
Corrosion near a seat belt anchor can weaken the body and make the belt fail, so expert repair is needed.
- 8
Rear fog lamp not working 2.32% of tests
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Isuzu Trooper's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy21.32%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive18.82%
- Wheel bearing slight play12.26%
- Chassis corroded but still rigid8.2%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit7.64%
- Brake disc pitted or scored6.56%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Isuzu Trooper
- 1
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Exhaust has major gas leak
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 4
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Diesel94.1%
- Petrol5.8%
- LPG0.1%
Most common colours
Green, Blue, Silver, Maroon, Grey
Average engine size: 3.0 litres.
Compare
How the Isuzu Trooper compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Maserati Levante | 11% | 31% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MG HS Exclusive | 8.3% | 29% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz GLB | 9.7% | 24% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz EQC | 10.4% | 20% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Isuzu Trooper | 38.8% | 10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| DS7 | 15.8% | 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Jeep Patriot | 50.5% | 23% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every family suv ranked in the family suv reliability index, or all Isuzu models.
Questions
Isuzu Trooper questions, answered
Is the Isuzu Trooper reliable?
On MOT results, the Isuzu Trooper is about average: it fails 38.8% of first MOT tests, 10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 32 of 59 family suv models in our index.
What fails most on a Isuzu Trooper MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Isuzu Trooper are cv joint boot split or insecure (6.33% of tests), position lamp not working (4.66% of tests), exhaust has major gas leak (4.14% of tests). By area, body, chassis and structure fails 17.1% of its tests.
Which Isuzu Trooper year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2002 cars do best (13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 1999 cars do worst (5% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Isuzu Trooper before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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