Model year guide

1985 Isuzu Trooper

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1985 Isuzu Trooper is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 4 on record.

1985 Isuzu Trooper at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints3
Combined18 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1985 Isuzu Trooper recalls 1

Structure:body:door:hinge And Attachments NHTSA Campaign #92V093000 · 27/07/1992

TRUCKS USED IN THE SALT-BELT STATES CAN HAVE ACCUMULATED CORROSION IN THE HINGES OF THE REAR DOORS. IF THE VEHICLES ALSO HAVE MISALIGNED DOOR LATCHES AND STRIKERS, IT IS POSSIBLE TO CLOSE THE DOORS IN A "FALSE LATCH" CONDITION.

Fix: CHECK THE DOOR LATCHES AND STRIKERS FOR CORRECT ALIGNMENT AND REPAIR IF NECESSARY; ALSO INSPECT REAR DOOR HINGES FOR CORROSION AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1985 Isuzu Trooper common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

1985 Isuzu Trooper MPG & running costs

Combined18 mpg
City17 mpg
Highway20 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,700
EPA size classSpecial Purpose Vehicles
TransmissionManual 4-spd
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$6,500 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1985 Isuzu Trooper costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$18,500
Fuel only$18,500
Per mile$0.25

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 5

HEATER CORE FAILURE Closed

NHTSA #EA92018 · Visibility · opened Jun 1992 · closed Apr 1993

DEFECTIVE HEATER CORES Closed

DEFECTIVE HEATER CORES

NHTSA #DP92005 · Visibility · opened Mar 1992 · closed Jun 1992

REAR DOOR HINGE SEPARATION Closed

NHTSA #EA91033 · Structure · opened Jul 1991 · closed Jul 1992

REAR DOOR HINGE SEPARATION Closed

NHTSA #PE91046 · Structure · opened Feb 1991 · closed Jul 1991

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILS Closed

NHTSA #PE90059 · Visibility · opened Mar 1990 · closed Jun 1990

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 3

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered.

This bulletin outlines the procedures for using the Alpine Exchange Program (the "Exchange Program"). The Exchange Program must be used when any Alpine radio or other component covered by this bulletin is repaired under warranty and may also be used for radio…

Bulletin IB13-R-001G · May 2023

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural recommendations to improve dealer efficiency when submitting Parts Warranty claims. We strongly recommend dealers follow these procedures in order to avoid delays in Parts War…

Bulletin WB13-X-001B · Equipment · Aug 2022

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural recommendations to improve dealer efficiency when submitting Parts Warranty claims. We strongly recommend dealers follow these procedures in order to avoid delays in Parts War…

Bulletin WB13-X-001A · Equipment · Aug 2022

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the TROOPER. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Isuzu Trooper

The Isuzu Trooper is a mid-size SUV manufactured and marketed by Isuzu between September 1981 and September 2002 over two generations, the first, produced between 1981 and 1991; and the second (UBS) produced between 1991 and 2002, the latter with a mid-cycle refresh in 1998. In its earliest iterations, the Trooper was based on the company's first generation Isuzu Faster/Chevrolet LUV pickup.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1985 Isuzu Trooper vehicles on record

Other Isuzu Trooper model years

1985 Isuzu Trooper — frequently asked questions

Does the 1985 Isuzu Trooper have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1985 Isuzu Trooper. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1985 Isuzu Trooper?

Across all 3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are structure, power train.

What gas mileage does the 1985 Isuzu Trooper get?

The 1985 Isuzu Trooper has a U.S. EPA estimate of 18 mpg combined (17 city / 20 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.