Model year guide

1987 Isuzu Trooper

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1987 Isuzu Trooper is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 19 on record.

1987 Isuzu Trooper — representative photo
Representative photo

1987 Isuzu Trooper at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints8
Combined17–22 mpg

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

1987 Isuzu Trooper recalls 3

Trailer Hitches NHTSA Campaign #93E023000 · 22/07/1993

THE WELD ON THE RECEIVER UNIT OF THE TRAILER HITCH CAN BREAK.

Fix: REPLACE THE TRAILER HITCH.

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.

Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System NHTSA Campaign #89V001000 · 04/12/1989

DUE TO INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN A BOLT THAT FIXES THE HEATER TO THE VEHICLE BODY AND A FUEL DELIVERY PIPE AND BETWEEN A REAR HEATER HOSE CLIP, USE UNDER SERVERE CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE PIPE RUPTURE AND FUEL LEAKAGE.

Fix: INSTALL NEW LINES AND A CLIP.

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.

1987 Isuzu Trooper common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Gasoline
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Wheels
Inspect wheels for bends, cracks and curb rash, and feel for vibration at highway speed.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.

1987 Isuzu Trooper MPG & running costs

Combined17–22 mpg
City18 mpg
Highway21 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$4,083
EPA size classSpecial Purpose Vehicles
TransmissionManual 5-spd
Forced inductionTurbocharged
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$8,417 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 3 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1987 Isuzu Trooper costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$20,415
Fuel only$20,415
Per mile$0.27

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 6

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

DIESEL ENGINE SURGE Closed

NHTSA #PE90087 · Engine And Engine Cooling · opened Jun 1990 · closed Oct 1990

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 4

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

THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUTLINES THE DETAILED PROCEDURES FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM CONVERSION / RETROFIT. *TT

Bulletin SB0012S002 · Equipment · Mar 2000

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

Canadian recalls 1

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1987 Isuzu Trooper. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Structure

CORROSION OF THE TAILGATE HINGE PINS COULD, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RESULT IN A "FALSE LATCH" CONDITION. THIS WOULD GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE DOOR IS CLOSED WHEN IT IS NOT AND COULD LEAD TO PASSENGERS AND/OR CARGO FALLING OUT THE TAILGATE DOORS WHICH CAN OPEN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: TAILGATE DOOR LATCHES AND STRIKERS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR CORRECT ALIGNMENT AN…

Transport Canada #1993054 · Apr 1993

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

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.

1987 Isuzu Trooper vehicles on record

Other Isuzu Trooper model years

1987 Isuzu Trooper — frequently asked questions

Does the 1987 Isuzu Trooper have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1987 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 1987 Isuzu Trooper?

Across all 8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are power train, fuel system, gasoline.

What gas mileage does the 1987 Isuzu Trooper get?

The 1987 Isuzu Trooper has U.S. EPA estimates of 17–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (3 versions).

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