The 1998 Isuzu Trooper carries 1 open NHTSA recall — most recently covering transfer case (4-wheel drive). Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Tire tread separation and blowouts.” Isuzu stopped selling passenger vehicles in the United States after the 2008 model year, though its commercial truck business is still here, which means parts and knowledgeable service have not disappeared the way they did for some discontinued brands. One item matters more than everything else on this list. The 3.2 and 3.5 liter V6 in the Rodeo, Trooper, Amigo, Axiom, and VehiCross uses a rubber timing belt, and on the double overhead cam versions a broken belt bends valves. If you own one of these and cannot document the last belt change, that is the first call to make. The later models are easier: the Ascender is a Chevrolet TrailBlazer, the i-280 through i-370 are Chevrolet Colorados, the Hombre is an S-10, and the Oasis is a Honda Odyssey. For those, the donor brand's parts and specs apply.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
Campaign #98V180000 · Mar 8, 1998
Issue: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE TRANSFER GEARBOX FLANGE NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, CAUSING THE NUTS TO LOOSEN.
Risk: IF THE FLANGE NUTS LOOSEN, THE PROPELLER SHAFT CAN SEPARATE, RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPEATIVE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FRONT AND REAR FLANGE NUTS AND, IF FOUND LOOSE, TIGHTEN TO SPECIFIED TORQUE AND SECURED STAKED AT TWO PLACES.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1998 Isuzu Trooper.
TIRES
4 NHTSA complaints · 2000-10 → 2008-08
“WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RIDE AS IF THE TIRES WERE UNBALANCED”
“BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 65M.P.H”
“MY BF GOODRICH LONG TRAIL TA EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
12 NHTSA complaints · 2004-01 → 2010-02
“AT JUST OVER 50K MILES, THE MOTOR BEGAN TO BURN OIL AT THE RATE OF ONE QUART EVERY 700-1000 MILES DRIVEN. THE RATE OF CONSUMPTION IS MUCH HIGHER IF DRIVEN LONG DISTANCES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS”
“1998 ISUZU TROOPER ENGINE BEGAN USING EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. ENGINE WITH 68,000 MILES WENT FROM FULL OIL LEVEL TO WARNING LIGHT AND MOTOR FAILURE (BEARING AND BLOCK BREAKAGE) WITHIN 2-3,000 MILES”
“ENGINE IS EXHIBITING ABNORMALLY HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION. ONE QUART PER 500 MILES”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
6 NHTSA complaints · 1998-10 → 2003-06
“VEHICLE STALLS WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES, CANNOT REMEDY”
“ENGINE INTERMITENTLY STALLS AT THE VARIOUS SPEEDS SPECIALLY AT THE FREE EXITS AND THE STOPS FOR TRAFFIC LIGHTS”
“WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION ENGINE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICE D AND TECHNICIAN REPLACED POWER TRAIN TRANSFER CASE”
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4 NHTSA complaints · 2001-06 → 2019-03
“WHEN STARTING ENGINE IN NEUTRAL ENGINE REVVS AND RPM'S GO TO 3000, CONSUMER HAS TO PRESS DOWN ON ACCELERATOR TO GET RPMS TO GO DOWN”
“AFTER PARKING PULLED UP PARKING BRAKE WHEN ENGINE STARTED TO RACE. WHILE SITTING BEHIND STEERING WITH FOOT ON BRAKE VEHICLE TOOK OFF, AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE”
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO ANY OTHER GEAR WITHOUT WARNING”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3 NHTSA complaints · 2001-03 → 2004-03
“1998 TROOPERS HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING FAULTY INTAKE GASKETS, WHICH THEY WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN REPLACING IF THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD”
“GASKETS LEAKY. CAUSED EXTRA FUEL TO BE DUMPED TO ENGINE. DID NOT GET BURNED. DAMAGED ALL 6 SPARK PLUGS”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 1, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Replace every 75,000 miles or 7 years on the V6 in the Rodeo, Trooper, Amigo, Axiom, and VehiCross. Do the water pump, tensioner, and idlers in the same job, because the labor is nearly all in the access. The double overhead cam version is an interference design, so a failed belt means bent valves rather than a tow. The 2.6 four and the GM and Honda sourced engines in the later rebadges use chains and are not on this schedule.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$935–$1175
Shop
~$655–$825
DIY
Pro only
On interference engines, a snapped belt destroys valves. Worth doing on schedule. Bundle water pump + tensioner — labor is already there.
Isuzu specified 3,750 miles under its severe schedule, which covers towing, short trips, and dusty roads. On engines this old, stay near that number and change at least once a year regardless of miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate every 7,500 miles. On the Trooper, Rodeo, and Amigo, check the tailgate-mounted spare as well. Sun exposure ages it faster than the four tires carrying the truck.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Inspect pads, rotors, hoses, and hard lines at every service. These are heavy body-on-frame trucks with rear drums on many models, and drum hardware seizes on vehicles that sit.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace every 2 years. On a truck this old it is the cheapest way to protect the master cylinder, the calipers, and the ABS unit.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Change every 30,000 miles, and right away after any deep water crossing. Front and rear differentials and the transfer case each hold their own fluid. Limited-slip rear axles need the friction modifier added when refilled.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$105–$140
Shop
~$75–$100
DIY
~$15–$40
AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.
Drain and fill every 45,000 miles, or every 30,000 if you tow. Fluid spec follows the drivetrain: Isuzu or Dexron III for the original models, Dexron VI for the GM based Ascender and i-series, and Honda fluid for the Oasis.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
Around 60,000 miles on conventional plugs, up to 100,000 on platinum. Rear bank access on the V6 is tight, so this is often worth pairing with other top-end work.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Replace every 30,000 miles, or every 15,000 if the truck sees dirt roads or trail use.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Every 3 to 5 years. If the timing belt is being done, do the coolant at the same visit, since the water pump comes out either way. Ask the shop to check the radiator and heater hoses while it is drained.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Test the battery and alternator once a year and clean the ground straps. Frame grounds corrode on trucks of this age and cause faults that look electrical but are only dirty connections.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$225–$390
Shop
~$160–$280
DIY
~$130–$250
Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
35 crashes 1990–2024
How the 35 occupant deaths break down
19
driver deaths
16
passenger deaths
35
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 1998 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
2
complaints mentioning a crash
2
complaints mentioning a fire
Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 1998 Isuzu Trooper reflects Isuzu's published service intervals. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.