Isuzu›Trooper›1988›Overview/isuzu/trooper/1988/base/

1988 Isuzu Trooper

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 Trooper.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1988 Isuzu Trooper arrives as a midsize, body‑on‑frame SUV equipped with a four‑speed automatic transmission and delivers fuel‑economy figures of roughly 15 mpg city, 17 mpg highway, and 15 mpg combined. Its early reliability record shows modest owner dissatisfaction, with only 22 complaints logged and two manufacturer recalls, the most frequent issue centering on engine and engine‑cooling components. When viewed against the broader Trooper complaint timeline from 1990 to 2002—peaking at 81 complaints in 1999 and falling to a low of 12 in 2002—this 1988 model occupies a relatively quiet spot, suggesting a baseline of durability that improves in later years.

Model year2002 2001 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1988

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy15/17/15 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

Tire sizeP245-70SR16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	15 / 17 / 15 mpg
Drivetrain	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine GM Part No. 12377967 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	GM Part No. 12377967
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Power Steering Fluid	ATF
Transfer Case Fluid	5W-30 · API
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity	1.6 Pints

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi.

At 7,500 mi	Driveshaft Flange Yoke (torque) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Clutch Cross Shaft (lubricate)
At 15,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Cruise Control System (inspect) · Driveshaft Flange Yoke (torque) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Clutch Hydraulic Line (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 60,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 60,000 mi	Air Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Radiator (inspect) · Timing Belt (replace)
Every 90,000 mi	Oxygen Sensor (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1988 Isuzu Trooper predates the available federal record, but the early 1990s data reveals a generation with elevated complaint volumes—34 in 1990 and a peak of 61 in 1991—alongside multiple investigations (7 in 1990, 6 in 1991). The 1988 model's top complaint areas, including engine and engine cooling (6), wheels (3), and fuel system (2), mirror the powertrain and chassis concerns that likely drove those later investigation spikes. Additionally, the 1988 year recorded 2 crash complaints and 2 fire complaints, underscoring potential safety risks. Positioned at the front end of a generation that saw its highest complaint and investigation activity in the immediately following years, the 1988 Trooper appears to share the early-production vulnerabilities that later model years gradually mitigated. The data suggests this is not a good year to buy, as it falls within the most problematic arc of the generation's federal record.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

2 involved a crash · 2 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 22 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling6

Wheels3

Fuel System, Gasoline2

Service Brakes, Hydraulic2

Seat Belts1

Structure1

Visibility1

Seats1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

93E023000Trailer HitchesReported 22/07/1993

THE WELD ON THE RECEIVER UNIT OF THE TRAILER HITCH CAN BREAK. Remedy: REPLACE THE TRAILER HITCH.

89V001000Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac SystemReported 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. Remedy: INSTALL NEW LINES AND A CLIP.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 4 of 4 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
IB13-R-001G	2023-05-08	Unknown Or Other	This bulletin outlines the procedures for using the Alpine Exchange Program (the…
WB13-X-001B	2022-08-30	Equipment	Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural…
WB13-X-001A	2022-08-02	Equipment	Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural…
SB0012S002	2000-03-01	Equipment	THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUTLINES THE DETAILED PROCEDURES FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Trooper. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 1988 Trooper have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Trooper get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 17 highway / 15 combined mpg.