Head-to-head reliability
Isuzu Trooper vs FORD F 150
How the Isuzu Trooper and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Isuzu Trooper vs FORD F 150: The Trooper has 90 complaints over 3 years (30/year) and 3 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131/year) and 145 recalls. The Trooper's issues include unintended acceleration and transmission failure; the F-150's include hard shifts and electrical glitches. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Isuzu Trooper or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Isuzu Trooper
The Isuzu Trooper is a body-on-frame SUV that owners often keep for many years, but NHTSA data shows 90 complaints over 3 years (30 per year) and 3 recalls. The most common complaints involve engine oil consumption, transmission failure, and unintended acceleration. With 8 crash-related reports and 8 injuries, these are not just minor annoyances—they can affect safety and drivability.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a huge owner base, generating 11,311 complaints over 10 years (about 1,131 per year) and 145 recalls. The dominant issues are transmission problems (hard shifts, loss of power) and electrical glitches (camera and sensor failures). With 328 crash-related reports and 287 injuries, the volume of complaints is high, though spread across many trucks.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Isuzu Trooper | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 90 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 8 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 30.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 8 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Isuzu Trooper
- 01ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING35
- 02POWER TRAIN17
- 03VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL11
- 04SERVICE BRAKES9
- 05FUEL SYSTEM9
Owners report having to add 1-2 quarts of oil every couple thousand miles without visible leaks, and some experience sudden unintended acceleration when shifting into reverse. These issues can lead to engine damage or loss of control.
Transmission failure is a common complaint, with warning lights coming on before the vehicle breaks down. One owner had to tow their Trooper after the transmission light and engine light came on.
Owners describe the engine revving up at stoplights and the vehicle lunging forward or accelerating to 35 mph without the accelerator being pressed. This unintended acceleration is a serious safety concern.
Complaints include extreme heat from the engine area and brake issues, sometimes linked to transmission problems. These can compromise braking performance and overall control.
“MY SUV , ISUZU TROOPER OF 10YEARS, WAS PARKED IN A LIBRARY PARKING GARAGE AND AFTER IGNITION TURNED ON, I PUT IT IN REVERSE GEAR TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND THE CAR RAPIDLY REVERSED AND BEFORE I COULD FIGURE OUT AND REACT, THE CAR SHOT LIKE A ROCKET TOW…”
“WE HAVE HAD TO ADD 1-2 QTS OF OIL EVERY COUPLE THOUSAND MILES ALTHOUGH WE DID NOT SEE AN OIL LEAK (NO MARKS ON THE DRIVEWAY) MECHANIC COULD FIND NO OIL LEAK OR PROBLEM OUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON,AND MECHANIC SAID WE NEEDED EMISSIONS SENSOR REPLACED. W…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Many owners report hard or delayed shifts, especially in the 10-speed automatic transmission, with jerking, clunking, and occasional loss of power. This can cause sudden deceleration or difficulty accelerating in traffic.
Common complaints include warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as loud bangs from the transmission or rear suspension. These electrical glitches can disable safety features.
Headlight issues are frequently reported, which can reduce visibility at night. Recalls also cover headlights, indicating a widespread problem.
Engine-related complaints and recalls exist, though less frequent than transmission issues. Problems can include stalling or reduced power, affecting reliability.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Isuzu Trooper — 3 recalls
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS BUILT WITH TOD (TORQUE-ON-DEMAND). IN CERTAIN HIGH SPEED, FRONTAL CRASHES, MOVEMENT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONENTS CAN CAUSE THE POTENTIAL FOR FUEL LEAKAGE.
The risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW, REINFORCED FUEL HOSE ASSEMBLY. NOTE: THE FUEL LEAKAGE ISSUE IN THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN IS NOT THE SAME AS THE ONE ADDRESSED IN THEIR PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN 00V-253.
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS BUILT WITH TOD (TORQUE-ON-DEMAND). IN CERTAIN HIGH SPEED, FRONTAL CRASHES, MOVEMENT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONENTS CAN CAUSE THE POTENTIAL FOR FUEL LEAKAGE.
The risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW, REINFORCED FUEL HOSE ASSEMBLY. NOTE: THE FUEL LEAKAGE ISSUE IN THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN IS NOT THE SAME AS THE ONE ADDRESSED IN THEIR PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN 00V-253.
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS BUILT WITH TOD (TORQUE-ON-DEMAND). IN CERTAIN HIGH SPEED FRONTAL CRASHES, AN INTERIOR FUEL LINE AND FUEL HOSE CAN BE SEPARATED, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK.
The risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL FUEL SYSTEM SHIELDS.
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Isuzu Trooper or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Isuzu Trooper has far fewer complaints per year (30 vs. 1,131 for the Ford F-150), but its issues are often severe, including unintended acceleration and transmission failure. The F-150's higher volume means more overall problems, but many are electrical or transmission-related and may be covered by recalls. In practice, the Trooper may be simpler but riskier per incident, while the F-150 has more frequent but sometimes less catastrophic complaints.
Key differences
- The Isuzu Trooper has 30 complaints per year vs. 1,131 for the Ford F-150, but the Trooper's complaints include unintended acceleration and transmission failure.
- The Ford F-150's top issue is power train (3,553 complaints), often hard shifts or loss of power, while the Trooper's top issue is engine oil consumption and acceleration problems.
- The Trooper has 8 crash-related reports and 8 injuries; the F-150 has 328 crash-related reports and 287 injuries, reflecting its larger fleet.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls covering electrical, lighting, and engine systems, while the Trooper has only 3 recalls for engine and fuel delivery.
- Check for excessive oil consumption—ask if the owner adds oil between changes and look for blue exhaust smoke.
- Test the transmission for delayed engagement or warning lights, and verify that the vehicle does not lunge forward when shifted into gear.
- Test-drive the 10-speed automatic transmission for hard shifts, jerking, or delayed engagement, especially between 4th and 8th gears.
- Check for electrical warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on the dashboard.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission and engine for the specific issues reported (oil consumption for Trooper, hard shifts for F-150).
- Test-drive extensively, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic, to feel for transmission problems or unintended acceleration.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and engine repairs.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been addressed, particularly for the F-150's electrical and lighting systems.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Isuzu Trooper or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Isuzu Trooper vs FORD F 150
- Isuzu Trooper total complaints
- 90
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Isuzu Trooper total recalls
- 3
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Isuzu Trooper avg complaints/year
- 30.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Isuzu Trooper
- Isuzu Trooper top complaint area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN