1993 Isuzu Trooper — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1993 Isuzu Trooper passed 80.0% of its 376 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.7 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 23.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.2%) and body, structure & corrosion (11.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are chassis condition, rigid brake pipes and service brake performance — chassis condition alone was recorded 23 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1993 Trooper fails 21.1% of the time in the 60-90k band and 20.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.4% in 2021 to 16.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 46 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 42 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.8% | 37 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.6% | 36 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 16 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chassis condition | 23 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 19 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 19 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 17 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 14 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 37.5% | 141 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.5% | 111 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.2% | 106 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 23.4% | 88 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.7% | 59 |
| 6 | Tyres | 11.4% | 43 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 38 | 21.1% |
| 90-120k | 57 | 19.3% |
| 120-150k | 78 | 17.9% |
| 150k+ | 183 | 20.8% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 335 | 19.4% |
| Petrol | 41 | 24.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 103 | 19.4% |
| 2022 | 82 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 70 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 66 | 21.2% |
| 2025 | 55 | 16.4% |
What to check before buying a 1993 Trooper
On a 1993 Trooper, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.2% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (9.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1993 Isuzu Troopers pass their MOT?
80.0% of the 376 1993 Isuzu Trooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Isuzu Trooper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (11.2%).
Does the 1993 Trooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.1% in the 60-90k band to 20.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 376 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.