1996 Isuzu Trooper — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 685 MOT tests analysed for the 1996 Isuzu Trooper, the most common recorded failure areas were body, structure & corrosion, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 72.5% was below the average for cars of a similar age (76.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 29.1% in the 150k+ group versus 21.9% in the 60-90k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 99 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.7% | 87 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 87 |
| 4 | Suspension | 11.8% | 81 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 37 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 28 |
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 | 66 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 58 |
| 3 | Joints | 51 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 50 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 46 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 44 |
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 | 43.6% | 299 |
| 2 | Brakes | 42.9% | 294 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 39.0% | 267 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 28.6% | 196 |
| 5 | Other defects | 20.3% | 139 |
| 6 | Tyres | 14.6% | 100 |
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 | 41 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 104 | 27.9% |
| 120-150k | 176 | 25.6% |
| 150k+ | 350 | 29.1% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 595 | 27.1% |
| Petrol | 90 | 30.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 195 | 29.2% |
| 2022 | 138 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 130 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 130 | 32.3% |
| 2025 | 92 | 26.1% |
What to check before buying a 1996 Trooper
Before buying a 1996 Isuzu Trooper, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Body, structure & corrosion accounted for 14.4% of tests for this year.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.4% 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+.
- Brakes (12.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 1996 Isuzu Troopers pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 685 1996 Isuzu Trooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Isuzu Trooper?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by brakes (12.7%).
Does the 1996 Trooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.9% in the 60-90k band to 29.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 685 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.