1997 Isuzu Trooper — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,488 MOT tests, the 1997 Isuzu Trooper recorded a 73.4% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 24.2% of the time, so this is 2.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (15.2%) and lighting & signalling (13.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, service brake performance and rigid brake pipes — joints alone was recorded 170 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.4% in the 30-60k band and 27.7% in the 150k+ band, a 16.2-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 43.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.8% in 2021 to 25.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.2% | 226 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 195 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.4% | 185 |
| 4 | Brakes | 12.3% | 183 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 80 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 53 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 170 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 99 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 92 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 82 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 71 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 65 |
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 | 43.5% | 648 |
| 2 | Brakes | 37.0% | 551 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 35.9% | 535 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.9% | 282 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.4% | 273 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.1% | 239 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 35 | 11.4% |
| 60-90k | 84 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 209 | 24.9% |
| 120-150k | 356 | 26.4% |
| 150k+ | 803 | 27.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,321 | 25.7% |
| Petrol | 167 | 33.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 385 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 351 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 275 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 265 | 26.0% |
| 2025 | 212 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Trooper
On a 1997 Trooper, body, structure & corrosion is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.2% 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+.
- Lighting & signalling (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.4% 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 1997 Isuzu Troopers pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 1,488 1997 Isuzu Trooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Isuzu Trooper?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.1%).
Does the 1997 Trooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 30-60k band to 27.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,488 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.