2002 Isuzu Trooper — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,416 MOT tests, the 2002 Isuzu Trooper recorded a 71.7% pass rate. That is 3.0 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 25.3%. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (15.0%) and brakes (14.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, joints and service brake performance — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 205 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 30.1% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.5% in 2021 to 27.6% 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 | 15.0% | 362 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.3% | 346 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.7% | 332 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 323 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.1% | 147 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 142 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 205 |
| 2 | Joints | 189 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 173 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 164 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 135 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 126 |
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 | 39.0% | 943 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.7% | 935 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 30.5% | 737 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 25.9% | 625 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.7% | 403 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.4% | 347 |
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 | 97 | 22.7% |
| 60-90k | 277 | 23.8% |
| 90-120k | 625 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 731 | 29.5% |
| 150k+ | 667 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,315 | 28.6% |
| Petrol | 101 | 21.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 712 | 29.5% |
| 2022 | 571 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 481 | 27.4% |
| 2024 | 366 | 29.2% |
| 2025 | 286 | 27.6% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Trooper
On a 2002 Trooper, body, structure & corrosion is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.0% 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 (14.3% 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.
- Suspension (13.7% 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 2002 Isuzu Troopers pass their MOT?
71.7% of the 2,416 2002 Isuzu Trooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Isuzu Trooper?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by brakes (14.3%).
Does the 2002 Trooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.7% in the 30-60k band to 30.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,416 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.