Isuzu Trooper Citation Lwb (1997)

133 real MOT outcomes analysed • 50.5% first-time pass rate

1997 Isuzu Trooper Citation Lwb

CarHunch analysed 133 real MOT records for the 1997 Isuzu Trooper Citation Lwb. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 1997 Isuzu Trooper Citation LWB is a significantly unreliable prospect by modern standards, with just 50.5% of vehicles passing their MOT on first attempt—nearly 30 percentage points below the UK average of 80%. Only 8.3% have ever shown dangerous defects, which is reassuring, but the sheer number of failures (averaging 2.21 per vehicle) suggests persistent mechanical issues across the fleet.

These Troopers are running at around 141,000 miles on average, which is genuinely high for a 27-year-old vehicle, and that mileage load correlates with the troubling failure rate. The 12.1 average advisories per car reveal chronic wear rather than catastrophic failure—suspension, brakes, and exhaust components are likely the weak spots. If you're serious about one, budget for immediate professional inspection and expect ongoing repair costs; a 50% pass rate means coin-flip reliability on the road.

Below average reliability 29.5% below UK average
50.5%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
131,683
typical mileage
112,395–161,792 middle half
8.3%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.21
avg MOT failures per car
over 7.4 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1997 Isuzu Trooper Citation Lwb

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Isuzu Trooper Citation Lwb

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (96%) 128 50.3% 2.24
Petrol (2%) 3 43.1% 1.33
Other (1%) 1 100% 0
LPG (1%) 1 50% 3

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 Isuzu Trooper Citation Lwb vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

112,395
low mileage
131,683
typical
161,792
high mileage

Half of all 1997 Isuzu Trooper Citation Lwb vehicles fall between 112,395 and 161,792 miles.

1997 Isuzu Trooper Citation Lwb — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (31% of peak).

32 10 2014 2023

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.

MOT History Averages

7.4
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.21
Avg failures per vehicle
12.1
Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Isuzu Trooper Citation Lwb?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Isuzu Trooper Citation Lwb:

1996