Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Isuzu Trooper?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1987 Isuzu Trooper?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1987 Isuzu Trooper?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1987 Isuzu Trooper reliable?

Based on MOT data from 119 vehicles, the 1987 Isuzu Trooper has a first-time MOT pass rate of 60%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1987 Isuzu Trooper?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Isuzu Trooper are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (63% of vehicles), Offside Rear fog lamp not working (16.5% of vehicles), Service brake: efficiency below requirements (15.1% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1987 Isuzu Trooper?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Isuzu Trooper (1987)

119 real MOT outcomes analysed • 60% first-time pass rate

1987 Isuzu Trooper

CarHunch analysed 119 real MOT records for the 1987 Isuzu Trooper. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Compare Models

We have limited data for the 1987 Isuzu Trooper — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

60%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

12.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.22

Over 3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

137k

Middle half: 117k–160k

For context

These stats describe 119 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 119 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 63%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Service brake: efficiency below requirements

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Lighting 16.5%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Suspension & steering 14%

Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Corrosion / rust 13%

Nearside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings · Offside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings · Nearside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings · …

Inspect sills, subframes and brake pipes in person — photos rarely show structural rust.

Seat belts 12.6%

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded

Other issues 12.2%

Oil leak · Horn not working

Exhaust & emissions 10.7%

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 119 Isuzu Trooper cars.

Before you buy a 1987 Isuzu Trooper

Based on MOT data from 119 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 12.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (63%)	75	59.3%	1.13

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 Isuzu Trooper vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

137,328

typical

116,795

low mileage

160,166

high mileage

Half of all 1987 Isuzu Trooper vehicles fall between 116,795 and 160,166 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 116,795 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 116,795–160,166 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 Isuzu Troopers sit.

⚠ Over 216,224 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.22

Avg failures per vehicle

3.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Isuzu Trooper: All Trooper years → Which year to buy? →

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Or browse all models: Isuzu →

Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Isuzu Trooper stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on