Troopers recalled to fix accelerator fault

Seventy-four New Zealand-new Isuzu Trooper vehicles are being recalled because their accelerators can stick.

Trooper four-wheel-drive vehicles made between 1992 and 1995 are affected. According to the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States, "the accelerator cable can stick so that the engine speed will not immediately decrease upon release of the accelerator pedal".

Speed reduction could be delayed for several seconds, possibly causing a crash.

The agency does not say whether any actual accidents or injuries have been linked to the problem, but Japan's Isuzu Motors is recalling 72,905 Troopers worldwide.

Holden New Zealand spokesman Albert van Ham, whose company owns the Isuzu franchise here, said 74 new Troopers were sold in New Zealand.

The company would contact owners next week, asking them to take the vehicles to Holden dealers for repair, which involves replacing the throttle cable rubber boot.

Mr van Ham said the repair was a 10-minute job and there was little risk to owners in the meantime.

"I understand that the vehicle is okay to drive - it's a very minor repair."

But he said Troopers bought second-hand in New Zealand were not covered by free repairs. Those owners should contact the dealers who sold them the vehicle.