Isuzu RODEO SPORT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
107 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 74 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 107 complaints (20.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 11.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 9.3% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 7.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 6.5% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 6.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 22 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 16 |
| Suspension:Rear | 10 |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 8 |
| Structure:Body | 8 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 |
Suspension: 22; Structure:Frame And Members: 16; Suspension:Rear: 10; Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System: 8; Structure:Body: 8; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 7; Electrical System: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 28 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 28; 150,000 and above: 10
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (28). 33 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 16 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
2002: 2; 2003: 6; 2004: 9; 2005: 12; 2006: 7; 2007: 8; 2008: 7; 2009: 3; 2010: 10; 2011: 16; 2012: 10; 2013: 2; 2014: 5; 2015: 4; 2016: 3; 2017: 1; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10102124 · 2004-12-04 (December 4, 2004)
I GOT TWO RECALLS ON MY 1998 ISUZU RODEO AND WHEN I WENT TO TAKE IT TO GET IT REPAIR EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND AFTER I TOOK IT IN IT SEEMS LIKE WHAT THEY WORKED ON GOT WORST. THEY WORKED ON REWIRING THE REAR DEFROSTER AND AFTER THAT IT HASN'T WORK SINCE ALSO THEY DID SOMETHING TO THE ABS AND NOW THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON. THE SAD PART TO THIS IS THAT I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT DID THE WORK ON IT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT NIETHER HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALLS THAT THEY HAD WORKED ON BUT THOSE WERE THE RECALLS I HAVE THE PAPER WORK THAT …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10102124 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152719 · 2006-03-14 (March 14, 2006)
I HAVE A 98 ISUZU RODEO THAT HAD A RECALL DONE IN JANUARY 2004 (ON THE EHCV COIL INTEGRATED MODULE FOR MY ABS) AT BRALEY & GRAHAM IN BEAVERTON, OR. I TOOK CARE OF THIS RE-CALL, EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT HAVING ANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT SINCE I HAD RECEIVED THE PAPER WORK ON THIS, I DID THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND HAD IT TAKEN CARE OF. THIS PART, AFTER LESS THAN TWO YEARS, HAS GONE BAD AGAIN AND ISUZU IS TELLING ME THAT THIS IS MY PROBLEM (THE PART IS ONLY GUARANTEED FOR 1 YEAR). THIS IS A PART, THAT I AM BEING TOLD, BY A REPUTABLE MECHA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10152719 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131535 · 2005-08-04 (August 4, 2005)
THE GAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE GAS TANK. I FILL UP AND THE GAS LIGHT WILL COME ON AFTER A FEW MILES AND WILL STAY ON OR WILL START FLASHING. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CAN BE VARY HAZARDOUS ESPECIALLY FOR A WOMAN ON THE ROAD THINKING THAT SHE HAS A FULL TANK OF GAS AND THE GAS GAUGE IS GOING INSANE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS AS IF THERE ARE SEVERAL AND MEAN SEVERAL OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. A RECALL SHOULD BE SENT OUT!!!! *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10131535 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113925 · 2005-03-11 (March 11, 2005)
THE FUEL GAUGE WILL DROP DOWN TO EMPTY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND PAID AND ESTIMATE FEE OF $80 ONLY TO HAVE THEM TELL ME TO BUY A NEW GAS CAP WHICH I DID AND THE SAME PROBLEM. I CAN SEE FROM THIS PAGE THAT OTHER'S EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AND FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE REPAIR BY ISUZU AT NO COST TO ME. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A SHOP WHICH REPLACED THE GAS TANK SENSOR FOR $400.00 WHICH I THINK ISUZU SHOULD REIMBURSE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214740 · 2008-01-14 (January 14, 2008)
MY MOTHER AND STEPFATHER GAVE ME THEIR 2000 ISUZU RODEO THIS SUMMER. ABOUT 6 OR 7 MONTHS PRIOR TO THEM GIVING ME THE VEHICLE ITS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ONCE THE VEHICLE WOULD GET TO A TANK OF GAS THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD START TO WAVE BACK AND FORTH FROM FULL TO EMPTY WITH THE GAS LIGHT FLASHING. THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGINS TO SPUTTER AND LOSE POWER SPORADICALLY. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM/TRAIT ON A 2000-2001 ISUZU RODEO. IT APPEARS TO BE A FAULTY FUEL SENDING UNIT WHICH IS MOUNTED INSIDE THE G…
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8008992 · 2002-05-02 (May 2, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES ON GOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING , HESITATION, AND VIBRATING WHILE DRIVING OR RUNNING, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASION AND THE PROBLEM REOCCURRING. *JB THE STALLING ENGINE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY SOLVED BY REPLACING THE EGR VALVE. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8008992 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068213 · 2004-05-03 (May 3, 2004)
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS EXTREMLEY HARD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 63,180 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068213 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037495 · 2003-09-08 (September 8, 2003)
TRANSMISSION MODE SWITCH HAS FAILED 4 TIMES IN ONE MONTH AND THERE IS NO IDENTIFIABLE CAUSE BY BALBOA ISUZU. THIS IS SUCH A COMMON OCCURRENCE RIGHT NOW THAT ALL THE DEALERSHIPS ARE HOLDING ONTO THEIR PARTS CLOSELY AND WILL NOT SELL TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! EVEN THE FACTORY CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. CAUSES THE TEANSMISSION TO DOWNSHIFT AND IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11011601 · 2017-07-31 (July 31, 2017)
I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2.5 YEARS. ON JULY 1, 2017, I WAS TURNING LEFT IN A 30 MPH ZONE OF HIGHWAY 52 IN TN, AND HEARD A CRACK AND WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE 'THUMP' WHEN RUNNING OVER SOMETHING. I CAREFULLY GUIDED THE CAR TO THE R OADSIDE, PARKED, AND INSPECTED THE ROIAD BEHIND ME, ALL TIRES, AND CRAWLED BENEATH TO INSPECT.I COULD FIND NOTHING, SO PROCEEDED WITH CAUTION, ONLY TO PULL OVER AGAIN TWICE WITNIN BUSINESS PARKING LOTS TRYING TO PINPOINT WHERE THE ISSUE WAS CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS. AFTER NOT SEEING ANYTHING STILL, I TURN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11011601 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200219 · 2007-08-20 (August 20, 2007)
1999 ISUZU RODEO. MY DAUGHTER WAS MAKING A GENTLE TURN IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, I WAS THE FRONT PASSENGER. THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY TURNED FREELY- - THE WHEELS DID NOT TURN. VEHICLE WENT STRAIGHT INSTEAD OF TURNING, OVER CURB AND INTO ANOTHER CAR IN DRIVEWAY. EXAMINATION WHILE WAITING FOR TOW - THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN FREELY WITH NO EFFECT. THERE IS SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY BROKEN (STEERING LINKAGE?) BEHIND AND ABOVE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200219 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226050 · 2008-04-29 (April 29, 2008)
THE CRUISE CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON AFTER HITTING A BUMP OR JUST RANDOMLY AND VEHICLE SPUTTERS AND SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY! WE HAVE ALMOST BEEN KILLED SEVERAL TIMES FROM THE VEHICLE STALLING OUT!THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS AND NO ONE COULD FIGURE IT OUT. I FINALLY GOT AN ELECTRICAL SPECIALIST TO FIGURE IT OUT AND HE SAID IT IS A SHORT IN THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND THE HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF AROUND $1,600.00 HE SAID IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND ISUZU SHOULD REPLACE IT. ISUZU REFUSES TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10246382 · 2008-10-22 (October 22, 2008)
I PURCHASED A USED 2001 ISUZU RODEO SPORT IN JUNE 2005. THE VERY NEXT WEEK I HAD TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK TO CARMAX DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARING THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THEY INSISTED IT WAS JUST MY GAS CAP NOT WORKING PROPERLY. MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED NOT EVEN 1 YEAR AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE. FOR THE LAST YEAR MY CHECK ENGINE, TRANSMISSION AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS APPEAR WHEN I HIT A BUMP, THEN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIES OUT. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 15 TIMES A DAY. I'VE COME VERY CLOSE TO BEING HIT BY OTHERS MANY TIMES DU…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246382 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 2