1996 Isuzu RODEO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
48 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
125,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 48 complaints (12.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 12.5% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 6.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.2% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 4.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 |
| Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs | 6 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs: 6; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Structure:Frame And Members: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 4
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 37 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 4 |
| 2000 | 12 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
1996: 4; 2000: 12; 2001: 8; 2002: 3; 2003: 3; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 5; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 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 10029202 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)
ENGINE PROBLEMS;LOSING POWER AND MAKING POPPING NOISES, WHEN VEHICLE IS TRAVELING FROM START TO 75 MPH VEHICLE STOPS, AND ENGINE SHUTS DOWN EVERYTHING, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON WONT TURN OFF, ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHILE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN STAYS ON,PROBLEMS STARTED ON OR ABOUT OCT 2002 AND HAVE NOT STOPPED,TRIED TO CONTACT DEALER, DEALER NO LONGER EXISTS.HELP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029202 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10146569 · 2005-12-30 (December 30, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE RPMS REVVED AS HIGH AS THE GAUGE WOULD ALLOW. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME, CHECKED THE ENGINE ,AND DISCOVERED THE RUBBER BOOT IN THE THROTTLE BODY WAS MELTED. THE BOOT WAS REMOVED BY THE CONTACT AND THIS REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 3/9/2006 - *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 73,368 miles reported. Look up ODI 10146569 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197291 · 2007-07-23 (July 23, 2007)
COMPLETELY RUSTED STEERING COLUMN FAILED (TWO PIECES). STEERING WHEEL COMPLETE MECHANICAL DISCONNECTION FROM VEHICLE STEERING MECHANISM CAUSED A LIFE THREATENING CONDITION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 802462 · 1996-09-16 (September 16, 1996)
DRIVING AT SPEED 62MPH, STEERING CONTROL IS VERY LOOSE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, HIT A CONCRETE MEDIAN, VEHICLE ROLLED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 802462 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072514 · 2004-05-12 (May 12, 2004)
MY 1996 ISUZU RODEO LS SUFFERED APPROXIMATELY 30 DRIPS PER MINUTE LEAK ON TOP OF MY V6 ENGINE, POSING A POTENTIAL EXPLOSION HAZARD. THE LEAK WAS NOT FOUND FOR OVER TWO MONTHS BECAUSE THE ODOR WAS ONLY PRESENT WHILE THE TRUCK WAS RUNNING. FUEL WAS BURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND POSSIBLY IGNITED TWICE WHEN MY WIFE NOTICED SMOKE AND A STRONG UNIDENTIFYABLE ODOR. IT WAS NOT UNTIL MAY 2 THAT I STARTED THE TRUCK ON MY DRIVEWAY, THEN POPPED THE HOOD THEN I SAW THE FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN PLACED IN THE SHOP TO REPAIR OIL LEAKS J…
Owner-reported narrative. 87,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072514 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10386130 · 2011-03-01 (March 1, 2011)
HI, I OWN AN ISUZU RODEO S V6 (YEAR 1996) AND AFTER HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL PUMP MY MECHANIC ALERTED ME ABOUT AN ADVANCED RUSTING DETERIORATION ON THE STRUCTURAL FRAME OF THE CAR. NOT ONLY THE BODY OF THE CAR IS RUSTED BUT THE FUEL LINE PIPES AS WELL. THE BREAK FLUID PIPE BROKE TWO YEARS AGO DUE TO RUSTING BUT FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY REDUCING GEARS. THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION (MECHANICALLY, ELECTRICALLY, ETC) AND IT IS A SHAME THAT IN VITAL PARTS OF THE CAR ISUZU USED CHEAP/NON-RESISTANT MATERIAL. …
Owner-reported narrative. 111,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10386130 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041640 · 2003-10-11 (October 11, 2003)
MY TRANSMISSION LIGHT COMES ON AND STAY ON AND THEN IT DON'T DO IT FOR A WHILE AND I HAVE TAKEN IT TO REPAIR A NUMBER OF TIMES AND IT DO NOT DO IT BUT WHEN IT IS ON AND YOU ARE DRIVING IT DRIVE REAL GOOD BUT WHEN YOU STOP IT DOES NOT WANT TO PULL OF LIKE IT IS IN A STRAIN AND WHEN I PUT IT DOWN IN LOW GEAR AND PULL OFF IT DRIVES GOOD AND I SHIFT UNTIL I GET IT BACK IN DRIVE AND IT IS FIND UNTIL YOU STOP A GAIN. AND THERE WAS ONE OCCASION I STOP AND IT REAR UP TO TAKE OFF BY ITSELF AND WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK IT STILL DID THE SAME THING I HAD TO …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041640 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 884737 · 2001-03-30 (March 30, 2001)
TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS ENGINE CHECK LIGHT. BOTH REMAINED ON AFTER VEHICLE WAS STARTED. PROBLEMS WERE INCONSISTENT. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 8 TIMES FOR PROBLEMS, BUT NOT RESOLVED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 884737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 744559 · 2001-04-25 (April 25, 2001)
ODOMETER AND CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT OPERATE ALSO ENGINE COMPLETE STALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744559 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 800439 · 1996-08-05 (August 5, 1996)
WHILE DRIVING, ON SOME OCCASION, THE ENGINE STALLS, PURCHASED NEW . PLEASE DESCRIBE .
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 800439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 868642 · 2000-08-24 (August 24, 2000)
LUGS: NUTS STRIPPED THE METAL IN MALE FORM. AIR GUN STRIPED THE METAL PARTS WHEN MECHANIC WAS REMOVING THE WHEELS. ALSO, ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCKS ARE NOT GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, AND THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 868642 at NHTSA ↗