2001 Isuzu RODEO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
389 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
110,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 288 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 161 of 389 complaints (41.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 40 | 10.3% |
| Steering behavior | 22 | 5.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 20 | 5.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 18 | 4.6% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 3.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | 161 |
| Suspension | 56 |
| Suspension:Rear | 54 |
| Structure:Body | 28 |
| Structure | 17 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 12 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 12 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 161; Suspension: 56; Suspension:Rear: 54; Structure:Body: 28; Structure: 17; Electrical System: 15; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 12; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 34 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 50 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 144 |
| 150,000 and above | 34 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 34; 75,000 to 99,999: 50; 100,000 to 149,999: 144; 150,000 and above: 34
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (144). 101 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 16 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 15 |
| 2009 | 35 |
| 2010 | 114 |
| 2011 | 79 |
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 14 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
2001: 16; 2002: 12; 2003: 12; 2004: 11; 2005: 15; 2006: 8; 2007: 6; 2008: 15; 2009: 35; 2010: 114; 2011: 79; 2012: 15; 2013: 14; 2014: 11; 2015: 11; 2016: 5; 2017: 4; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 20 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 10004882 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
THE COMMPLAINT IS A DRIVE SHAFT PROBLEM,IZUSU IS ALSO AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE ISSUED A BULETIN TO THE DEALERS TO THE DEFECT. THE PBLEMM IS THAT WHEN YOU STEP ONN THE BRAKE YOU FEEL A THUMP IN THE REAR END OF THE CAR. THERE HAS TO BE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE DRIVE SHAFT SPINES OR EVEN THE UBOLTS ON THE DRIVE SHAFT. I WAS TOLD BY ISUZU THAT THERE IS A SPECIAL STICK GREASE THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY GENERAL MOTORS THAT SUPPOSE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. WELL! IN MY CASE IT HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEMM AS THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALE…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004882 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010306 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 65-67 MILES PER HOUR IN LIGHT-RAIN CONDITIONS TRYING TO EXIT INTO ANOTHER LANE WHEN THE 2001 ISUZU RODEO BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE AND THE CONSUMER NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING. THE CONSUMER LOSS ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT THEN SPUN OUT IN A 360 DEGREE RADIUS AND HIT INTO A CEMENT BARRIER. THE REAR END OF THE 2001 ISUZU RODEO WAS THE FIRST IMPACT. AFTER COLLIDING INTO THE CEMENT BARRIER AT UNKNOWN SPEED THE 2001 ISUZU RODEO SPUN OUT AGAIN IN A 360 DEGREE RADIUS WHERE IT WAS THEN H…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010306 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10264800 · 2009-04-09 (April 9, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STEERING IN THE DESIRED DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL MADE AN EXCESSIVELY LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. HE OBSERVED COMPLETE DETACHMENT OF THE REAR PASSENGER STABILIZING ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS CAUTIOUSLY DR…
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10264800 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10293667 · 2009-11-26 (November 26, 2009)
THE CAR WAS DRIVEN AWAY FROM A GAS STATION, AND WITH NO WARNING, IT BEGAN TO WEAVE ALL OVER THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME, DUE TO SERIOUS RUST. THE CONTROL ARM ATTACHES TO THE REAR AXLE, AND IS WELDED TO THE LOWER SIDE OF THE FRAME IN FRONT OF THE REAR WHEEL. THE CORROSION WAS SO SEVERE AT THAT POINT, THAT THE BRACKET SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. THIS CAUSES THE REAR AXLE TO MOVE, RESULTING IN THE CAR STEERING WITH THE REAR WHEELS. THIS CONDITION MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICUL…
Owner-reported narrative. 143,353 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145298 · 2005-12-15 (December 15, 2005)
THE INCIDENTS ALL HAPPENED ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 28TH, 2005. THE SITUATION HAD GOTTEN WORSE AND THAT IS WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD THE SUV WOULD EITHER STALL OUT WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP OR DIE WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE. WE HAD FAMILY IN THE RODEO ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES HARD WHEN SOMEONE WOULD PULL OUT IN FRONT OF YOU. THE ENGINE WOULD DIE WHILE TRAFFIC WAS COMING TOWARDS US. IT WOULD IDLE ROUGHLY AND WHEN YOU WOULD LET IT WA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10145298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157496 · 2006-05-13 (May 13, 2006)
FIRST, THE GAS GAUGE STARTED GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN FULL & EMPTY AND THE LIGHT FLASHES. NOW, I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE FUEL PUMP? IT STARTS AND THEN IT DIES. CANT PARK UP HILL, WONT START. HAVE TO PARK DOWN HILL TO KEEP GAS FLOWING TO INJECTORS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 116,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003184 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
I'M HAVING THE FOLLOWING ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH MY RODEO. INTERMITENTLY, THE CRUISE LIGHT BUTTON TURNS ON, THEN THE CRUISE LIGHT INDICATOR TURNS ON, THEN THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT TURNS ON. AT THAT SAME TIME ALL THE INDICATORS ARE ON THE TRUCK HESITATES AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. THIS MOST FREQUENTLY OCCURS AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, HOWEVER HAS OCCURED WHILE CRUSING. THUS FAR THE TECHNICIANS HAVE REPLACED
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089262 · 2004-08-09 (August 9, 2004)
VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 2001 ISUZU RODEO. *MR THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THEY WOULD SLIDE, THEN STOP. TWO SMALL CHILDREN WOULD BE WITH THE CONSUMER WHEN THESE PROBLEMS WOULD OCCUR. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE BRAKES WERE WORKING PROPERLY. THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS GOING DOWN A HILL APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE SOUNDED AS IF THE ENGINE WAS RAISED AND THE VEHICLE ALMOST SLID INTO TRAFFIC. THE D…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089262 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024754 · 2003-06-23 (June 23, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE FOUR TIMES.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024754 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117669 · 2005-04-08 (April 8, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART, AND FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE NEXT DAY, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131298 · 2005-07-27 (July 27, 2005)
2001 ISUZU RODEO DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH STALLING.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A SENSOR PROBLEM AND REPLACED IT. THIS CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW MONTH BUT EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL AGAIN. THE DEALER WAS FINALLY ABOUT TO DETERMINE THAT THE COMPUTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD BURNED OUT THE WIRING HARNESS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE DEALER KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS ALL ALONG BUT DIDN'T WANT TO REPAIR IT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 42,103 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131298 at NHTSA ↗