1994 Isuzu RODEO: complaints, problems and recalls

HEADLIGHT SWITCH MELTED AND FUSED ITSELF INTERNALLY BECOMING MECHANICALLY AND ELECTRICALLY INOPERATIVE. USE OF THE HEADLIGHTS WAS NO LONGER POSSIBLE AND 10 AMP FUSE (FUSE 1) DID NOT BLOW. IT MUST HAVE HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN OPERATION OR THE LAST TIME THE LIGHTS WERE TURNED OFF SINCE WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM UNTIL FIRST TRYING TO ACTIVATE THE LIGHTS THAT NIGHT. WE DID HEAR OR SMELL THE FAILURE WHEN IT TOOK PLACE. SEEMS LIKE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025437 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE OIL LEAKS ONTO TOP OF SPARK PLUGS AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD. LEAKS SEEM TO BE MOST PREVELANT WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARMING UP. I'VE HAD THE ENTIRE GASKET KIT REPLACED TWICE. OCCASIONALLY THERE IS ENOUGH OIL ACCUMULATION TO CAUSE A LIGHT SMOKE TO BE SEEN FOR JUST A MINUTE AND THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS HAD AN ACCOMPANYING OIL SMELL. OIL IS NOT LEAKED INTO COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND NO OIL LEAKS ONTO THE GROUND. PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE RECTIFIABLE AND DEALER WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM WITHOUT ME PAYING 100% EACH TIME. PROBLEM HAS CAUSED DEGRADATION OF SPAR…

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025440 at NHTSA ↗

ON VERY HOT DAYS, THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT IS ACTIVATED WHEN FIRST SHIFTING GEARS INTO OR OUT OF REVERSE. THE PROBLEM IS HIGHLY INTERMITTENT ( THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 8 TIMES NOW ) AND ONLY STARTED A YEAR AGO (VEHICLE AGE 8 YRS). AT THAT POINT THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE. CHECKING THE ERROR INDICATOR MESSAGE INDICATES THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE GEAR SELECTION SENSOR LOCATED ON THE TRANSMISSION. ACCORDING TO MY ISUZU SHOP MANUAL @1993, PART NO 2-90994-072-0 THE ERROR IS DTC CODE #54 "MODE SWITCH ILLEGAL POSITION". CYCLING THE IGNITION AND…

Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025441 at NHTSA ↗

POWER LOCKS DO NOT STAY IN ADJUSTMENT. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND REAR TAILGATE LATCHES. THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN ADJUSTED BY THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY EXHIBIT THE PROBLEMS AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY. THE TAILGATE LATCH RELEASES THE REAR WINDOW WHILE DRIVING USUALLY WHEN HITTING A BUMP BUT SOMETIMES OUT OF THE BLUE. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE LATCH IS OPENED LAST USING THE KEY ON THE TAILGATE. WHEN THE LATCH IS OPENED ELECTRONICALLY I DO NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR EI…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025443 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO WORK. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE TRANSMISSION CHECKED. WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE BEFORE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044600 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS AN ONGOING DEGRADATION OF THE HYDRAULIC LIFTER SYSTEM THAT WILL LEAD TO AN EVENTUAL ENGINE FAILURE. ACCORDING TO ISUZU MECHANICS, THE HYDRAULIC LIFTER SYSTEM IN THE ISUZU V-6 IS PRONE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD-UP AND THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CAN ONLY BE AVOIDED THROUGH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HYDRAULIC LIFTER SYSTEM. WHEN FIRST DIAGNOSED, THE MECHANICS USED A OIL CLEANER TO QUIET THE VALVE TRAIN. HOWEVER, AFTER MULTIPLE CLEANINGS AND SWITCHING TO SYNTHETIC OIL AS ADVISED BY ISUZU THE VALVE KNOCK REMAINS AND CONTINUES TO WORSEN. …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052483 at NHTSA ↗

PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S DOORS BEING HARD TO OPEN. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT IN CASE OF EMERGENCY THE OCCUPANTS WILL BE TRAPPED INSIDE. *MR THE REAR DOOR'S FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE. (THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS WERE NOT ENGAGED) *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 159,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066666 at NHTSA ↗

THROTTLE CABLE WAS CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO STAY ENGAGED AFTER RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. CONSUMERTHOUGHT IT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT. *AK *TC

Owner-reported narrative. 145,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094033 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-10-15 (October 15, 2002)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS, THE LATCH PLATE USED IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO DESIGN DIMENSIONS. IF THE SEAT BELT TONGUE IS INSERTED SLOWLY AT AN ANGLE INTO THE BUCKLE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TONGUE TO COME OUT OF THE BUCKLE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR HARD BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW BUCKLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MID-DECEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-643-4070.

Reported: 1994-07-19 (July 19, 1994)

CONSTANT EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSES THE CAMSHAFT SEAL END PLUG CAN BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS ALLOWS OIL TO LEAK FROM THE CAMSHAFT.

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE FROM OIL LEAKING ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL CAMSHAFT END SEAL PLUG RETAINER PLATES.

Reported: 1996-09-17 (September 17, 1996)

THE LATCH PLATE USED IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO DESIGN DIMENSIONS. IF THE SEAT BELT TONGUE IS INSERTED SLOWLY AT AN ANGLE INTO THE BUCKLE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TONGUE TO COME OUT OF THE BUCKLE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR HARD BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW BUCKLE.

Reported: 1997-03-07 (March 7, 1997)

AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITHIN THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR CAN CONTAIN MANUFACTURING ERRORS.

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL CHARGING OF THE VEHICLE'S ALTERNATOR, RESULTING IN ENGINE CONTROL MALFUNCTION, AND/OR EVENTUAL ENGINE STALL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR WITH A NEW REGULATOR.