640 of the
3,296 complaints filed about the Isuzu Rodeo
are about the braking system —
19% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1998.
In Florida, I purchased my 2004 Isuzu Rodeo March 2005 at 134 miles. I've always had issues, but didn't know how to articulate the issues. My truck sits/leans to the right and low in the back. It is uneven as if the shocks or struts are off. Driving one night, the truck slams down/drops low out of no where while driving. When I am driving and need to brake, I have to brake then brake again. I dare not make any sharp turns by parking or anything it's like the truck will slip or axels bend. I am have trouble with the engine currently(September 2022). Oil is leaking but you can't see from where. The engine is making loud rambling sounds. The exhaust sounds muffled. My car parts are not exact because my Rodeo is built like a demo, seemingly. Power Reduced & check engine light happens randomly usually while on the expressway. It slows the vehicle down in the middle of flowing traffic. I have to try to pull over turn car off then back on to try & reset the vehicle. The car now vibrates but don't know from where or cause. How can I get my car repaired?
NHTSA complaint #11524166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ABS ENGAGED, AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED AND THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A PREVIOUS UNKNOWN RECALL. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS INTEGRATOR MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER LOCATED OVER 200 MILES AWAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY MAY BE UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE PARTS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REACH ANYONE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.
NHTSA complaint #11015678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FOR EVER WHEN I BOUGHT THE ISUZU NEVER HAVE BRAKES. I BRING MY RODEO TO MY DAUGTER TO STUDY IN A COLLEGE, AND SHE HAVE ONE ACCIDENT AND DESTROY THE CAR TOTALLY. THE CHASSIS BROAK AND I SALE THE REMAINIG OF THE CAR FOR PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10983733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE 110,000 MILES ON VEHICLE AND WAS JUST TOLD FRAME IS RUSTING OUT. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THIS CAR HAS MANY MILES LEFT ON ENGINE, NOT HAPPY ABOUT RUSTED FRAME I HAVE HEARD ABOUT , ALSO ABS LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON.
NHTSA complaint #10943961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PULLED INTO A HANDICAP PARKING SPOT IN FRONT OF A SUPERMARKET, PUT IT IN PARK, SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. GOT OUT OUT VEHICLE, LOCKED THE DOORS. STARTED TO WALK AWAY AND A GUY THAT WAS SITTING AT A TABLE IN FRONT OF STORE YELLED THERE GOES YOUR CAR. I RAN BESIDE THE CAR TO TRY TO OPEN THE DOOR TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR CRASHED BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND WAS TOLD BY THEM TO CALL INSURANCE COMPANY AND TO LEAVE IF BOTH VEHICLES WERE OKAY TO DRIVE. I FEEL THE PARK GEAR FAILED AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE JUST IN PARK A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.
NHTSA complaint #10883746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF...HAD CODES CHECKED AND CLEARED BUT THE LIGHT COME BACK ON....BRAKES HAS BEEN REPLACED...BUT BREAKING DISTANCE IS EXTENDED
NHTSA complaint #10838076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE BEING INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE UNDERBODY AND THE BRAKE LINES. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE COMPONENTS BEING FULL OF RUST AND THE RISK OF FRACTURING AT ANY TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
NHTSA complaint #10703584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY SON WAS DRIVING A 1999 ISUZU RODEO WHEN HE HAD AN ACCIDENT. SINCE THERE WERE NO "BRAKE MARKS" ON THE ROAD THE ACCIDENT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE HIS FAULT. HE STATED THAT HE TURNED LEFT FROM A STOP SIGN AND CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS ON, APPLIED BRAKES AND CAR CONTINUED TO REV UP CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL, HIT A DITCH, AND LAND CAR ON IT'S SIDE. NO INJURIES EXCEPT SORE WRIST. THE CAR HAS 138,000 MILES
NHTSA complaint #10667617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT BOTH OF THE REAR BRAKES, CALIPERS, AND BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A NON-CERTIFIED MECHANIC PERFORMED A TEMPORARY REPAIR ON THE VEHICLE TO STOP THE BRAKE FLUID LEAK. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
NHTSA complaint #10597006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP OR REDUCE SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT A HYDRAULIC COMPONENT FOR THE ABS MODULE WAS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #10567721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER EXITING A PARKING LOT AND WHEN APPROACHING THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL (ALREADY RED) AT A SPEED LESS THAN 5MPH (THE SIGNAL WAS APPROX 5 CAR LENGTHS FROM THE PARKING LOT EXIT), WHILE FURTHER SLOWING (BRAKING) TO LINE UP BEHIND THE LAST OF THE 2 CARS ALREADY STOPPED AT THE SIGNAL, THE RODEO UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED WHICH REQUIRED THE DRIVER TO AGGRESSIVELY AND CONTINUOUSLY APPLY THE BRAKES. THE RODEO SLOWED BUT COULD NOT BE STOPPED WITHIN A DISTANCE OF APPROX 2-3 CAR LENGTHS AND RESULTED IN CONTACT WITH THE 2ND CAR WHICH WAS STOPPED AT THE SIGNAL. AFTER EXCHANGING INSURANCE INFO WITH THE INVOLVED PARTIES, THE RODEO WAS DRIVEN DIRECTLY TO CKM AUTO SERVICE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. CKM DID NOT FIND SOURCES WHICH MAY HAVE CREATED THIS PROBLEM ... CKM ALSO RETAINED THE RODEO AND DROVE IT A PERIOD OF DAYS TO ATTEMPT TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. WEBSITE RESEARCH FINDS OTHER SIMILAR UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION EVENTS WITH THE RODEO (SOME AT MUCH HIGHER SPEEDS) BUT NONE SEEM TO HAVE FOUND THE CAUSE. THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT OF THIS SAME NATURE WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND NO OTHER VEHICLES, PROPERTY OR PERSONS WERE DAMAGED (JUST A HEART-STOPPING MOMENT WHEN THE RODEO COULD NOT BE STOPPED WITH AGGRESSIVE AND CONTINUOUS BRAKING..RODEO WAS CHECK OUT BY CKM). RODEO IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND SINCE A DEFINITIVE CAUSE COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED, THIS RODEO WAS TRADED IN ON 5-24-13 AS WE NO LONGER HAD CONFIDENCE IN ITS SAFETY.
NHTSA complaint #10513648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER, REAR CALIPERS, FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, AND THE ROTORS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10512799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I LEFT A FRIENDS HOUSE AND GOT ON 295 WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANGING, THEN A SHORT TIME LATER I LOST MY BRAKES. COME TO FIND OUT THAT I WAS TOLD THE SHOCK BROKE AND BECAUSE OF THAT IT BROKE MY BRAKE LINE AND THE SUPPORT FOR THE SUSPENSION WAS ALL RUSTED OUT. I WAS TOLD BY A FRIEND OF MINE ABOUT A RECALL INVOLVING THE SUSPENSION AND WHAT I HAD DESCRIBED WAS THE PROBLEM. SO I CALL ISUZU AND THEY TOLD ME THAT AS OF DEC. 2012 THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER FIXING ANY MORE VEHICLES WITH THIS ISSUE AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO. WELL SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED I NEVER RECEIVED AND RECALL NOTICE. I COULD HAVE HAD A VERY BAD ACCIDENT, CONSIDERING I HAD 2 PEOPLE CUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN. THIS IS BS. I CANT AFFORD TO HAVE THIS FIXED AND IM PRETTY SURE THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS TOO MUCH RUST TO BE FIXED. SO NOW I DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE AND NEED ONE.
NHTSA complaint #10512281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO DECELERATE, THE REAR BRAKES SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE SKIDDED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO AN ABS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE ABS MODULE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, THE TECHNICIAN ALSO NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER ID 10V436000 (SUSPENSION) BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
NHTSA complaint #10495216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRAME OF ISUZU RODEO IS RUSTED AND ROTTEN.. MECHANICS STATED ..GAS TANK IS DETACHED..SHOCKS ONLY THING HOLDING ISUZU RODEO UP BY AN INCH..NON REPAIRABLE.. NON FIXABLE AND NOT SAFE TO DRIVE..REPAIR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE MADE..DUE TO THE CONDITION OF RUSTED FRAME AND ALL OFF THE ABOVE..NOT ABLE TO PASS EMISSIONS..EVERY PART UNDER VEHICLE RUSTED AND FALLING APART..ISUZU WELL AWARE...WE HAVE COMPLAINED DIRECT TO ISUZU COMPANY..WE WERE DIRECTED TO AN OFFICIAL ISUZU MECHANIC..THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT THEY SAW..THERE AFTER WE WERE REFERRED BY MECHANIC TO DIRECT ISUZU COMPANY..WE WHERE TOLD ..THERE IS A RECALL FOR A RUSTED BRACKET ONLY..BUT THE WHOLE FRAME IS ROTTEN,RUSTED,NON FIXABLE,UNSAFE ACCORDING TO ISUZU MECHANIC..
NHTSA complaint #10486109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED MY 2001 ISUZU RODEO USED IN APRIL 2012, ABOUT A WEEK AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE IT STARTED STALLING OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING, LOOSING COMPLETE POWER FOR A FEW MOMENTS THEN WOULD JERK AND CONTINUE GOING. I ALSO NOTICED WHEN I WOULD HIT A SMALL BUMP AND TRY TO APPLY THE BRAKES I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE AND IT WOULD NOT STOP FOR A FEW FEET, EVEN WITH THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. ALSO WHEN I STOP I HEAR A POPPING NOISE IN THE REAR, EVERYTIME I STOP. NOW THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DYING AT RANDOM TIMES. IT WILL DIE WHEN I AM ON THE INTERSTATE GOING A STEADY SPEED, OR ACCELERATING. ALSO WHEN I COME CLOSE TO A COMPLETE STOP TO TURN THE VEHICLE WILL DIE. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP AND JERKS WHILE SPEEDING UP. I HAVE ALMOST T-BONED SOMEONE DUE TO THE CAR DYING AND THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. ALSO I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED NUMEROUS TIMES BECAUSE OF THE CAR STALLING OUT AND ALSO DYING. ALSO AFTER HAVING THE CAR A COUPLE WEEKS THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER QUIT WORKING AND THE LIGHT FOR THE SPEEDOMETER WILL NOT WORK EITHER.
NHTSA complaint #10457355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE FRAME ON 2001 ISUZU RODEO IS BADLY RUSTED. HAVE MAINTAINED CAR WELL AND WAS LAST INSPECTED IN AUGUST, 2011, WITH NO PROBLEMS NOTED. IN APRIL, 2012, VEHICLE WAS IN SHOP FOR BRAKE WORK WHEN THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS BADLY RUSTED. HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A WELDING SHOP AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10455022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE HAVE A 1999 ISUZU RODEO MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 25 MPH DURING THE RAIN WHEN SHE GENTLY APPLIED THE BRAKES, SHE HEARD A NOISE THE RODEO BEGAN SLIDING CAUSING AN IMPACT WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. VARIOUS OTHER TIMES WE WOULD BE DRIVING AND ESPECIALLY DURING WET ROAD CONDITIONS THE BRAKES MADE A NOISE CAUSING THE TIRES TO ROTATE PREMATURELY IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE SLIDING MOTION.IN 2011 WE TOOK OUR RODEO IN ON RECALL NO. 10V-436, (EXCESSIVE CORROSION MAY RESULT IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE FRAME, WHICH CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH.) THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED THE INSPECTION WHICH WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RECALL SHOULD NOT BE PERFORMED. DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION THE REINFORCEMENT BRACKET REMEDY WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE. IN ORDER TO PERFORM THIS RECALL THE BODY IS DETACHED FROM THE FRAME AND IF CORROSION IS PRESENT ON THE FRAME THIS RECALL WOULD ONLY CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGES WEAKENING THE FRAME MAKING IT UNSAFE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE FRAMES SHOULD BE RECALLED ALSO! THE FRAMES ALSO HAVE EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND ALSO ONCE A FRAME IS COMPROMISED IT'S WEAKENED! BY DOING THIS RECALL IT DIMINSHES THE INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME ANYWAY. THEREFORE, THIS RECALL IS NOT A RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS IT'S A BIGGER SAFETY ISSUE AND PUTS MANY CONSUMERS AT RISK! AS FOR ISUZU PROVIDING THE CONSUMERS WITH AN APPROPRIATE REMEDY... THIS IS NOT HAPPENING!
NHTSA complaint #10439320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.