1998 Isuzu Rodeo Sport Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1998 Isuzu Rodeo Sport, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Suspension325.0%
- Brakes216.7%
- Body & structure216.7%
- Other / unspecified18.3%
- Steering18.3%
- Tires & wheels18.3%
- Engine18.3%
- Fuel system18.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 TURNED RIGHT ONTO HWY 52 HEADING EAST; WITHIN 500 FT , IN. THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH CROSS TRAFFIC DOING 45MPH MIN. ,TN HWY 109, I LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL, AND COULD NOT BRAKE AS I DRIFTED THRU A YELLOW SIGNAL LYING ON THE HORN AND THROWING MY HAZARDS ON. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT INTO THE MARCO LOT AND PARK AWAY FROM EVERYONE BY COASTING TO AN ALMOST STOP AND USING THE PARKING BRAKE. I HAD JUST HAD 5 NEW TIRES PUT ON THE SUV IN JUNE 2017, AND THERE WAS NOTHING NOTED ABOUT A POSSIBLE DEADLY FRAME ISSUE. I TOWER THE ISUZU TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP, KNOWING NOTHING ABOUT ANY RECALL ISSUES PRIOR. HE THOUGHT HE WOULD BE ABLE TO FABRICATE SOMETHING TO REPAIR IT. WHEN HE ACTUALLY LNSPECTED, SAID HE DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO REPAIR THE FRAMEWORK BECAUSE IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ENTIRELY,NOT SPOT MENDED WITH A PART. THE FRAME IS SO BAD THAT EACH TOUCH BRINGS CHUNKS OF RUSTY METAL FLAKES TO THE GROUND, AND THE RIGHT REAR HAS SEPARATED SO MUCH THE WHOLE VEHICLE LOOKS LIKE AN "S" PARKING BECAUSE IT IS NEAR THE COLLAPSE I AM THANKFUL I WAS NOT ON I65 AS I NORMALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN, IN 70 MPH ZONE, SINCE ID GE DEAD.I HAVE A REAL COMPLAINT THAT I AM BEING TOLD THE RECALL PERIOD IS OVER,AFTER INVESTING 5K BEFORE THE FRAMEWORK DIED.YES IT'S OLD, WITH ONLY150K MILES ON IT THOUGH, & NEVER KNEW OF A RECALL IN 2+YRS. I OWNED THIS ..WHY??
NOT LONG AGO I LEARNED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ISUZU RODEO 1998 TO 2000. SO FAR I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY DEFECTS IN MY CAR, BUT ONLY A MECHANIC CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE. THE CAR THAT I HAVE IS AN ISUZU SPORT RODEO 1998 AND IT FALLS IN THE RECALL. I WONDER HOW SAFE WILL BE TO DRIVE THIS CAR, SINCE I HAVE TO COMMUTE ABOUT 50 MILES EVERY DAY 5 DAYS A WEEK. THE REASON THAT I AM FILLING THIS COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE I READ IN THE INTERNET THAT THERE A LOT NEGLICENCE ON THE SIDE OF THE ISUZU, AND IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF ISUZU'S OWNER IS GOING TO TAKE THIS MATTER TO COURT TO FIGHT BACK. REGIONAL SAFETY RECALL 10V-436. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 MECHANIC, SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN FOR THE LIFE OF THIS CAR. THE ABS IS NOT WORKING AT THIS TIME. AS OF YET THERE ARE NO ACCIDENTS (I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY BRAKES HAVE REVERTED BACK TO WHAT REGULAR BRAKES ARE) BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE AMOUNT OF BRAKING THAT I DID HAVE. I AM BEING TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT I TOOK IT INTO TO RUN THE DIAGNOSTIC, THAT THIS WILL COST ME A HUGE (+$1000) AMOUNT TO REPAIR A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BAD IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS TIME. WHAT CAN I DO? THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I TOOK CARE OF AND IT DIDN'T LAST ANY AMOUNT OF TIME AT ALL. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THIS PART AND THAT ISUZU SHOULD REPLACE THIS SINCE THEY APPARENTLY DID NOT TOTALLY TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE AND REPLACED THE PART WITH ANOTHER FAULTY PIECE. HELP. *NM
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 THEY GAVE ME THERE WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I TOOK IT TO IS IN CLOVIS CALIFORNIA. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
NOT LONG AGO I LEARNED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ISUZU RODEO 1998 TO 2000. SO FAR I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY DEFECTS IN MY CAR, BUT ONLY A MECHANIC CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE. THE CAR THAT I HAVE IS AN ISUZU SPORT RODEO 1998 AND IT FALLS IN THE RECALL. I WONDER HOW SAFE WILL BE TO DRIVE THIS CAR, SINCE I HAVE TO COMMUTE ABOUT 50 MILES EVERY DAY 5 DAYS A WEEK. THE REASON THAT I AM FILLING THIS COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE I READ IN THE INTERNET THAT THERE A LOT NEGLICENCE ON THE SIDE OF THE ISUZU, AND IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF ISUZU'S OWNER IS GOING TO TAKE THIS MATTER TO COURT TO FIGHT BACK. REGIONAL SAFETY RECALL 10V-436. *TR
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 THEY GAVE ME THERE WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I TOOK IT TO IS IN CLOVIS CALIFORNIA. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 TURNED RIGHT ONTO HWY 52 HEADING EAST; WITHIN 500 FT , IN. THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH CROSS TRAFFIC DOING 45MPH MIN. ,TN HWY 109, I LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL, AND COULD NOT BRAKE AS I DRIFTED THRU A YELLOW SIGNAL LYING ON THE HORN AND THROWING MY HAZARDS ON. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT INTO THE MARCO LOT AND PARK AWAY FROM EVERYONE BY COASTING TO AN ALMOST STOP AND USING THE PARKING BRAKE. I HAD JUST HAD 5 NEW TIRES PUT ON THE SUV IN JUNE 2017, AND THERE WAS NOTHING NOTED ABOUT A POSSIBLE DEADLY FRAME ISSUE. I TOWER THE ISUZU TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP, KNOWING NOTHING ABOUT ANY RECALL ISSUES PRIOR. HE THOUGHT HE WOULD BE ABLE TO FABRICATE SOMETHING TO REPAIR IT. WHEN HE ACTUALLY LNSPECTED, SAID HE DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO REPAIR THE FRAMEWORK BECAUSE IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ENTIRELY,NOT SPOT MENDED WITH A PART. THE FRAME IS SO BAD THAT EACH TOUCH BRINGS CHUNKS OF RUSTY METAL FLAKES TO THE GROUND, AND THE RIGHT REAR HAS SEPARATED SO MUCH THE WHOLE VEHICLE LOOKS LIKE AN "S" PARKING BECAUSE IT IS NEAR THE COLLAPSE I AM THANKFUL I WAS NOT ON I65 AS I NORMALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN, IN 70 MPH ZONE, SINCE ID GE DEAD.I HAVE A REAL COMPLAINT THAT I AM BEING TOLD THE RECALL PERIOD IS OVER,AFTER INVESTING 5K BEFORE THE FRAMEWORK DIED.YES IT'S OLD, WITH ONLY150K MILES ON IT THOUGH, & NEVER KNEW OF A RECALL IN 2+YRS. I OWNED THIS ..WHY??
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 TURNED RIGHT ONTO HWY 52 HEADING EAST; WITHIN 500 FT , IN. THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH CROSS TRAFFIC DOING 45MPH MIN. ,TN HWY 109, I LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL, AND COULD NOT BRAKE AS I DRIFTED THRU A YELLOW SIGNAL LYING ON THE HORN AND THROWING MY HAZARDS ON. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT INTO THE MARCO LOT AND PARK AWAY FROM EVERYONE BY COASTING TO AN ALMOST STOP AND USING THE PARKING BRAKE. I HAD JUST HAD 5 NEW TIRES PUT ON THE SUV IN JUNE 2017, AND THERE WAS NOTHING NOTED ABOUT A POSSIBLE DEADLY FRAME ISSUE. I TOWER THE ISUZU TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP, KNOWING NOTHING ABOUT ANY RECALL ISSUES PRIOR. HE THOUGHT HE WOULD BE ABLE TO FABRICATE SOMETHING TO REPAIR IT. WHEN HE ACTUALLY LNSPECTED, SAID HE DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO REPAIR THE FRAMEWORK BECAUSE IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ENTIRELY,NOT SPOT MENDED WITH A PART. THE FRAME IS SO BAD THAT EACH TOUCH BRINGS CHUNKS OF RUSTY METAL FLAKES TO THE GROUND, AND THE RIGHT REAR HAS SEPARATED SO MUCH THE WHOLE VEHICLE LOOKS LIKE AN "S" PARKING BECAUSE IT IS NEAR THE COLLAPSE I AM THANKFUL I WAS NOT ON I65 AS I NORMALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN, IN 70 MPH ZONE, SINCE ID GE DEAD.I HAVE A REAL COMPLAINT THAT I AM BEING TOLD THE RECALL PERIOD IS OVER,AFTER INVESTING 5K BEFORE THE FRAMEWORK DIED.YES IT'S OLD, WITH ONLY150K MILES ON IT THOUGH, & NEVER KNEW OF A RECALL IN 2+YRS. I OWNED THIS ..WHY??
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING OUR ISUZU RODEO AT FREEWAY SPEED, OUR REAR PASSENGER TIRE (BRIDGESTONE DUELER 684) STEEL BELT CAME UNRAVELED AND PROCEEDED TO DESTROY OUR REAR LIGHTS, SIDE REAR PANEL AND BUMPER. THE TIRE NEVER LOST PRESSURE, IT SIMPLY CAME UNRAVELED. LUCKILY WE WERE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IF THIS HAD BEEN A FRONT TIRE WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 1998 ISUZU RODEO AND WAS RECENTLY DRIVING IT AND HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING MADE IT HOME THE TWO BLOCKS AND REALIZED MY ENGINE WAS SHOT BASICALLY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A AUTO MECHANIC AND HE HAS STATED THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF A SAFETY RECALL OR PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AND THE WAY THE OIL GETS TO IT NOT GETTING THERE FAST ENOUGH. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS SOME SORT OF A RECALL I JUST BOUGHT THIS LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND CAN NOT AFFORD 7,000 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM CAN YOU HELP?? *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN FILL CAR TO THE MAX WITH GASOLINE AT +2.00/GAL. I'LL DRIVE TO WORK ABOUT DRIVING 60 HIGHWAY MILES, THE GAS GAUGE READS HALF FULLED. IT WILL STAY AT HALF FULL FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 60 MILES THEN GO DOWN AS NORMAL. I MENTION THIS TO AUTO REPAIR GUYS AND THE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. SO IT MUST BE A MANUFACTURER MALFUNCTION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .