Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 82 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Isuzu Rodeo. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 82 · page 1 of 4
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE RUSTING ON THE BASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE CAMSHAFT SEAL END PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE COMPONENT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 94V132000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUS RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,600 UPDATED 10/21/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE CAM SHAFT SEAL PLUG CAME OUT AGAIN CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ON THE EXHAUST, WHICH CAUSED SMOKE TO EMIT FROM THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 11/02/11
STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE REAR OF VEHICLE FROM 1997 TO PRESENT. DEALER COULD NEVER LOCATE SOURCE. *TR
GAS PEDAL BECOMES STUCK AND ACCELERATION CONTINUES. ACCELERATOR CABLE FROM PEDAL TO THROTTLE IS BECOMES STUCK OFTEN. I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE GAS PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES TO GET IT TO FREE UP. *TR
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WIRE HARNESS DETERIORATED DO TO EXCESSIVE HEAT, ROUTED TO CLOSE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO SHIFT AND DISABLING BOTH TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHTS. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 78K MILES ON IT AND WIRE COVERING/INSULATION SHOULD NOT BE LITERALLY BURNED AWAY WITH SUCH LOW MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *TR
FRAME RUSTED THROUGH ,UNINSPECTABLE, MOUNTS ON FRAME ARE VERY WEAK. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING OIL. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V132000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE). HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE RECALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND THE REPAIR WAS NEVER PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
REAR DRIVERSIDE TIRE (BF GOODRICH RADIAL LONG TRAIL T/A) ON AN ISUZU RODEO RAPIDLY SEPARATED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER 1-1/4 TIMES. ROOF OF THE VEHICLE CAVED IN AS WELL AS THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING HEAD INJURIES TO ONE OCCUPANT OF 5 IN THE VEHICLE. ALL 5 OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED INJURIES AND 2 REQUIRED HOSPITALIZED. *TR
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 1994 MITSUBISHI 3000 GTVR4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE BLEW UP ON THE HIGH WAY DUE TO LACK OF OIL. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED NY A LEAK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS HAPPENED A HALF AN HOUR AFTER HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IT WAS A RAINY DAY AND HE WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS COMPONENT IS UNDER SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 02V143001, AND THAT HE WOULD LIKE HIS VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL AT NO COST TO HIMSELF. *JB
ABOUT TWO DAYS AGO THE POWER WINDOWS ON MY RODEO SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING SO WE TOOK THE CONTROL OUT THINKING THAT MAYBE THE WIRES VIBRATED LOOSE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WHEN WE REMOVED THE CONTROL THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CONTROL OR THE WIRING THAT WE COULD SEE BY JUST LOOKING AT IT SO WE OPENED THE FUSE BOX THAT IS UNDER THE DASH AND FOUND THE FUSE THAT CONTROLLED THE WINDOWS. THE POWER WINDOW FUSE IS A LARGE BOX LOOKING THING(NOT A REGULAR FUSE) WITH A RED BUTTON IN THE MIDDLE THAT WAS POPPED OUT SO WE PUSHED THE BUTTON BACK IN AND THE WINDOWS BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. AFTER USING THEM FOUR OR FIVE TIME JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WORKED WE TURNED OF THE IGNITION AND DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. TODAY WHEN WE STARTED THE TRUCK EVERYTHING WAS FINE THEN AFTER LETTING IT RUN FOR 5-10 MINUTES I WENT TO GET INTO IT AND THE INSIDE WAS FULL OF SMOKE WE IMMEDIATELY TURN OFF THE TRUCK AND THEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE POWER WINDOW CONTROL ON THE DOOR WE REMOVED THE CONTROL AND THE WIRES WERE MELTED PRETTY BAD. WE THEN LOOKED IN THE FUSE BOX TO SEE IF THE FUSE HAD POPPED AGAIN AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUSE HAD STARTED BURNING AND WAS MELTED INTO THE FUSE BOX. WE TRIED TO REMOVE THE FUSE AND BECAUSE IT WAS SO BADLY MELTED INTO THE FUSE BOX IT CRUMBLED WHEN WE TRIED TO REMOVE IT. WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TAKE IT TO ANYONE TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE IT IS SATURDAY AND THE DEALER ISN'T OPEN TODAY. *NM
I WAS NORTH BOUND ON VIRGINIA 220 APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES WEST OF MARTINSVILLE, VA RETURNING FROM A FUNERAL IN NORTH CAROLINA. I EXPERIENCED A LOW FREQUENCY VIBRATION FOR A 3 OR 4 SECOND PERIOD THAT INCREASED IN AMPLITUDE UNTIL THERE WAS A VIOLENT EXPLOSION IN THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. I RECOVERED CONTROL OF THE CAR AND STEERED INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. I NOTICED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIRE DEBRIS IN THE LANE I WAS TRAVELING IN. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTED THAT THE DRIVERS FRONT TIRE HAD SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC TREAD AND CORD SEPARATION FAILURE. THE TIRE CONTINUED TO HOLD AIR PRESSURE. VIRGINIA STATE TROOPER E.J. O''CONNELL WITNESSED THE INCIDENT AND AFTERMATH AND PULLED IN BEHIND ME TO MAKE SURE I WAS UNINJURED. TROOPER O''CONNELL DEPLOYED FLARES AND PROVIDED TRAFFIC CONTROL WHILE I CHANGED THE TIRE. I PURCHASED THE TIRES IN NORTH CAROLINA IN LATE 2001 OR EARLY 2002 FROM A LOCAL BP GARAGE, GARYS BP ON HWY 64 IN LEXINGTON, NC. I DIDN'T RETAIN THE RECEIPT. I DIDN'T INSTALL THEM UNTIL 2005. THEY WERE IN DRY STORAGE IN THE LOFT ABOVE MY GARAGE. THE TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY 21,000 MILES ON IT WHEN IT FAILED. THE TIRES ON MY RODEO HAD 34 PSI COLD PRESSURE AND WERE NOT OVER INFLATED. *JB
NHTSA CAMPAIGN 94V132000; ISUZU ISSUED A CAM SHAFT RECALL ON THE ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL LEAKING OIL, EVEN AFTER REPAIRED TWICE FOR THAT RECALL.*AK
THROTTLE CABLE WAS CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO STAY ENGAGED AFTER RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. CONSUMERTHOUGHT IT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT. *AK *TC
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
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. SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET OVER THE PAST YEAR INDICATE THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE ISUZU V-6 AND HAS OCCURED WITH SIGNIFICANT REGULARITY. SO MUCH SO, SEVERAL WEBPAGES ARE DEVOTED TO THE PROBLEM.*AK
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
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 EITHER DOES NOT UNLOCK OR DOES NOT LOCK ( ABOUT 30-50% OF THE TIME ) EVEN AFTER BEING READJUSTED BY THE DEALER. THE HOOD LATCH IS A LOOSE FIT AND ALLOWS THE HOOD TO VIBRATE AND BOUNCE WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS.*AK
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 WAITING A FEW MINUTES USUALLY CLEARS THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS LEFT THE CAR STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY BUT SO FAR HAS NOT LED TO AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR TAILLIGHT OR FUSE IN THE CIRCUIT BUT DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT NATURE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE FAILING COMPONENT. I BROUGHT THIS TO A SHOP ONCE AND THEY SAID IT REQUIRED OPENING THE TRANSMISSION TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH DIFFERS FROM MY SHOP MANUAL.*AK
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 SPARK PLUG WIRES AND ONCE ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN A PLUG LOOSENED AND FAILED WHILE CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN PASS.*AK
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
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE/STARTER/CIGARETTE LIGHTER. *AK
THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE WINTER OF 1998 WHEN I FIRST MOVED FROM CALIFORNIA TO COLDER NEBRASKA AND NOW IN KENTUCKY. IT ONLY HAPPENS IN WINTER TIME AFTER A COLD START (NEVER GOT COLD ENOUGH IN CALIFORNIA). THE BRAKES ARE FROZEN FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMS UP AND THEN FINALLY GIVE SLOWLY. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE LEARNED TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE BY LETTING THE CAR WARM IDLE. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW INSTANCES AS IN THIS LAST WINTER WHERE I WAS IN A HURRY AND FORGOT TO LET IT WARM UP WITH THE RESULT OF GOING DOWNHILL AND NOT BEING ABLE TO BREAK AT WILL. I HAVE CHECKED WITH VARIOUS MECHANICS AND NONE HAD HEARD OF SUCH A CONDITION. AS I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DROP OFF THE CAR SO FAR LONG ENOUGH TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, I REALLY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. IF THERE HAS BEEN A DIAGNOSIS, SINCE I HAVE SEEN ANOTHER IDENTICAL COMPLAINT FROM SOMEONE FROM ALASKA ON THIS SITE, PLEASE ADVISE.*AK
MOTOR STAYS OVERHEATED.*AK THE WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT, AND BYPASS HOSE HAVE BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUES, VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCES HESITATION. CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF NOISY BRAKES, ROTORS WERE GLAZED, ROTORS, PADS, AND SEALS WERE REPLACED, BRAKES CONTINUE TO MAKE NOISE. BATTERY CABLE WAS CORRODED. VEHICLE LURCHES INTO REVERSE, FUEL INJECTOR WAS LEAKING AND CAUSED LONG CRANK, ALL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED. REAR DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE DUE TO LATCH STICKING. *SLC ALSO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS INOPERATIVE.*JB
ANY TIME I HAVE TIRES TAKEN OFF CAR , THE LUGS: NUTS: STUDS BREAK OFF. I HAVE HAD EVERY SERVICE PLACE TO TELL ME THEY DON'T LIKE WORKING ON ANY ISUZU BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE SPENT $500.00 REPLACING STUDS ON MY CAR. I WANT TO KNOW IF OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO WONDER HOW SAFE THESE CARS CAN BE. HAVE THERE BEEN REPPORT. *AK
THE MANUFACTURER SUPPLIED "STUDS" ARE MADE FROM AN INFERIOR METAL WHICH, OVER TIME WILL "SNAP OFF" WHILE DRIVING AND/OR SERVICING THE VEHICLE. MOREOVER, WHEN I REPLACED THE STUDS, I COULD ONLY USE THE SAME INFERIOR ISUZU STUDS TO REPLACE THE OLD ONES, BECAUSE I AM RESTRICTED TO ONLY USE THE ISUZU PARTS (NO OTHER PARTS WILL WORK DUE TO AN INHERANT DESIGN). I HAD TWO STUDS SNAP OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 2 MINOR CHILDREN IN THE CAR CAUSING ME TO TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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