RoadVitals

1994 Isuzu Rodeo Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Jul 11, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
17%
of 82 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Isuzu Rodeo submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Jul 11, 2011

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

NHTSA ID
10411773
Incident
Jan 26, 2011
Mileage
168,600 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 19, 2008

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.

NHTSA ID
10249285
Incident
Nov 17, 2008
Mileage
158,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 3, 2005

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

NHTSA ID
10113377
Incident
Mar 1, 2005
Mileage
132,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 6, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10052483
Incident
Aug 15, 1998
Engine
Filed Jul 5, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10025440
Incident
Feb 2, 2001
Mileage
70,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 23, 2002

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE/STARTER/CIGARETTE LIGHTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
567717
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Apr 29, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
8008803
Incident
May 15, 2001
Engine
Filed Apr 13, 2000

THE DRIVER'S SIDE CAMSHAFT END PLUG WAS LEAKING OIL. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS, BUT THE DEALER SAID THAT MY CAR WASN'T COVERED. THE FIX WAS SUPPOSEDLY A PLATE INSTALLED OVER THE PLUG, WHICH MY CAR HAS, SO I SUPPOSE IT WAS INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. I REMOVED THE PLUG AND HAVE NOTICED THAT THE LIP IS NOT SYMMETRIC ALL THE WAY AROUND THE SEAL, INDICATING THAT THE PLUG IS DEFECTIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE MY PASSENGER SIDE PLUG, BUT I CANNOT REACH IT DUE TO A BRACKET. I CANNOT TELL WHETHER OR NOT THAT SIDE IS LEAKING. HALL ISUZU OF NEWPORT NEWS LOOKED UP MY VIN AND STATED THERE WAS NO OUTSTANDING RECALL ON THIS ITEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
721406
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 1, 1998

OIL LEAKS FROM THE CAMSHAFT.

NHTSA ID
701035
Incident
Jun 3, 1995
Engine
Filed Aug 13, 1998

WHEN POPPED THE HOOD TO GET OIL CHANGE,-THE MECHANIC SHOWED CONSUMER THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID
826681
Incident
Jul 15, 1996
Engine
Filed Apr 1, 1998

ENGINE LEAKING OIL ONTO SPARK PLUGS CAUSING DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID
533480
Incident
Jan 30, 1995
Body & structureEngine
Filed Jan 9, 1998

ENGINE OIL LEAK AROUND THE SPARK PLUG AREA, UNABLE TO RECTIFY LEAKAGE.

NHTSA ID
520464
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+5 more
Filed Aug 31, 1995

REPLACED REAR DEFROSTER TWICE.

NHTSA ID
483558
Incident
Aug 31, 1995
EngineTransmission
Filed Feb 1, 1995

ENGINE; THE LIGHT COME ON AND TRY TO CHANGE GEAR AND CAN'T DO THAT. TT

NHTSA ID
959429
Incident
Jan 30, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .