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.
39
Latest Jan 9, 2006
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.
8%
of 478 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.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
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 1998 Isuzu Rodeo submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 39 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
The 25 most recent of 39, in the owner's own words
1998 ISUZU RODEO USED 5 LITERS OF OIL IN 4000 KMS AND SEIZED UP WITH OUT WARNING ON 30 DEC 05. THE OIL LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON ISUZU DEALERS SAID IT WON'T COME ON UNTIL VEHICLE IS OUT OF OIL. SO WHY PUT SENSORS ON THE TRUCK. ONLY 92000 KMS ON THE RODEO TALKED TO SATURN, ISUZU IN FREDRICTON AND GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS TOLD TO BAD SO SAD CHECK YOU OIL MORE BUT IF WE DO A RECALL ON EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION KEEP YOUR BILL AND WE MAY REFUND YOU. THE TRUCK DID NOT SMOKE OR LEAK OIL. THE OIL WAS CHECK 14 NOV 05. IT ALWAYS USED 1 LITRE EVERY 5000 KMS. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER IT WOULD NOT GET ANY WORSE. GUESS THEY WERE WRONG IT IS GOING TO COST ME $3700 TO FIX. THANKS ISUZU AND GM. *NM
NHTSA ID
10147310
Incident
Dec 30, 2005
Mileage
92,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 29, 2005
Fire reported
DT: THE CONTACT STATED H VEHICLE BURNED TO THE GROUND AFTER IT STALLED. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE LESS THAN TWELVE HOURS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID RESPOND. THE POLICE REPORT INDICATED THE FIRE WAS OF AN ELECTRICAL NATURE. *AK UPDATED 02/24/06. *JB
NHTSA ID
10146349
Incident
Dec 10, 2005
Mileage
98,651 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine+2 more
Filed Sep 22, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported
FAILURE OF ABS BRAKE SYSTEM, EVEN THOUGH DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM VIA RECALL; FUEL LEAK AT HOSE AND FUEL PUMP CONNECTION; FAILURE OF FUEL SENDING UNIT AND FUEL GAUGE.*AK
NHTSA ID
10093046
Incident
Sep 19, 2004
Mileage
80,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 17, 2004
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ENGINE WAS PRODUCING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. DEALER STATED THAT THE BEARING ROD FAILED WHICH CAUSED EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING, AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ID
10092565
Incident
Sep 9, 2004
Mileage
73,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 14, 2004
THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS CABLE IS DEFECTIVE. RECALL FOUND BY THE CONSUMER AND THE MANUFACTURE STATES THE REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE.
NHTSA ID
10092031
Incident
Sep 13, 2004
Mileage
131,257 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 27, 2004
ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC PLACED THE VEHICLE ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE CODE 401 CAME ON, INDICATING THAT EGR VALVE INSUFFICIENTLY FLOWED TO THE ENGINE. MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENGINE. THEN, CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
NHTSA ID
10089942
Incident
Aug 27, 2004
Engine
Filed Jun 28, 2004
CAR LOSES COOLANT AND OVERHEATS. ENGINE HAS BEEN PRESSURE-CHECKED AND DYE-CHECKED. THERE APPEAR TO BE NO LEAKS. AFTER FURTHER REPAIRS TO NO AVAIL, IT IS CONCLUDED THAT COOLANT IS ESCAPING VIA THE EXHAUST, AND THE HEADS NEED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 88,000 MILES, WHICH I AM TOLD IS VERY LOW TO HAVE SUCH A MAJOR PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ID
10078904
Incident
Aug 1, 2003
Mileage
80,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 19, 2004
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 01I002000 REGARDING TIMING BELT FAILURE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. IT HAS BEEN OVER SIXTY DAYS AND DEALER DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
10073923
Engine
Filed May 19, 2004
THE RECALL REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE TIMING BELT RECALL 01I002000 HASN'T BEEN AVAILABLE FOR OVER A MONTH, AND THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T KNOW WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE.*AK
NHTSA ID
10073855
Incident
Apr 12, 2004
BrakesEngine
Filed May 11, 2004
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL. DRIVER HAD TO HIT THE SIDE OF THE CURB TO STOP. MECHANIC REPLACED THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSOR. ALSO, IN JUNE OF 2003 ENGINE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT CAME OFF AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. *AK *NM
NHTSA ID
10066749
Incident
May 13, 2003
Mileage
63,000 mi
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 3, 2004
OWN A 1998 RODEO WITH APPROX 98,000 MILES. I KNOW IT'S HIGH MILEAGE AND OLDER MODEL, BUT HAVE ESSENTIALLY REBUILT ENGINE OVER PAST YEAR. NEW ALTINATER, STARTER, REPLACE PART OF EXHAUST, ALL BELTS, IDLER PULLEY JUST TO NAME A FEW. ISUZU DEALER WANTED $900 TO FIX ABS SYSTEM, BUT TWO RECALLS SEEM TO HAVE ALLEVIATED PROBLEM. A/C IS BROKEN AND THEY WANT $1000 TO FIX. SEEMS A CAR W/NO ACCIDENT HISTORY SHOULD HAVE ENITIRE A/C DEFECTIVE/BROKEN NOT JUST A COMPRESSOR OR FAN OR SOMETHING.. MOVED ON TO DIFFERENT DEALER IN AREA AND THEY SEEM TO BE BETTER TO DEAL W/, BUT THIS CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED IN THE 2 YRS I'VE OWNED IT YET I AM CONSTANTLY FIXING THE CAR. WHY IS THIS CAR FALLING APART...MAYBE THEY SHOULD MAKE THEM CHEAPER IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE SO DISPOSABLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
10060239
Incident
Mar 1, 2004
Engine
Filed Jun 23, 2003
PISTON ROD FAILURE. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN OR ABOUT JANUARY, 2003. THE ENGINE ON MY 1998 ISUZU RODEO BEGAN MAKING A LOUD CLANKING NOISE AND THE "CHECK OIL" LIGHT CAME ON. I ADDED A QUART AND THE NOISE SUBSIDED. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED THE NEXT DAY. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE NOISE RETURNED AND I ADDED TWO QUARTS OF OIL. THE NOISE DID NOT SUBSIDE AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR ITS REGULARLY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE THE NEXT DAY. THE OIL CHANGE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE ONLY TWO QUARTS OF OIL IN THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER LOCAL MECHANIC TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND HE TOLD ME THE NO. 1 PISTON ROD HAD FAILED. WHEN HE CALLED HIS PARTS DISTRIBUTOR FOR A QUOTE ON A NEW OR REBUILT ENGINE, THE DISTRIBUTOR SAID, "'98 RODEO ENGINE? LET ME GUESS, IT'S THE NO.1 ROD" AND STATED THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE ISUZU DEALER WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR AND HAD ALMOST ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE ISUZU DISTRICT MANAGER TO OFFER ANY "GOOD FAITH" ASSISTANCE. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE GENERALLY CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES, ALTHOUGH ISUZU RECOMMENDS CHANGING IT EVERY 5,000 MILES. I HAVE FULL SERVICE RECORDS AND ALMOST ALL MAINTENANCE (EXCEPT FOR SOME OIL CHANGES) WAS DONE AT THE DEALER. *NLM
NHTSA ID
10023583
Incident
Apr 30, 2003
Mileage
64,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 21, 2003
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MARCH 2003 BUT THE PART WAS SILL NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. PLEASE IDENTIFY THE PART. *NLM
NHTSA ID
10017294
Incident
Apr 21, 2003
Engine
Filed Mar 10, 2003
EVERY TIME I TOOK MY RODEO FOR AN OIL CHANGE, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO OIL SHOWING ON THE STICK (EVEN THOUGH IT WAS USUALLY CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES). TWO WEEKS AGO THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISE AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE!! ($9,000) I THINK THESE MOTORS ARE DEFECTIVE. THE MANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP CALLED THE FACTORY (TO SEE IF THEY MIGHT ASSUME SOME RESPONSIBILITY-I PROVIDED ALL OF MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS) ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE INFORMATION I RECEIVED AFTER EACH OIL CHANGE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO SEND ME TO A REPAIR FACILITY??!! THEY DIDN'T FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.*JB
NHTSA ID
10010215
Incident
Feb 5, 2003
Engine
Filed Mar 7, 2003
THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. SERVICE CENTER (NON-DEALER) REPORTS AFTER ANALYSIS THAT ANTI-FREEZE IS LEAKING FROM SPARK PLUGS AS A RESULT OF A CRACKED ENGINE HEAD. PARTS FOR REPAIR ON BACK ORDER, PERHAPS INDICATING A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM.*JB
NHTSA ID
10010107
Incident
Feb 24, 2003
Engine
Filed Mar 3, 2003
THE VEHICLE BURNED OIL FAST.*JB
NHTSA ID
10009650
Incident
Feb 24, 2003
Engine
Filed Feb 10, 2003
ENGINE BLEW AFTER LESS THAN 60K MILES IN 1998 ISUZU RODEO. REPAIRMAN TELLS ME IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINES BURNING 2 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 1500 MILES.
NHTSA ID
10005600
Incident
Feb 7, 2003
Engine
Filed Jan 16, 2003
ENGINE SEIZURE, SPUN BEARINGS DUE TO NO OIL. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT ISUZU SUGGESTS CHANGING OIL AT 7500 MILE INTERVALS, BUT ALSO CONSIDERS 1QT OIL USAGE PER 1000 MILES IS "ACCEPTABLE" USAGE FOR THE 3.2L V6 205HP ENGINE. TRUCK HOLDS 6 QUARTS OF OIL, AND I HAD OIL CHANGED BY REPUTABLE OIL CHANGE PLACES EVERY 5000 MILES. REPORTS OF 1QT OIL USAGE PER 800 MILES FAIRLY COMMON ON INTERNET AUTO BULLETIN BOARDS. DO THE MATH.
NHTSA ID
10002802
Incident
Jan 13, 2003
Mileage
69,500 mi
BrakesEngineFuel system
Filed Oct 24, 2002
Crash reported
ABS LIGHT CAME ON, DRIVING 35 MPH COULD NOT STOP SUDDENLY AND SLID INTO ANOTHER CAR CAUSING $2700 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND INSURANCE HAD LAPSED HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. FUEL GAUGE ALWAYS SHOWS LESS THAN REALLY IS EVEN WHEN FULL. CATALICTIC CONVERTER IS ALWAYS RATTLING. DT
NHTSA ID
768863
Incident
Aug 24, 2002
BrakesEngine
Filed Sep 12, 2001
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL ISSUE, THE DEALER STATED THAT AN OIL CHANGE WAS NEEDED, HOWEVER CONSUMER HAD JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS. *SLC
NHTSA ID
563019
Incident
Aug 5, 2001
Engine
Filed Sep 10, 2001
WHEN EVER VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP ENGINE WILL DIE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID OF BEING REAR ENDED.*AK
NHTSA ID
896137
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Jul 2, 2001
PRIOR TO RECALL 01I002, TIMING BELT BROKE CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, AS A RESULT OF THE DAMAGED CAUSED CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REBUILT, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL SERVICES COMPLETED, TIME MISSED FROM WORK, TRANSPORTATION, AND EMOTIONAL STRESS. *ET
NHTSA ID
561828
Incident
May 11, 2001
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jun 26, 2001
Crash reported
ENGINE IDLE WAS RESOLVED BY DEALER. PROBLEM VALVE COVER LEAK. SHIFTER ON NATL BACKORDER. *AK
NHTSA ID
747392
Incident
Nov 26, 2000
Engine
Filed Jun 6, 2001
THE FIRST INCIDENT I REPORTED FOR THE WATER PUMP FAILURE, I KEPT HEARING A RATTLE AND AIR ESCAPING SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE WATER PUMP HAD FAILED AND LEAKED ONTO THE TIMING BELT CAUSING IT TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE NEXT INCIDENT WITH THE TIMING BELT IN JUNE, 2000 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND HAD STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE RODEO JUST STOPPED RUNNING AND WOULD NOT START UP AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE TIMING BELT AND THEY HAD JUST REPLACED IT 23,000 MILES AGO. IT WAS COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY HAD TO BASICALLY REBUILD THE ENGINE AND REPLACED MANY ITEMS. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE TIMING BELT BREAKING. THE THIRD INCIDENT WITH THE TIMING BELT HAPPENED THIS MORING ON MY WAY TO WORK I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING AND I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. ISUZU SAYS IT IS THE TIMING BELT AGAIN AND IT IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE AND I WILL PROBABLY END UP PAYING OUT OF MY OUW POCKET TO HAVE THE REPAIR COMPLETED THIS TIME.*AK
NHTSA ID
746497
Incident
Jun 2, 2000
EngineTransmission
Filed Dec 17, 2000
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, THE MAJOR PROBLEMS HAVE INCLUDED THE MUFFLER SYSTEM BEING REPLACED, FRONT CRANK AND REAR MAIN SEALS LEAKING AND BEING REPLACED, TRANSMISSION BEING TOALLY REPLACED AT 57K AND NOW OUR TIMING BELT HAS SNAPPED CAUSING $4,000 IN DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR. OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT TIMING BELT DOES NOT NEED TO BE CHECKED UNTIL 75K THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 67K. WE LOST THE TRANSMISSION AND THE MOTOR ON I-20 IN LOUISIANA GOING AT A RATE OF 70MPH, BOTH TIMES BEING LEFT STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE EARLY IN THE AM. BOTH INCIDENTS HAVE PUT MY FAMILY IN DANGER AND I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT IF EITHER HAD OCCURRED LATER IN THE DAY IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK
NHTSA ID
737904
Incident
Dec 2, 2000
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