Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 2001 Isuzu Rodeo submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 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.
The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words
FUEL DELIVERY WENT OUT KILLING VEHICLE. FRAME COMPLETELY RUSTED REAR LINKS COMPLETELY GONE. ENGINE RANDOMLY LOSES POWER. WHILE TRAVELING TO WORK VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY, STARTED TICKING THEN ENGINE SHUT OFF. WON'T START. BATTERY TESTS GOOD ALTERNATOR JUST REPLACED A WEEK AGO. 2001 3.2L RODEO
STATIONARY AT PARK DRIVEWAY, WOKE UP EARLY MORNING TO GO TO WORK AS I GO TO MY CAR MY KEY REMOTE WILL NOT WORK I HAVE TO MANUALLY KEY IN CAR TO OPEN DOOR.PUT THE KEY AND START THE CAR NOTHING HAPPENED. FOUND OUT BATTERY WAS DEAD, BUY NEW ONE STILL NOT STARTING FOUND OUT THE ALTERNATOR NOR WORKING AND THE MAIN FUSE WAS BLOWN. REPLACED NEW FUSE AND ALTERNATOR AND TRY TO START, 15AMP FUSE BLOWN ON MY PANEL CLUSTER GAUGE NOT WORKING ALTHOUGH CAR START AND THE BATTERY WAS NOT CHARGING. EVERYTIME I PUT A NEW 15AMP FUSE FOR PANEL IT WILL BLOWN. I GUESS THERE MUST BE SOMETHING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR GROUND THAT BLOW FUSE ON PANEL AND ALSO NOT CHARGING THE BATTERIES. ANY HELP ON RECALL I HAD MY CAR FOR 15 YEARS I NEVER BEEN TO ANY RECALL ON THIS CAR.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY ENGINE SHUT OFF, THEN TURNED ON AGAIN , REVVING THE ENGINE UP AS THOUGH I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL HARDER. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT FIVE MILES FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD. HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN OFF AND ON AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS. WHEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS GO OFF I CAN HIT THE STEERING COLUMN JUST BELOW THE KEY AND THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART AND THE PANEL LIGHTS COME ON AGAIN. *TR
I WAS TURNING ONTO A STREET. THE STREET WAS COVERED IN OIL OR SOME TYPE OF SLICK ELEMENT. I SKIDDED AND FELL INTO A DITCH. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
MY 2001 ISUZU RODEO THAT I HAVE HAD FOR 9 YEARS HAS NEVER REALLY GIVEN ME ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS YEAR. THIS EXACT INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS NOW. I WILL BE DRIVING, THE SPEED DOES NOT MATTER, SOMETIMES IT IS 30, 50, OR 80 MPH, AND THE CAR WILL JUST START LOSING POWER. FIRST THE DASH AND ALL MY GAUGES WILL GO OUT, THEN THE MOTOR WILL START TO SOUND FUNNY AND START LOSING POWER. THEN AS I MAKE IT TO THE SIDE (THANKFULLY EVERY TIME) IT JUST STOPS RUNNING AND EVERYTHING SHUTS OFF. I TRY TO RE-CRANK IT AND IT WON'T TURN OVER. I WILL TURN MY FLASHERS ON AND EVEN THEN THEY RUN AT AN EXTREMELY REDUCED RATE AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. I HAVE REPLACED MY BATTERY, THE WIRING TO MY ALTERNATOR, MY ALTERNATOR, AND MY EGR VALVE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO FIX AND I NEED THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED SO I'M NOT SPENDING MONEY FIXING THINGS I DON'T NEED AND SPEND MONEY ON THE ACTUAL ISSUE GETTING FIXED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED, SLOWED DOWN, AND ATTEMPTED TO STALL. THE CONTACT NOTICED SOMETHING BOUNCING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THEN OBSERVED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. SHE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 125,000.
I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. 1. SERVO VALVE 12/2005, 2. DOOR LOCK, 2005, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, GAS METER PROBLEMS, REPLACE GAS TANK 1/2008, 3. REPLACE ALTERNATOR 9/2008, NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT WORKING NOR IS MY EGR AND EVAP SENSOR. I ONLY HAVE 58,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. ALSO ONE OF THE OEM BRAKE PADS FALL OUT OF THE HOLDING BRACKET AND GOT STUCK BETWEEN THE CALIPER AND THE ROTOR. NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS SUV. *TR
1. REAR SHOCKS WENT BAD AT 30,000 MILES COST 500.00 TO REPLACE. 2. MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH SMALL COMPONENTS BREAKING. 3. 6 DISK CHANGER BROKE AT 50,000 MILE 4. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AT 45,000 MILES- 2 CODES FOR EGR VALVE STUCK. 5. CAR STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE IN MOTION AND FINALLY JUST DIED. NEEDED NEW FUEL SENDING UNIT AT 55,000 MILES, COST $1,300.00 6. AIR CONDITIONER BROKE AT 60,000 MILES, NEEDS NEW COMPRESSOR AND CONDENSER, RECEIVED ESTIMATE FOR $1,200.00. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE REDUCED POWER AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND DECELERATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURES, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,135 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,130.
AT A LITTLE OVER 36,000 MILES I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS GAUGE. IT DROPS FROM FULL WITHIN 30 MILES, ONCE IT HITS A HALF TANK IT SPORADICALLY DROPS TO EMPTY, THE GAS LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT WILL GO BACK UP BUT THEN DROP AGAIN. WHEN I FILL THE TANK AT A READING OF 1/4 TANK I GET AN AVERAGE OF 8 GALLONS BEFORE THE PUMP SHUTS OFF. YET ACCORDING TO THE BOOK IT IS AN 18 GALLON TANK. NOW AT 40,000 ITS GETTING WORSE. I REGISTERED A 1/2 TANK AT THE PUMP SHUT OFF AT 2 GALLONS. *NM
PUSHROD AND CRANK DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WITH ONLY 62,566 MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ORIGIANL WARRANTY GUIDELINES. DUE TO THE FACT THIS VEHICLE WAS A PREVIOUS DAILY RENTAL , ISUZU REDUCED ORIGINAL WARRANTLY COVERAGE FROM 10YEARS/120,000 MILES TO 5YEARS / 60,000 MILES. IT SEEMS QUITE UNUSUAL THAT WHEN PURCHASING THE NEW MOTOR FOR THIS VEHICLE, THE DEALER SELLING THE MOTOR SAID HE'S SOLD THOUSANDS OF THESE - ALL WERE REPLACEMENTS FOR 98 AND UP RODEOS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM (RODS AND CRANK )
DT: CONTACT STATES VEHICLE LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE SERVICE DEALER DID REPAIRS 4 TIMES, BUT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THE PROBLEM RETURNED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART, AND FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE NEXT DAY, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK
ENGINE IDLING INCREASED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE/DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE RACING OF THE ENGINE GETS WORSE AND AN SMELLS OF OIL BURNING THE LONGER THE BRAKE IS PRESSED. *TC
I HAVE A 2001 ISUZU RODEO THAT I PURCHASED NEW ON FEBRUARY 21, 2001. IN MAY OF 2003, IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED A PROBLEM WITH THE EGR VALVE. AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY 2004, THE CAR WAS RUNNING ROUGH AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THE EGR VALVE HAD BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TYPE OF REFORMULATED GAS THAT WE USE HERE IN WISCONSIN AND WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THE EGR VALVE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD 53222 MILES, THE DEALER (RUSS DARROW KIA/ISUZU, 7676 N. 76TH ST., MILWAUKEE, WI. 53224; PHONE: (800) 688-6301) AND THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR, WHICH COST $555.38 (INCLUDING SALES TAX). I ASKED WHAT I COULD DO TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID THE ONLY THING I COULD DO WOULD BE TO HAVE THE EGR TUBE CLEANED EVERY YEAR. (THIS IS NOT LISTED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL AS RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE.) BECAUSE OF THE GAS AND LOCATION OF THE EGR, THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE SAME THING WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN EVEN WITH SUCH MAINTENANCE.*AK
I BOUGHT THE CAR A YEAR AGO BRAND NEW FROM MANUAL OLDS/ISUZU IN NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT, EACH TIME TELLING ME THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE A/C IS ON, THE COMPRESSOR TURNS ON AND OFF AND IS VERY LOUD. WHEN THE COMPRESSOR TURNS ON THERE IS A TERRIBLE RATTLING IN MY DASHBOARD. I EVEN HAD THE GENERAL MANAGER RIDE WITH ME AND HE HEARD THE NOISE AND TOLD ME THAT WAS NORMAL. I HAVE OWNED 2 OTHER BRAND NEW VEHICLES AND WHEN THE A/C WAS ON, #1 YOU COULDN'T HEAR THE COMPRESSOR CONSTANTLY SHUTTING ON AND OFF AND #2 WHEN THE COMPRESSOR DID TURN ON, I DID NOT HEAR ANY RATTLING NOISE OR ANY NOISE FOR THAT MATTER. THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND I HAVE NOT HEARD OTHER CARS DO THIS, ESPECIALLY A NEW VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHEN I HAD 4,000 MILES ON MY CAR. I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND I AM TIRED OF THE TREATMENT THEY ARE GIVING ME, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE HEARD THE NOISE THEMSELVES. I KNOW THAT I AM A FEMALE BUT I AM NOT SO IGNORANT TO ACTUALLY THINK THAT THIS IS NORMAL.
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, WHICH FORCED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER AND WAIT 20 MINUTES TO RESTART. THE DEALER HAD INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK *PH *JB
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *AK THE NOISE WAS INTERMITTENT AND WOULD USUALLY SOUND FOR 2-5 SECONDS. THIS WOULD OCCUR WHILE IN MOTION AND SOMETIME WHEN STATIONARY. THE DEALER HEARD THE SOUND(S) BUT DID NOT HELP. *SCC *JB
CONSUMER STATES AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE FOUR TIMES.
ENGINE CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING SINCE 4,700 MILES TO THE PRESENT. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
ENGINE PINGNS WHILE ACCELERATING. THIS SAME PROBLEM WAS REPORTED ON 1-26-01. RESPONSE WAS THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO ADJUST. NOW THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN THAT I NEED TO USE CHEVRON FUEL OF WHICH THAT IS WHAT I USE FOR MY TRUCK. I CAN PROVIDE RECEIPTS OF THIS IF NEEDED, BUT I NEED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM SINCE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MIDWAY SEEM TO THINK THAT IS NOT A SERIOUS PROBLEM ON THE TRUCK.M DO GASOLINE SERO. *AK
I AM WRITING TO NOTIFY YOU OF THE CONTINUING PROBLEMS I AM EXPERIENCING WITH MY 2001, ISUZU, RODEO (VIN [XXX], (SEE ENCLOSURES 1. & 2.), AND TO REQUEST RESOLUTION OF THESE PROBLEMS WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF YOUR RECEIPT OF THIS LETTER. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE 13 JANUARY 2001 FROM WEST LOOP DODGE, INC. IN FORT WORTH, TX WITH ASSISTANCE OF MY GRANDFATHER, REV. [XXX]. THE MODEL TEST-DRIVEN WAS IMPRESSIVE BECAUSE OF ITS MECHANICAL/FUNCTIONAL, WARRANTY AND SAFETY FEATURES. (SEE ENCLOSURES 3.) I WAS SOLD ON BUYING A RODEO AND I DID. HOWEVER, APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE RODEO, AND HAD DRIVEN IT TO COLLEGE STATION, HOUSTON AND BACK FOR TWO ROUND TRIPS; [XXX]., SALESMAN, INFORMED ME THAT THE INCORRECT VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS ON MY FINANCE PAPERS. (SEE ENCLOSURES 10.) SO, INSTEAD OF CHANGING VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS ON THE PAPERWORK, [XXX]. INSTRUCTED ME TO EXCHANGE THE VEHICLE IN MY POSSESSION FOR THE CORRECT IDENTICAL VEHICLE. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE COLOR AND THE LACK OF TINT ON THE BLACK RODEO WAS THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO VEHICLES. [XXX]. COMPENSATION FOR THE INCONVENIENCE OF DRIVING FROM COLLEGE STATION TO FORT WORTH WAS INSTALLING TINT (ROLANDS WINDOW TINTING 7800 HWY 80, SUITE 103 FORT WORTH, TX 76116) AND PROVIDING TWENTY DOLLARS FOR GAS. (SEE ENCLOSURE 4.) NEVERTHELESS, THREE MONTHS AFTER THE EXCHANGE, THE BLACK RODEO, CURRENTLY IN MY POSSESSION (ALTHOUGH REPRESENTED TO BE IDENTICAL TO THE SILVER VEHICLE THAT WAS TEST DRIVEN, PURCHASED, AND USED FOR 12 DAYS), NOW APPEARS TO BE A LEMON.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND, ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. UPON RESTARTING VEHICLE, ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ACCELERATE TO ANY SPEED ABOVE 25 MPH. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM OR DETERMINE A CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER WOULD NOTICE ENGINE IDLING HIGH. WHEN SHIFTING TO DRIVE MODE ENGINE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOUR TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. TECHNICIAN CAN'T FIND CAUSE. *AKVEHICLE STALLS WHEN FIRST STARTING IN MORNING OR WHEN SITTING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME ERRATIC IDLING, SHIFTING. NLM
ENGINE DIES, CRUISE CONTROL, ENGINE & CHECK LIGHT/TRANSMISSION LIGHTS COME ON AND BACKFIRES. RANDOM AND FREQUENT TIMES. *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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