2002 Isuzu Rodeo Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2002 Isuzu Rodeo. The contact recently became aware of severe corrosion on the frame of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V436000 (Suspension) approximately 10 years ago. The contact believed that the recall repair should have covered more than just the rear suspension and that the entire subframe should have been included. The vehicle was taken to two independent Collision Centers and was advised that the cost of repair exceeded the value of the vehicle, and the vehicle was declined to be repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 91,819.

NHTSA ID

11724093

Incident

Dec 2, 2025

Mileage

91,819 mi

The contact owns a 2002 Isuzu Rodeo. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that as she was coasting to the right to stop on the shoulder, she observed that there was smoke in the cabin. The contact stated that after she stopped, she opened the driver's side passenger door and saw that smoke was emitting from under the passenger seat, which had been folded over in "cargo mode." The contact lifted the seat and saw that the seat back was melted, with a black spot in the center. The contact stated that she had a cooler in the back that was full of water, and she poured all of it behind and under the seat. The contact saw that the water evaporated. The contact then checked out outside of the vehicle to see if there was any heat source. The contact observed that flames had formed under the rear driver's side wheel well. The contact stated that a person who lived in the house near where she had stopped had observed what was happening and came out with a fire extinguisher and extinguished the fire. The fire department was not called. The contact had the vehicle towed to her residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V466000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) due to the location of the fuel tank, which was located on the driver's side rear, by the rear wheel well. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

NHTSA ID

11687710

Incident

Sep 13, 2025

Mileage

117,000 mi

The contact's son owns a 2002 Isuzu Rodeo. The contact stated while driving downhill at 40 MPH around a curve with a child sitting in the rear seat, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond. Additionally, the contact stated that upon turning the steering wheel, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact continued driving until the vehicle responded. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while her son was driving the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the subframe was severely fractured. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V436000 (Suspension) had previously been completed on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 105,370.

NHTSA ID

11488067

Incident

Feb 5, 2022

Mileage

105,370 mi

Frame rust condition which makes the SUV un repairable

NHTSA ID

11441833

Incident

Nov 10, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED OUT. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11006500

Incident

Jul 19, 2017

Mileage

88,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION NEAR THE AXLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM AN UNKNOWN RECALL CAMPAIGN BECAUSE NEBRASKA WAS NOT CONSIDERED A SALT BELT STATE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE OF COMPONENTS POTENTIALLY FRACTURING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 10/18/17*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

11006348

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

TAKATA AIR BAG, MY 2002 RODEO AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, ON THE DASHBOARD, I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID ITS NOT PART OF THE RECALLS, IT IS A VEHICLE MADE BY HONDA AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALLS, ITS THE SAME VEHICLE AS THE HONDA PASSPORT JUST A DIFFERENT YR AND ITS A FLORIDA REGISTERED AUTOMOBILE, HOW CAN I GET HELP WITH THIS AIRBAG PROBLEM, I SHOULDNT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS DUE TO DEFECTS AND RECALLS.

NHTSA ID

10944627

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

Mileage

180,000 mi

I HAVE 110,000 MILES ON VEHICLE AND WAS JUST TOLD FRAME IS RUSTING OUT. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THIS CAR HAS MANY MILES LEFT ON ENGINE, NOT HAPPY ABOUT RUSTED FRAME I HAVE HEARD ABOUT , ALSO ABS LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON.

NHTSA ID

10943961

Incident

Jan 5, 2017

Mileage

110,000 mi

I PULLED INTO A HANDICAP PARKING SPOT IN FRONT OF A SUPERMARKET, PUT IT IN PARK, SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. GOT OUT OUT VEHICLE, LOCKED THE DOORS. STARTED TO WALK AWAY AND A GUY THAT WAS SITTING AT A TABLE IN FRONT OF STORE YELLED THERE GOES YOUR CAR. I RAN BESIDE THE CAR TO TRY TO OPEN THE DOOR TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR CRASHED BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND WAS TOLD BY THEM TO CALL INSURANCE COMPANY AND TO LEAVE IF BOTH VEHICLES WERE OKAY TO DRIVE. I FEEL THE PARK GEAR FAILED AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE JUST IN PARK A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

NHTSA ID

10883746

Incident

Jul 8, 2016

Mileage

133,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A FUEL ODOR WAS NOTICED AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10854199

Incident

Oct 13, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

"TAKATA RECALL " MY STABILIZER BAR UNDER MY CAR BROKE OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE THRUWAY I ALMOST CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I RAN OFF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID

10837399

Incident

Feb 20, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING CALL AND STEERING SUDDENLY SEEMED "FUNNY". PULLED OVER, HAD CAR TOWED AND WAS TOLD THE MOUNTING BRACKET FOR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SWAY BAR RUSTED FROM THE MAINFRAME OF THE CAR AND THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN. RESEARCHED ON WEB AND ISUZU HAD A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. CALLED HONDA AND THEY SUGGESTED WE TOW THE CAR OVER 110 MILES TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. IF AT THAT TIME THEY INSPECTED IT AND DETERMINE ISUZU IS AT FAULT THE MAY OR MAY NOT OFFER ANY COMPENSATION. I FEEL IT IS UNREASONABLE TO REQUIRE ME TO TOW THE CAR 110 MILES. I EXAMINED RECEIPTS FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND ISUZU ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS CAR. THE CAR WAS INSPECTED ON 11/10/11 AND THIS WAS TYPED ON THE RECEIPT: CAU INSPECT FOUND STAGE 1. TREAT PER RECALL. COMPLETE OPERATES AS DESIGN. LABELED A STAGE 1 FIX. OBVIOUSLY, THEY DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. SINCE ISUZU HAS RECALLED THIS CAR DO I HAVE ANY OPTIONS? IS THERE A CLASS LAWSUIT AGAINST ISUZU?

NHTSA ID

10811033

Incident

Dec 16, 2015

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10758936

Incident

Jun 30, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

ONLY A FEW WEEKS AFTER VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WHILE DRIVING THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE LITERALLY CRACKED AND SEPARATED. THE REAR PASSENGER FRAME PIECE WAS HANGING DOWN AND FORWARD! WE WERE SO GRATEFUL THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN JUST A FEW MILES BEFORE WHEN WE WERE ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT 70MPH. WE COULD HAVE DIED! *TR

NHTSA ID

10638059

Incident

Jul 31, 2014

Mileage

89,000 mi

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY TRACTION BAR FELL OFF CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO THE CURB. THE WHOLE FRAME IS ROTTING OUT I HAD NO IDEA OF THE RECALL UNTIL I LOOKED INTO IT NOW. HOW CAN I GET MY TRUCK FIXED? *TR

NHTSA ID

10609974

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

164,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU RODEO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AREA WHERE THE REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS WERE ATTACHED TO THE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V436000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,899 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10563389

Incident

Sep 11, 2012

Mileage

74,899 mi

WHILE TRAVELING ON A ROAD, A HORSE RAN ACROSS AND CAUSED A COLLISION. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IS DAMAGED, AS WELL AS, BOTH SIDE WINDOWS AND THE RADIATOR. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING INJURIES TO TWO PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE. THE OFFICER AT THE SCENE SAID THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEFINITELY DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10553570

Incident

Nov 24, 2013

VEHICLE STALLS IN SLOW TURNS, REDUCED POWER LIGHT COMES ON ONCE EVERY THREE WEEKS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10520172

Incident

Mar 6, 2007

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUB-FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 148,381.

NHTSA ID

10509262

Incident

Apr 19, 2013

Mileage

148,381 mi

TODAY WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY. MY ISUZU RODEO STARTED TO SWAY ON THE HIGHWAY. AND WHEN I LET OFF THE GAS THE REAR END BEGAN CLUNKING AS IT SLOWED. IT FEELS LIKE IM TOWING DEAD WEIGHT. I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION AND IT WAS SMOKING UNDER THE REAR END. ITS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE IS SOMETHING MAJOR WRONG WITH THE REAR END OF THE CAR. I BRING MY CAR IN EVERY 2 1/2 MONTHS SINCE I TRAVEL ALOT, TO GET CHECKED UP AND THE OIL CHANGED. I HAVE NOT HAD AND ISSUE AND IF I DID I WOULD FIX THEM. AFTER READING THE STORIES ONLINE ABOUT THE REAR END RECALL I FEEL I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. AT THE MOMENT I HAVE NO CAR AND IM STUCK AT WORK. AND NEED INFO HOW TO GET MY CAR RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE. SINCE ITS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10500643

Incident

Feb 27, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V436000 (SUSPENSION: REAR). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE FRAME AND BRACKETS WERE FOUND TO BE CORRODED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE REAR FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND EXHIBITED HOLES, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FAIL THE STATE INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,146 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111, 6000.

NHTSA ID

10490302

Incident

Oct 19, 2012

Mileage

111,146 mi

THE FRAME OF MY 2002 ISUZU RODEO HAS SIGNIFICANT FRAME RUST, CAUSING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10470693

Incident

Aug 15, 2012

Mileage

114,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ERRONEOUSLY DRIFT TO ONE SIDE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE MOVED INTO THE SHOULDER, CRASHING INTO THE BARRIER WALL ABRUPTLY. THE CONTACT WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND THE CONTACT'S FOOT LANDED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AS HE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS.THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE AS THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO A TREE BEFORE FLIPPING. THE SEAT BELTS DETACHED FROM ITS HOUSING UNIT AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO THE HEAD, FACE, PELVIS AND SPINE. A PASSENGER WAS ALSO INJURED AND BOTH THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10443695

Incident

May 18, 2011

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V436000 (SUSPENSION:REAR) THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE SUSPENSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE LIGHT COULD HAVE BEEN INDICATING THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE SHOCK ABSORBERS OR ONE OF THE SENSORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 152,000.

NHTSA ID

10442199

Incident

Dec 19, 2011

Mileage

152,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR SUSPENSION MOUNTING BRACKET FRACTURED AND THE WHEEL WAS DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE SINCE THE BRACKET WAS A PART OF THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER: 10V436000 ( SUSPENSION:REAR), NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10427893

Incident

Sep 29, 2011

Mileage

130,000 mi