RoadVitals

2003 Isuzu Rodeo Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
16
Latest Oct 7, 2018
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Oct 27, 2003

What this page shows

Our database holds 16 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 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.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–16 of 16

Fuel system
Filed Oct 7, 2018

THIS COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION REGARDING FUEL TANK RETENTION. THE FUEL TANK SHIELD ON THIS VEHICLE IS ROTTING AWAY DUE TO RUST AND ONE OF THE TWO FUEL TANK STRAPS HAS ALREADY BROKEN. THERE IS NO ACCESIBILITY TO AN OEM OR AFTERMARKET SHIELD, THE PART IS DISCONTINUED AND AFTERMARKET COMPANIES DO NOT PRODUCE IT AS FAR AS I CAN FIND. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, AND IT WOULD BE SERIOUSLY EXPENSIVE TO GET A NEW SHIELD MANUFACTURED BY A MACHINE SHOP. DUE TO A LACK OF RODEO'S ON THE ROAD, THERE ARE NO VIABLE OPTIONS I'VE FOUND AT LOCAL JUNKYARDS TO GET A REPLACEMENT SHIELD. WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED RECENTLY I NOTICED THE FUEL TANK CORROSION BUT WAS UNAWARE OF THE LAXK OF AVAILABILITY. THIS HAS TURNED INTO A MUCH MORE WORRYSOME AND PROBLEMATIC ISSUE THAN I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. I KNOW THIS ISSUE IS BEING LOOKED INTO ALREADY BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE MY COMPLAINT WAS ON FILE, AND TO POSSIBLY PROVIDE MORE INSIGHT AS TO WHY IT'S SUCH A LARGE ISSUE. IF THE OTHER STRAP BREAKS AS WELL IT WILL TURN INTO A MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE REPAIR.

NHTSA ID
11138931
Incident
Sep 25, 2018
Mileage
150,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 12, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568873
Incident
Mar 12, 2014
Body & structure
Filed May 21, 2013
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ISUZU RODEO. THE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A GUARD RAIL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRAME RAIL WAS ROTTEN AND CAUSED THE AXLE TO DETACH FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10513007
Incident
Mar 29, 2013
Mileage
88,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Jan 7, 2013

FRAME RUST PROBLEM IDENTICAL TO THE 2002 ISSUE MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10491757
Incident
Jan 7, 2013
Mileage
207,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 19, 2010

SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION OF FRAME. 2003 ISUZU RODEO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10331262
Incident
Jan 10, 2007
Mileage
40,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 25, 2009

THE "U" BRACKET WHICH PREVENTS THE DRIVE SHAFT FROM FALLING DOWN BROKE OFF AND SLID DOWN THE SHAFT AND WORE THE SHAFT DOWN AND MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10285225
Incident
Sep 24, 2009
Mileage
84,953 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 20, 2008

03 ISUZU RODEO 3.2L BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. TAKES A QUART EVERY 250 MILES. DONE EVERYTHING RECOMMENDED AT THE RECOMMENDED INTERVALS, OIL CHANGES, EGR VALVE, PCV VALVE, ECT. I AM VERY GOOD ABOUT CHANGING RECOMMENDED PARTS WHEN NEEDED. THIS ENGINE SHOULD NOT BE TAKING OIL. I DO NOT TOW OR REV OVER 5,000 RPM, EVER! OTHER ISUZU OWNERS HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THIS TO ME, THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ISUZU ENGINE. I NOW NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF 3,000 PLUS INSTALLATION LABOR CHARGES. THIS IS THE THIRD RODEO I HAVE HAD, GOOD LUCK WITH THE OTHER TWO, BUT NOT THIS ONE. IF THIS CANNOT BE RESOLVED, I WILL PURCHASE ANOTHER MODEL IN THE FUTURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10239068
Incident
Aug 20, 2008
Mileage
34,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 14, 2006

CONSUMER HAS TRIED TO HAVE RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON VEHICLE AND HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NO PARTS. *TS RECALL #05V466000. *JB

NHTSA ID
10154061
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 18, 2005

DT: 2003 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE DIED WHILE IN MOTION. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON . THE WHOLE DASHBOARD PANEL STARTED BLINKING. THIS OCCURRED IN SEPTEMBER 2004. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP , THEY CHANGED THE ODOMETER SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WORKED FOR A WHILE AFTER THAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN IN OCTOBER 2004, AND THEY CHANGED THE SAME PART. THE PART WORKED FROM THEN UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND THEY REPLACED THE SAME PART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER A FOURTH TIME, AND THEY SPRAYED SILICONE AROUND THE PART. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WAS WATER INSIDE THE SPEED SENSOR CONNECTOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
10140119
Incident
Sep 1, 2004
Mileage
10,251 mi
BrakesOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Sep 29, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT'S MOTHER HAD BOUGHT A CAR ON 9-23-05, AND SHE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF PROBLEMS. THE BRAKES WERE GRINDING AND SQUEALING. THE ALIGNMENT WAS SEVERELY OFF, AND THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OUT OF CENTER. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT ANY SPEED THE FRONT WHEELS STOPPED, AND IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS HITTING THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP TOOK IT AND FIXED NINE THINGS REGARDING THE WHEELS, THE BRAKES AND OTHER THINGS. SHE WAS NOT SURE EXACTLY. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE MOTION IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. SHE WANTED A NEW CAR. A MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE MANAGER THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10138113
Incident
Sep 23, 2005
Mileage
42,898 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 12, 2005

2003 RODEO ENGINE FAILUE AT 48K. ISUZU REFUSES TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY AND BLAMING ME FOR DAMAGE BECAUSE I CANNOT PRODUCE ALL OF MY OIL CHANGE RECIEPTS. MY 2000 RODEO ENGINE FAILED AT 35K AND ISUZU REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I AM AMAZED AT HOW MANY COMPLAINTS AND "OIL USAGE" POST I AM FINDING ON THE WEB FROM OTHER ISUZU OWNERS.

NHTSA ID
10125027
Incident
Jun 4, 2005
Mileage
48,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 7, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED A KNOCKING NOISE WAS PRODUCED FROM THE ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10095400
Incident
Oct 2, 2004
Mileage
17,742 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 29, 2004

2003 ISUZU RODEO 4CYL. PURCHASED NOV 28 2003. *AK

NHTSA ID
10064078
Incident
Jan 13, 2003
Mileage
20 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 2, 2004

THE RODEO WAS THREE MONTHS OLD WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE GAS MILEAGE WAS DECREASING AT AN ALARMING RATE. (LESS THAN 12 MILES PER GALLON) UPON TAKING THE RODEO TO THE SHOP I WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD A SEAL ON THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS LEAKING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO WORK HARDER, BURNING MORE GAS. ( I SAW NO OIL) THE SEAL WAS REPLACED BUT THE LEAK CONTINUED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT IT WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. IF THE VEHICLE WAS OLDER I WOULD HAVE DISMISSED THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO AGE. SINCE IT IS SO NEW I WONDERED IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THIS. MY RODEO IS AN AUTOMATIC.*AK

NHTSA ID
10060163
Incident
Jan 28, 2004
Mileage
3,703 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 2, 2004
Crash reported

2003 ISUZU RODEO 2WD- CHRONIC INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS W/IGNITION STICKING IN ON POSITION ON COLD START AND ENGINE REVVING HIGH AND HANGING HIGH 1700-2000 RPM'S, WITH COOLER DAMPER WEATHER, INTERMITTENT AND MORE FREQUENT IGNITION STICKING PROBLEMS GRADUATING TO IGNITION LOCK UP AFTER ENGINE STARTED: IGNITION LOCKS, CAN'T SHUT DOWN AND ENGINE CONTINUES TO REV AT HIGH RPM'S 2000-2200, UNANTICIPATED ENGINE POWER AND PROPULSION. 1/27/04, COLD START LATE AM, IGNITION STICKING IN ON POSITION, ENGINE REVVING HIGH, THEN DROPS SLOWLY, DROVE 45 MINS, PARKED ON WARM START MID-DAY, IGNITION LOCKED UP, CONTINUED GRINDING ON A STARTED ENGINE AND ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV TO 2200 RPM'S AND HANG HIGH, WITH EXCESSIVE POWER TO ENGINE. RPM DROPPED SLOWLY, ENGAGED IN REVERSE, TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE AND IMMEDIATELY PROPELLED BACKWARD AT UNEXPECTED SPEED ABOUT 1+ CAR LENGTHS INTO FENCE AND TREE. EXCESSIVE DAMAGE TO REAR OF VEHICLE. IZUSU DEALER, ROYAL OF TUCSON, AZ, ALLEGEDLY UNABLE TO DUPLICATE ON BOTH SERVICES, (683 MI & 4747 MI)SINCE INCEPTION BEFORE 683 MILES; UNWILLING TO WARRANTY REPAIR W/O DUPLICATION DESPITE EQUIPMENT FAILURE AND SAFETY ISSUES. OWNER SUSPECTS FAULTY ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONICS FAILING TO TRANSMIT FROM IGNITION TO MAIN COMPUTER, AND POSSIBLY IN BETWEEN. SYMPTOMS EXPERIENCED BY IZUZU W/ AUTO'S MANUFACTURED IN 1989-1993 IN AN ATTEMPTED RECALL EFFORT BY NAT'L HWY SAFETY COUNCIL- IGNITION/ECU DEFECTS CONFIRM SYMPTOMS CUSTOMER REPORTED TO ROYAL IZUSU DEALER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10019829
Incident
Jan 27, 2004
Mileage
7,162 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 27, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, INTERMITTENTLY CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND FELT A THUMPING SENSATION IN THE PEDAL. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE BRAKES NO LONGER WORKED PROPERLY. THE LAST TIME THE BRAKES FAILED VEHICLE HAD TO RIDE ON THE SHOULDER TO AVOID A COLLISION. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
10044829
Incident
Oct 16, 2003
Mileage
450 mi

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .