Total Complaints
60 filings
ISUZU RODEO · model year
1991 ISUZU RODEO
60 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991ISUZURODEO carries 60 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 19 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1991 RODEO is power train:automatic transmission with 6 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (5) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 1991 RODEO. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
60
Complaints
2
Crashes
19
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 6 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080620STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT WENT TO GET AN EXHAUST AT A MUFFLER SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS RUSTED. SHE NOTICED THAT THE TUBULAR STEP USED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED AND FELL OFF. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,000.
Mileage: 109,000
20070517SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVERS SEAT BELT POPS OUT OF LOCKING MECHANISM AT WILL. ALSO,SEAT BELT HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM LOCKING MECHANISM BY DRIVER'S ELBOW UNINTENTIONALLY WHILE DRIVING. *AK
20050601FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
DT: VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED IN A FIRE. TRANSMISSION INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, AND DRIVER PULLED OVER AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE HAD A RECALL BUT CALLERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER, BUT CALLER COULDN'T REACH ANYONE.*AK
Mileage: 180,000
20050102SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
AT LEAST SIX (6) TIMES THE ANTI-LOCK AND BRAKE LIGHTS STAYS ON. IT GIVES A FALSE INDICATION THAT THERE IS A BRAKE PROBLEM, WHEN IN FACT THE BRAKES ARE FINE. IN EVERY CASE THE PROBLEM IS THE SPEED SENSOR MUST BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT SHORTED OUT. IT BECOMES A VERY COSTLY BILL TO REPLACE THIS SENSOR EVERY OTHER YEAR. *JB
20040305SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 95V103009 NOTICE CONCERNING SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY FAILURE. AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE SEAT BELT BECAME UNDONE WHILE DRIVING ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO INSTALLED A GUIDE KIT, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK DEALER ONLY INSTALLED A GUIDE KIT INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, WHICH LED TO THE SEAT BELT CONTINUE TO UNBUCKLE BY THEMSELVES. *LA
20030220FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
COMING OFF OF THE INTWERSTATE, THE EMGINE COUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. A FIRE TRUCK HAD TO PUT THE FLAMES OUT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.
Mileage: 140,460
20030220FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
COMING OFF OF THE INTWERSTATE, THE EMGINE COUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. A FIRE TRUCK HAD TO PUT THE FLAMES OUT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.
Mileage: 140,460
20030220FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
COMING OFF OF THE INTWERSTATE, THE EMGINE COUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. A FIRE TRUCK HAD TO PUT THE FLAMES OUT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.
Mileage: 140,460
20030220FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
COMING OFF OF THE INTWERSTATE, THE EMGINE COUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. A FIRE TRUCK HAD TO PUT THE FLAMES OUT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.
Mileage: 140,460
20030220FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
COMING OFF OF THE INTWERSTATE, THE EMGINE COUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. A FIRE TRUCK HAD TO PUT THE FLAMES OUT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.
Mileage: 140,460
20001017UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NP SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: R15LT MS)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: R15LT MS )
20000911FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
20000109VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE "RUSTED SHUT" REAR DOOR LOCKS AND REAR DOOR WINDOW ASSEMBLIES ARE/WERE A PROBLEM KNOWN TO AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT AN ISUZU DEALER YET THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER RELATIONS/SERVICE MANAGER DENIED THE PROBLEM EXISTED AND "BLAMED THE MESSENGER" SAYING THAT I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ENOUGH TO HAVE THE CRANK AND LOCK ASSEMBLIES REMOVED AND LUBRICATED ONCE EVERY YEAR OR TWO BECAUSE I LIVE IN A COLD, WET STATE. ADDITIONALLY, THE FAILURES TO BOTH DOORS FOR BOTH THE LOCK AND THE WINDOW CRANK ASSEMBLIES OCCURRED NOT JUST ONCE BUT TWICE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS AGENCY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS DEFECT BUT I FEEL BETTER HAVING REPORTED IT AND THE INCREDIBLY OFFENSIVE AND BAD FAITH BEHAVIOR OF ISUZU MOTORS. *AK
19991110FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY NOTICED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. RECALL 91V118000. *AK
19991009FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY
19990928FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND WITHIN MINUTES VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED BY FLAMES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
19990927UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY.
19990921POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION LEAK CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE AND EXPERIENCE A ROUGH IDLE, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (91V118000), CAUSING STRONG ODOR. *YC
19990921STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DOOR LOCKS FALLING OFF. *YC
19990907SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKES FAILED 3 TIMES; ALSO ABS LIGHT GOES ON/OFF. *AK
Compare 1991ISUZURODEO to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1991 ISUZU RODEO have?▼
The 1991 ISUZU RODEO has 60 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 19 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 ISUZU RODEO?▼
The most-complained component for the 1991 ISUZU RODEO is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1991 ISUZU RODEO safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.