Total Complaints
515 filings
ISUZU RODEO · model year
515 NHTSA complaints, 24 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2001ISUZURODEO carries 515 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 24 crashes, 3 fires, 16 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 2001 RODEO is structure:frame and members with 161 filings, followed by suspension (56) and suspension:rear (54). 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. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 2001 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.
Total Complaints
515 filings
Crashes Reported
24 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 161 |
| SUSPENSION | 56 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 54 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 28 |
| STRUCTURE | 17 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 15 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 12 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | 12 |
| TIRES | 10 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 9 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 9 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 9 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 8 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 7 |
SUSPENSION:REAR
ISUZU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2002 ISUZU RODEO AND MODEL YEAR 2002 ISUZU AXIOM VEHICLES, AND HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN 1998-2002 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES, THAT WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED, IN THE STATES OF MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND,
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE INFLATORS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULES HAVING THE WRONG AMOUNT OF GENERANT.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES WERE MANUFACTURED AND SHIPPED WITHOUT A NECESSARY COMPONENT KNOWN AS A CHECK VALVE PIN.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. DURING THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN FUEL RETURN HOSES, INCORRECT RUBBER MATERIAL FOR THE OUTER LAYER WAS USED.
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND OFF . WENT FOR INSPECTION TWICE PAID $99 DOLLARS FOR THE PLACE TO FIX FOR INSPECTION AND LIGHT IS BACK ON AGAIN. HE SAID THE AIR BAG MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND OFF . WENT FOR INSPECTION TWICE PAID $99 DOLLARS FOR THE PLACE TO FIX FOR INSPECTION AND LIGHT IS BACK ON AGAIN. HE SAID THE AIR BAG MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED
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
Mileage: 234,000
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
Mileage: 234,000
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
Mileage: 234,000
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, VEHICLE STARTED SWAYING IN THE BACK LIKE IT WAS HYDROPLANING. SAME THING HAPPENED ON WAY HOME. DIDN'T DRIVE IT DURING THE NEXT TWO DAYS, SAME THING HAPPENED THE NEXT TIME. ON FOURTH DAY, I NOTICED A BRACKET HAD COME APART FROM THE RUSTED FRAME. CAR WAS BOUGHT IN 2018, AND AM STILL PAYING FOR IT. DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL.
Mileage: 150,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE SERVICE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND KEPT REFERRING THE CONTACT TO DEALERS THAT NO LONGER SERVICED ISUZU VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
Mileage: 155,000
2004 ISUZU RODEO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE SHIELD THAT COVERS THE PLASTIC GAS TANK BEING ROTTED THROUGH. *LD *JS *JS THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL 13V-547. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED.*JS *JS
2004 ISUZU RODEO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE SHIELD THAT COVERS THE PLASTIC GAS TANK BEING ROTTED THROUGH. *LD *JS *JS THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL 13V-547. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED.*JS *JS
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND SOMETIMES BANG INTO GEAR. THE SHIFTER LINKAGES GET STUCK AND HAVE TO SHUT OFF CAR AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO UNJAM SHIFTER. WHEN GOING TO TAKE OFF REAR END JAMS UP.
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND SOMETIMES BANG INTO GEAR. THE SHIFTER LINKAGES GET STUCK AND HAVE TO SHUT OFF CAR AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO UNJAM SHIFTER. WHEN GOING TO TAKE OFF REAR END JAMS UP.
THE VEHICLE REAR SUSPENSION RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT WHILE DRIVING THE STABILIZING BAR DETATCHED WHILE VEHICLE WAS ON THE ROAD. THE FAILURE OCCURED AFTER RECALL REPAIR WAS PREFORMED 7 YEARS EARLIER. AT THIS POINT THE IZUSU COMPANY IS ONLY WILLING TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK AT 1888.00 US DOLLARS THW VEHICLE ONLY HAD 155000 MIL4ES AND IS 16 YEARS OLD. THE COMPANY INSPECTER STATED THAT THE RECALL FIX WAS ONLY A WAX WHICH I WAS NEVER ALERTED TO UNTILL AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURED. I THE COMPANY NOTIFIED ME OF THR RECALL FIX I WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE RESPONSIBLE STEPS TO FURTHER REINFORSE VEHICLE SUSPENION AS TI PREVENT AN UNSAFE HIGHWAY OCCUANCE.
Mileage: 155,000
I DRIVE A 2001 ISUZU RODEO. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000 MILES ON IT AND IS IN GREAT SHAPE. IT IS GARAGED YEAR-ROUND IN SOUTH BEND, INDIANA. I STARTED HEARING A GRINDING NOISE AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON LOOKING UNDER MY VEHICLE I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THE SHIELD THAT COVERS THE PLASTIC GAS TANK WAS ROTTED THROUGH. THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE GAS TANK IS NOW VISIBLE AND THE SHIELD IS THE PART THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE. I WENT TO A MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY AND HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT. WHEN THE MECHANIC PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT HE SAW EXTENSIVE RUST AND SOME ROT UNDER THE VEHICLE ON THE FRAME. HE STATED THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE SHIELD. AS OF RIGHT NOW IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE GAS TANKS SHIELD BEING ROTTED OUT. THE MECHANIC TRIED TO ORDER ME A REPLACEMENT BUT HIS SUPPLIER SAID THE PARTS ARE NO LONGER BEING MADE. THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET ONE WOULD BE FROM A JUNK YARD AND MOST OF THE PARTS IN THERE WOULD MOST LIKELY BE ROTTED AS WELL. AND FEEL WRONGED BY ISUZU. I WOULD L
Mileage: 111,000
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.
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.
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.
REAR STABILIZER BAR FELL OFF AT FRAME BECAUSE OF RUSTING WHILE DRIVING.
Mileage: 180,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THERE WAS A VIBRATION AND PULLING ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V436000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 182,000.
Mileage: 182,000
REAR SUSPENSION BROKE CAUSE FRAME TO TWIST. FRONT WHEELS WENT ONE WAY AND BACK WHEELS WENT ANOTHER WAY. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND THE REAR CONTROL ARM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BROKE, CAUSING ME TO GO INTO ANOTHER LANE. I WAS LUCKY AND THERE WAS NO VEHICLE IN THIS LANE. I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND WITH MY VEHICLE DOG- TRAILING I WAS ABLE TO VERY SLOWLY MANEUVER IT HOME. IT IS USELESS AND SITTING IN MY GARAGE AT PRESENT
Mileage: 130,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRAME UNDER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V436000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
Mileage: 57,000
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.