ISUZU RODEO SPORT · model year

1998 ISUZU RODEO SPORT

13 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998ISUZURODEO SPORT carries 13 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 1998 RODEO SPORT is suspension with 3 filings, followed by service brakes, air:antilock:abs warning light (1) and electrical system:wiring: rear compartment/trunk (1). 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 1998 RODEO SPORT. 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.

13
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

13 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SUSPENSION3
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS1
SUSPENSION:REAR1
STEERING1
WHEELS1

Recent Complaints

20170731STEERING

I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2.5 YEARS. ON JULY 1, 2017, I WAS TURNING LEFT IN A 30 MPH ZONE OF HIGHWAY 52 IN TN, AND HEARD A CRACK AND WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE 'THUMP' WHEN RUNNING OVER SOMETHING. I CAREFULLY GUIDED THE CAR TO THE R OADSIDE, PARKED, AND INSPECTED THE ROIAD BEHIND ME, ALL TIRES, AND CRAWLED BENEATH TO INSPECT.I COULD FIND NOTHING, SO PROCEEDED WITH CAUTION, ONLY TO PULL OVER AGAIN TWICE WITNIN BUSINESS PARKING LOTS TRYING TO PINPOINT WHERE THE ISSUE WAS CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS. AFTER NOT SEEING ANYTHING STILL, I TURNED RIGHT ONTO HWY 52 HEADING EAST; WITHIN 500 FT , IN. THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH CROSS TRAFFIC DOING 45MPH MIN. ,TN HWY 109, I LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL, AND COULD NOT BRAKE AS I DRIFTED THRU A YELLOW SIGNAL LYING ON THE HORN AND THROWING MY HAZARDS ON. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT INTO THE MARCO LOT AND PARK AWAY FROM EVERYONE BY COASTING TO AN ALMOST STOP AND USING THE PARKING BRAKE. I HAD JUST HAD 5 NEW TIRES PUT ON THE SUV IN JUNE 2017, AND

20170731SUSPENSION

I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2.5 YEARS. ON JULY 1, 2017, I WAS TURNING LEFT IN A 30 MPH ZONE OF HIGHWAY 52 IN TN, AND HEARD A CRACK AND WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE 'THUMP' WHEN RUNNING OVER SOMETHING. I CAREFULLY GUIDED THE CAR TO THE R OADSIDE, PARKED, AND INSPECTED THE ROIAD BEHIND ME, ALL TIRES, AND CRAWLED BENEATH TO INSPECT.I COULD FIND NOTHING, SO PROCEEDED WITH CAUTION, ONLY TO PULL OVER AGAIN TWICE WITNIN BUSINESS PARKING LOTS TRYING TO PINPOINT WHERE THE ISSUE WAS CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS. AFTER NOT SEEING ANYTHING STILL, I TURNED RIGHT ONTO HWY 52 HEADING EAST; WITHIN 500 FT , IN. THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH CROSS TRAFFIC DOING 45MPH MIN. ,TN HWY 109, I LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL, AND COULD NOT BRAKE AS I DRIFTED THRU A YELLOW SIGNAL LYING ON THE HORN AND THROWING MY HAZARDS ON. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT INTO THE MARCO LOT AND PARK AWAY FROM EVERYONE BY COASTING TO AN ALMOST STOP AND USING THE PARKING BRAKE. I HAD JUST HAD 5 NEW TIRES PUT ON THE SUV IN JUNE 2017, AND

20170731WHEELS

I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2.5 YEARS. ON JULY 1, 2017, I WAS TURNING LEFT IN A 30 MPH ZONE OF HIGHWAY 52 IN TN, AND HEARD A CRACK AND WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE 'THUMP' WHEN RUNNING OVER SOMETHING. I CAREFULLY GUIDED THE CAR TO THE R OADSIDE, PARKED, AND INSPECTED THE ROIAD BEHIND ME, ALL TIRES, AND CRAWLED BENEATH TO INSPECT.I COULD FIND NOTHING, SO PROCEEDED WITH CAUTION, ONLY TO PULL OVER AGAIN TWICE WITNIN BUSINESS PARKING LOTS TRYING TO PINPOINT WHERE THE ISSUE WAS CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS. AFTER NOT SEEING ANYTHING STILL, I TURNED RIGHT ONTO HWY 52 HEADING EAST; WITHIN 500 FT , IN. THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH CROSS TRAFFIC DOING 45MPH MIN. ,TN HWY 109, I LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL, AND COULD NOT BRAKE AS I DRIFTED THRU A YELLOW SIGNAL LYING ON THE HORN AND THROWING MY HAZARDS ON. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT INTO THE MARCO LOT AND PARK AWAY FROM EVERYONE BY COASTING TO AN ALMOST STOP AND USING THE PARKING BRAKE. I HAD JUST HAD 5 NEW TIRES PUT ON THE SUV IN JUNE 2017, AND

20121001SUSPENSION

NOT LONG AGO I LEARNED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ISUZU RODEO 1998 TO 2000. SO FAR I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY DEFECTS IN MY CAR, BUT ONLY A MECHANIC CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE. THE CAR THAT I HAVE IS AN ISUZU SPORT RODEO 1998 AND IT FALLS IN THE RECALL. I WONDER HOW SAFE WILL BE TO DRIVE THIS CAR, SINCE I HAVE TO COMMUTE ABOUT 50 MILES EVERY DAY 5 DAYS A WEEK. THE REASON THAT I AM FILLING THIS COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE I READ IN THE INTERNET THAT THERE A LOT NEGLICENCE ON THE SIDE OF THE ISUZU, AND IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF ISUZU'S OWNER IS GOING TO TAKE THIS MATTER TO COURT TO FIGHT BACK. REGIONAL SAFETY RECALL 10V-436. *TR

Mileage: 170,000

20121001STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

NOT LONG AGO I LEARNED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ISUZU RODEO 1998 TO 2000. SO FAR I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY DEFECTS IN MY CAR, BUT ONLY A MECHANIC CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE. THE CAR THAT I HAVE IS AN ISUZU SPORT RODEO 1998 AND IT FALLS IN THE RECALL. I WONDER HOW SAFE WILL BE TO DRIVE THIS CAR, SINCE I HAVE TO COMMUTE ABOUT 50 MILES EVERY DAY 5 DAYS A WEEK. THE REASON THAT I AM FILLING THIS COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE I READ IN THE INTERNET THAT THERE A LOT NEGLICENCE ON THE SIDE OF THE ISUZU, AND IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF ISUZU'S OWNER IS GOING TO TAKE THIS MATTER TO COURT TO FIGHT BACK. REGIONAL SAFETY RECALL 10V-436. *TR

Mileage: 170,000

20121001SUSPENSION:REAR

NOT LONG AGO I LEARNED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ISUZU RODEO 1998 TO 2000. SO FAR I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY DEFECTS IN MY CAR, BUT ONLY A MECHANIC CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE. THE CAR THAT I HAVE IS AN ISUZU SPORT RODEO 1998 AND IT FALLS IN THE RECALL. I WONDER HOW SAFE WILL BE TO DRIVE THIS CAR, SINCE I HAVE TO COMMUTE ABOUT 50 MILES EVERY DAY 5 DAYS A WEEK. THE REASON THAT I AM FILLING THIS COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE I READ IN THE INTERNET THAT THERE A LOT NEGLICENCE ON THE SIDE OF THE ISUZU, AND IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF ISUZU'S OWNER IS GOING TO TAKE THIS MATTER TO COURT TO FIGHT BACK. REGIONAL SAFETY RECALL 10V-436. *TR

Mileage: 170,000

20120704SUSPENSION

FRAME AND REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH . *JS

Mileage: 49,000

20071117ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAVE A 1998 ISUZU RODEO AND WAS RECENTLY DRIVING IT AND HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING MADE IT HOME THE TWO BLOCKS AND REALIZED MY ENGINE WAS SHOT BASICALLY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A AUTO MECHANIC AND HE HAS STATED THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF A SAFETY RECALL OR PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AND THE WAY THE OIL GETS TO IT NOT GETTING THERE FAST ENOUGH. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS SOME SORT OF A RECALL I JUST BOUGHT THIS LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND CAN NOT AFFORD 7,000 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM CAN YOU HELP?? *TR

Mileage: 100,000

20060416TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING OUR ISUZU RODEO AT FREEWAY SPEED, OUR REAR PASSENGER TIRE (BRIDGESTONE DUELER 684) STEEL BELT CAME UNRAVELED AND PROCEEDED TO DESTROY OUR REAR LIGHTS, SIDE REAR PANEL AND BUMPER. THE TIRE NEVER LOST PRESSURE, IT SIMPLY CAME UNRAVELED. LUCKILY WE WERE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IF THIS HAD BEEN A FRONT TIRE WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. *NM

20060314SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

I HAVE A 98 ISUZU RODEO THAT HAD A RECALL DONE IN JANUARY 2004 (ON THE EHCV COIL INTEGRATED MODULE FOR MY ABS) AT BRALEY & GRAHAM IN BEAVERTON, OR. I TOOK CARE OF THIS RE-CALL, EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT HAVING ANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT SINCE I HAD RECEIVED THE PAPER WORK ON THIS, I DID THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND HAD IT TAKEN CARE OF. THIS PART, AFTER LESS THAN TWO YEARS, HAS GONE BAD AGAIN AND ISUZU IS TELLING ME THAT THIS IS MY PROBLEM (THE PART IS ONLY GUARANTEED FOR 1 YEAR). THIS IS A PART, THAT I AM BEING TOLD, BY A REPUTABLE MECHANIC, SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN FOR THE LIFE OF THIS CAR. THE ABS IS NOT WORKING AT THIS TIME. AS OF YET THERE ARE NO ACCIDENTS (I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY BRAKES HAVE REVERTED BACK TO WHAT REGULAR BRAKES ARE) BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE AMOUNT OF BRAKING THAT I DID HAVE. I AM BEING TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT I TOOK IT INTO TO RUN THE DIAGNOSTIC, THAT THIS WILL COST ME A HUGE (+$1000) AMOUNT TO REPAIR A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BAD I

20050506FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

WHEN FILL CAR TO THE MAX WITH GASOLINE AT +2.00/GAL. I'LL DRIVE TO WORK ABOUT DRIVING 60 HIGHWAY MILES, THE GAS GAUGE READS HALF FULLED. IT WILL STAY AT HALF FULL FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 60 MILES THEN GO DOWN AS NORMAL. I MENTION THIS TO AUTO REPAIR GUYS AND THE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. SO IT MUST BE A MANUFACTURER MALFUNCTION.

Mileage: 100,000

20041204SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT

I GOT TWO RECALLS ON MY 1998 ISUZU RODEO AND WHEN I WENT TO TAKE IT TO GET IT REPAIR EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND AFTER I TOOK IT IN IT SEEMS LIKE WHAT THEY WORKED ON GOT WORST. THEY WORKED ON REWIRING THE REAR DEFROSTER AND AFTER THAT IT HASN'T WORK SINCE ALSO THEY DID SOMETHING TO THE ABS AND NOW THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON. THE SAD PART TO THIS IS THAT I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT DID THE WORK ON IT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT NIETHER HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALLS THAT THEY HAD WORKED ON BUT THOSE WERE THE RECALLS I HAVE THE PAPER WORK THAT THEY GAVE ME THERE WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I TOOK IT TO IS IN CLOVIS CALIFORNIA. *AK

20041204ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK

I GOT TWO RECALLS ON MY 1998 ISUZU RODEO AND WHEN I WENT TO TAKE IT TO GET IT REPAIR EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND AFTER I TOOK IT IN IT SEEMS LIKE WHAT THEY WORKED ON GOT WORST. THEY WORKED ON REWIRING THE REAR DEFROSTER AND AFTER THAT IT HASN'T WORK SINCE ALSO THEY DID SOMETHING TO THE ABS AND NOW THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON. THE SAD PART TO THIS IS THAT I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT DID THE WORK ON IT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT NIETHER HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALLS THAT THEY HAD WORKED ON BUT THOSE WERE THE RECALLS I HAVE THE PAPER WORK THAT THEY GAVE ME THERE WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I TOOK IT TO IS IN CLOVIS CALIFORNIA. *AK

Compare 1998ISUZURODEO SPORT to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 ISUZU RODEO SPORT have?
The 1998 ISUZU RODEO SPORT has 13 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 ISUZU RODEO SPORT?
The most-complained component for the 1998 ISUZU RODEO SPORT is SUSPENSION with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK.
Is the 1998 ISUZU RODEO SPORT 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.