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1997 Isuzu Rodeo

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Isuzu Rodeo do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 89.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

41 reports with mileage · 77 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Wheels. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports0 fire reports10 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

16 reports
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10,000 miles · May 2, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkages

2006 I PURCHASED 1997 ISUZU RODEO. NOT LONG AFTER WE NOTICED ENGINE MADE A TICKING SOUND BROUGHT IT TO SHOP AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS NO OIL PRESSURE. WE HAD TO HAVE ENGINE REPLACED IT TOOK ABOUT 2 MONTHS. THEY HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE 2. FIRST ONE THEY INSTALLED WAS ALSO BLOWN. ENGINE STILL TICKS. THERE IS ALSO PROBLEMS WITH TH…

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2006 I PURCHASED 1997 ISUZU RODEO. NOT LONG AFTER WE NOTICED ENGINE MADE A TICKING SOUND BROUGHT IT TO SHOP AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS NO OIL PRESSURE. WE HAD TO HAVE ENGINE REPLACED IT TOOK ABOUT 2 MONTHS. THEY HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE 2. FIRST ONE THEY INSTALLED WAS ALSO BLOWN. ENGINE STILL TICKS. THERE IS ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE SUV WANTING TO ACCELERATE WHILE AT A STOP. SOMETIMES NOT EVEN HOLDING THE BREAK FIRM STOPS IT FROM ROLLING. THE HEATER CORE STARTED LEAKING ANTIFREEZE INTO THE VEHICLE. THE REPLACEMENT FEE JUST FOR THE PART IS 400.00. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328399

180,000 miles · Aug 4, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS IN THE CITY, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10164463

90,000 miles · Jun 4, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE QUITS RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WHEN ENGINE COLD OR HOT, IN DIFFERENT SEASONS AND WEATHER. TIMES BETWEEN EVENTS RANGES FROM A FEW MINUTES TO A FEW MONTHS, NO DISCERNABLE PATTERNS. ENGINE GENERALLY RESTARTS EASILY BUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AFTER STARTING. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER AND INDEPENDENT GARAGE WITH NO R…

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ENGINE QUITS RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WHEN ENGINE COLD OR HOT, IN DIFFERENT SEASONS AND WEATHER. TIMES BETWEEN EVENTS RANGES FROM A FEW MINUTES TO A FEW MONTHS, NO DISCERNABLE PATTERNS. ENGINE GENERALLY RESTARTS EASILY BUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AFTER STARTING. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER AND INDEPENDENT GARAGE WITH NO RESULTS; PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #10124182

82,381 miles · May 17, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT: TWO WEEKS AFTER BUYING A USED CAR, IT STARTED MAKING A NOISE AND ON THE WAY TO THE MECHANIC THE FAN BELT BROKE. AFTER THEY FIXED THE FAN BELT (ABOUT A WEEK AFTER) THE ENGINE FROZE. THE USED CAR LOT THAT THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE CAR FROM SAID SHE COULD NOT BRING THE CAR TO THEM BECAUSE SHE DID NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, A…

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DT: TWO WEEKS AFTER BUYING A USED CAR, IT STARTED MAKING A NOISE AND ON THE WAY TO THE MECHANIC THE FAN BELT BROKE. AFTER THEY FIXED THE FAN BELT (ABOUT A WEEK AFTER) THE ENGINE FROZE. THE USED CAR LOT THAT THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE CAR FROM SAID SHE COULD NOT BRING THE CAR TO THEM BECAUSE SHE DID NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND THEY DID NOT OFFER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER OF VEHICLE WILL NOT HELP. SHE HAS NO MONEY TO GET IT FIXED AND SHE CAN' T TAKE HER FATHER TO THE DOCTOR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10121201

77,019 miles · Sep 7, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE FLEX PIPE ON THE 1999 ISUZU RODEO DEVELOPED A LEAK.*MR THE FLEX PIPE IS A PART OF THE VEHICLE'S CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH IS COVERED BY AN 8 YEAR 80000 MILE FEDERAL EMISSION WARRANTY. SINCE THE FLEX PIPE IS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY THE CONSUMER BELIEVES IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WARRANTY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10089142

76,700 miles · Aug 12, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE WHEN DRIVING, AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE VEHICLE, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A LEAK WAS BEHIND A PIPE IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE DEALER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND ZONE A MANAGER WHO STATED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER FELT IF THE CATALYTIC CON…

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THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE WHEN DRIVING, AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE VEHICLE, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A LEAK WAS BEHIND A PIPE IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE DEALER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND ZONE A MANAGER WHO STATED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER FELT IF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE TO FAIL IT SHOULD BE COVERED, HOWEVER SINCE IT WAS THE PIPE THEY WILL NOT COVER THE FAILURE. *JB *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10083360

53,000 miles · Jun 7, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingWheels

THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WITH ONLY 53,000 MILES OF VERY EASY DRIVING AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE. NEEDS MAJOR REPAIRS AND HAVE REPLACED LUG NUTS EVERY TIME TIRES ARE ROTATED ETC. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10021222

Mileage unknown · May 29, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGEERS AUTOMATIC WINDOWS HAVE BROKEN. THE MIDDLE CONSOLE IS BROKEN. THE HOOKS FOR THE BACK SEAT DO NOT LATCH THE SEAT AND THE SEAT FLIES FORWARD DURING BRAKING (A DISTRACTING HAZZARD). THE ENGINE MAKES A TICKING NOISE. THE ENGINE SEEMS TO GET TOO HOT. THE ENGINE SEEMS TO SMELL OF OIL EVEN AFTER SHO…

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BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGEERS AUTOMATIC WINDOWS HAVE BROKEN. THE MIDDLE CONSOLE IS BROKEN. THE HOOKS FOR THE BACK SEAT DO NOT LATCH THE SEAT AND THE SEAT FLIES FORWARD DURING BRAKING (A DISTRACTING HAZZARD). THE ENGINE MAKES A TICKING NOISE. THE ENGINE SEEMS TO GET TOO HOT. THE ENGINE SEEMS TO SMELL OF OIL EVEN AFTER SHORT TRIPS. THE BELTS MAKE LOUD NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS JUST STARTING - I JUST HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE STATION AND THE SERVICE MAN SAID HE DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10020705

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TIME AFTER TIME,1997 ISUZU RODEO WHICH COSTING ME ABOUT 24000.00 DOLLARS WITH HIGH INTEREST,NOW PROBLEM WITH CRANK SHAFT STICKING OUT ABOUT 1 AND A HALF INCHES WHEN YOU MASH DOWN ON CLUTCH IN WHICH SERVICE MECHANICS SAY IT SHOULD NOT DO,AND THAT IT IS COMING OUT TOO MUCH. ABS LIGHT STAYS ON,TICKING SOUND CO…

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PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TIME AFTER TIME,1997 ISUZU RODEO WHICH COSTING ME ABOUT 24000.00 DOLLARS WITH HIGH INTEREST,NOW PROBLEM WITH CRANK SHAFT STICKING OUT ABOUT 1 AND A HALF INCHES WHEN YOU MASH DOWN ON CLUTCH IN WHICH SERVICE MECHANICS SAY IT SHOULD NOT DO,AND THAT IT IS COMING OUT TOO MUCH. ABS LIGHT STAYS ON,TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE LIKE THE VALVES. CAN NOT PAY ON IT GOOD BECAUSE I AM ALWAYS SPENDING MONEY TO TRY TO KEEP IT RUNNING. PAYMENT OF 384.00 DOLLARS PER MONTH FOR 5 YEARS. PURCHASED FROM THOMSON GEORGIA JEEP AND DODGE DEALERSHIP. BURNING OUT ALTERNATORS WHICH COST ME OVER 180.00 DOLLARS TWICE,COUPLE OF STARTERS,PICK-UP SWITCH,REAR END SQUEAKING,CRANK AND CAM SENSORS. IT HAS BEEN ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER AND I DO NOT HAVE THIS KIND OF MONEY TO KEEP SPENDING ON REPAIRS AND TRY TO MAKE PAYMENTS. MAKES ME WONDER WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT,AND WHAT ITS HISTORY WAS. EVEN HAS FOUL FUME ODORS A LOT. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10019031

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

HAD BRAKES COMPLETELY REPLACED 3 TIMES. MAKES WEIRD TRAIN-LIKE SOUND OVER 25 MPH; OVERHEATS WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT-NO ONE CAN FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG; AT NO PARTICULAR TIME, IF YOU SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, IT WON'T START BACK UP, TURN OVER, OR MAKE A SOUND EXCEPT FOR ALL THE DASH LIGHTS AN…

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HAD BRAKES COMPLETELY REPLACED 3 TIMES. MAKES WEIRD TRAIN-LIKE SOUND OVER 25 MPH; OVERHEATS WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT-NO ONE CAN FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG; AT NO PARTICULAR TIME, IF YOU SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, IT WON'T START BACK UP, TURN OVER, OR MAKE A SOUND EXCEPT FOR ALL THE DASH LIGHTS AND NOISES (BEEP BEEP BEEP); HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED-STUCK IN OVERDRIVE; STRONG ROTTEN-EGG ODOR SINCE PURCHASE; SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING; HAD ALTERNATOR REPLACED-WHEN YOU STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE AMMETER GOES DOWN-NOW IT IS DOING THAT AGAIN; DASH LIGTHS COME AND GO-GET DIMMER AND BRIGHTER FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE AC NEVER WORKED RIGHT. HEADLIGHTS GET DIM WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #765755

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.