IllustrationVEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSING A COLLISION .
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Rodeo years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
10–25K
025–50K
550–75K
975–100K
12100–150K
14150K+
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
What owners actually said
118 reportsWHILE MAKING A TURN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE TRUCK SUDDENLY STARTED TO REV AND ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND FLIPPED OVER ON FLAT PAVEMENT. *AK
DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONT END COLLISION, FRONT BUMPER GRILL HIT BY ANOTHER MOTORIST/WENT OVER DOUBLE YELLOW LINE, BOTH VEHICLES TRAVELING 25 MPH. *AK
DEFECTIVE VACUUM HOSE IN EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE VEHICLE HAD DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT, AND BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULDNT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN THE ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER SAID THE VEHICLE DIDN'T EXPERIENCE ENOUGH FORCE TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAG, BUT HAD OVER $8000 WORTH OF DAMAGES. *AK
VEHICLE ROLLED OVER WHEN MAKING WIDE TURN, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES.
IN 3 INCIDENTS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON A SLIGHT HILL AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WHILE NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE, CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO HIT A TREE. DLR CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, HEARD SQEAKY NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. *AK
WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING LOT, ENGINE STARTED RACING AND VEHICLE MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND WENT FULL THROTTLE FORWARD OVER SIDEWALK , HIT A PARKED VEHICLE AND PUSHED VEHICLE (2) FEET SIDEWAYS. DRIVER HAD TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND REMOVE KEY TO STOP VEHICLE. WAITING FOR INSURANCE AGENCY TO LOOK AT VEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.