Isuzu Rodeo Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Isuzu Rodeo model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2008 drew the fewest (1) and the 1999 the most (550).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Service brakes | — | — |
| 2003 Among the fewest complaints |
16 | 3 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 17–19 |
| 1993 Among the fewest complaints |
34 | 1 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 16–17 |
| 2004 | 39 | 2 | Suspension | — | 17–18 |
| 1991 | 42 | 1 | Power train | — | 14–17 |
| 1992 | 80 | 0 | Power train | — | 14–17 |
| 1994 | 82 | 4 | Power train | — | 15–16 |
| 1996 | 97 | 0 | Wheels | — | 15–18 |
| 2002 | 101 | 2 | Structure | — | 16–18 |
| 1997 | 118 | 0 | Structure | — | 15–18 |
| 1995 | 176 | 1 | Wheels | — | 15–18 |
| 2000 | 274 | 3 | Structure | — | 16–19 |
| 2001 Among the most complaints |
389 | 4 | Structure | — | 16–18 |
| 1998 Among the most complaints |
478 | 4 | Service brakes | — | 16–20 |
| 1999 Among the most complaints |
550 | 3 | Service brakes | — | 16–20 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Isuzu Rodeo years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
1999 Isuzu Rodeo: 550 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 214 (39%); Fuel system 90 (16%); Suspension 85 (15%).
Reports mention 76 crashes, 8 fires, 34 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 78,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
1998 Isuzu Rodeo: 478 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 221 (46%); Structure 69 (14%); Suspension 59 (12%).
Reports mention 81 crashes, 2 fires, 31 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 100,000 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
2001 Isuzu Rodeo: 389 complaints
Most-reported: Structure 214 (55%); Suspension 115 (30%); Service brakes 23 (6%).
Reports mention 18 crashes, 3 fires, 12 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 110,000 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
The Isuzu Rodeo years with the fewest complaints
2003 Isuzu Rodeo: 16 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 4 (25%); Structure 4 (25%); Power train 2 (13%).
Reports mention 2 crashes. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 40,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
1993 Isuzu Rodeo: 34 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 5 (15%); Power train 4 (12%); Wheels 4 (12%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 3 fires, 5 injuries, 1 death. 1 recall campaign listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Isuzu Rodeo owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 39 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 70,000 |
| 2003 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40,000 |
| 2002 | 101 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 85,587 |
| 2001 | 389 | 18 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 110,000 |
| 2000 | 274 | 23 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 90,000 |
| 1999 | 550 | 76 | 8 | 34 | 1 | 78,000 |
| 1998 | 478 | 81 | 2 | 31 | 0 | 100,000 |
| 1997 | 118 | 17 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 125,000 |
| 1996 | 97 | 17 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 125,000 |
| 1995 | 176 | 28 | 1 | 34 | 3 | 117,000 |
| 1994 | 82 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 140,000 |
| 1993 | 34 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — |
| 1992 | 80 | 8 | 16 | 15 | 3 | — |
| 1991 | 42 | 2 | 15 | 4 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Isuzu Rodeo recalls
- ISUZU/REAR AXLE (1998–1999 model years; 213,736 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2000; 00V058000)
- REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKETS (1998–2002 model years; 149,992 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 2010; 10V436000)
- ENGINE:CAMSHAFT (8/82) (1993–1994 model years; 122,297 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 1994; 94V132000)
- ISUZU/ALTERNATOR (1994–1995 model years; 118,485 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 1997; 97V034001)
- ISUZU/ENGINE WIRE HARNESS (1998 model year; 55,475 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 1998; 98V170000)
All 16 Isuzu Rodeo recall campaigns · Isuzu Rodeo problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Isuzu Rodeo years FAQ
Which Isuzu Rodeo year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2008 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Isuzu Rodeo years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 1999, 1998 and 2001 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the service brakes. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Isuzu Rodeo problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the service brakes (586 of 2,477 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Isuzu Rodeo have?
NHTSA lists 16 recall campaigns covering the Isuzu Rodeo. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Isuzu Rodeo recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.