Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 42 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports15 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
42 reports
109,000 miles · Jun 20, 2008
Structure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT WENT TO GET AN EXHAUST AT A MUFFLER SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS RUSTED. SHE NOTICED THAT THE TUBULAR STEP USED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED AND FELL OFF. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPR…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT WENT TO GET AN EXHAUST AT A MUFFLER SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS RUSTED. SHE NOTICED THAT THE TUBULAR STEP USED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED AND FELL OFF. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,000.
NHTSA ODI #10231707
Mileage unknown · May 17, 2007
Seat Belts
DRIVERS SEAT BELT POPS OUT OF LOCKING MECHANISM AT WILL. ALSO,SEAT BELT HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM LOCKING MECHANISM BY DRIVER'S ELBOW UNINTENTIONALLY WHILE DRIVING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10190988
180,000 miles · Jun 1, 2005
Power TrainFire
DT: VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED IN A FIRE. TRANSMISSION INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, AND DRIVER PULLED OVER AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE HAD A RECALL BUT CALLERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER, BUT CALLER COULDN'T REACH ANYONE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10123728
Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
AT LEAST SIX (6) TIMES THE ANTI-LOCK AND BRAKE LIGHTS STAYS ON. IT GIVES A FALSE INDICATION THAT THERE IS A BRAKE PROBLEM, WHEN IN FACT THE BRAKES ARE FINE. IN EVERY CASE THE PROBLEM IS THE SPEED SENSOR MUST BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT SHORTED OUT. IT BECOMES A VERY COSTLY BILL TO REPLACE THIS SENSOR EVERY OTHER YEAR. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10104917
Mileage unknown · May 20, 2004
Seat Belts
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 95V103009 NOTICE CONCERNING SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY FAILURE. AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE SEAT BELT BECAME UNDONE WHILE DRIVING ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO INSTALLED A GUIDE KIT, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK DEALER ONLY INSTALLED A GUIDE KIT INSTEA…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 95V103009 NOTICE CONCERNING SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY FAILURE. AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE SEAT BELT BECAME UNDONE WHILE DRIVING ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO INSTALLED A GUIDE KIT, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK DEALER ONLY INSTALLED A GUIDE KIT INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, WHICH LED TO THE SEAT BELT CONTINUE TO UNBUCKLE BY THEMSELVES. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10061535
140,460 miles · Feb 20, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineFire
COMING OFF OF THE INTWERSTATE, THE EMGINE COUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. A FIRE TRUCK HAD TO PUT THE FLAMES OUT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA ODI #10007838
Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2000
Unknown Or Other
NP SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: R15LT MS)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: R15LT MS )
NHTSA ODI #733334
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
NHTSA ODI #554261
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2000
Visibility
THE "RUSTED SHUT" REAR DOOR LOCKS AND REAR DOOR WINDOW ASSEMBLIES ARE/WERE A PROBLEM KNOWN TO AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT AN ISUZU DEALER YET THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER RELATIONS/SERVICE MANAGER DENIED THE PROBLEM EXISTED AND "BLAMED THE MESSENGER" SAYING THAT I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ENOUGH TO HAVE THE CRANK AND LOCK ASS…
Read full complaint
THE "RUSTED SHUT" REAR DOOR LOCKS AND REAR DOOR WINDOW ASSEMBLIES ARE/WERE A PROBLEM KNOWN TO AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT AN ISUZU DEALER YET THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER RELATIONS/SERVICE MANAGER DENIED THE PROBLEM EXISTED AND "BLAMED THE MESSENGER" SAYING THAT I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ENOUGH TO HAVE THE CRANK AND LOCK ASSEMBLIES REMOVED AND LUBRICATED ONCE EVERY YEAR OR TWO BECAUSE I LIVE IN A COLD, WET STATE. ADDITIONALLY, THE FAILURES TO BOTH DOORS FOR BOTH THE LOCK AND THE WINDOW CRANK ASSEMBLIES OCCURRED NOT JUST ONCE BUT TWICE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS AGENCY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS DEFECT BUT I FEEL BETTER HAVING REPORTED IT AND THE INCREDIBLY OFFENSIVE AND BAD FAITH BEHAVIOR OF ISUZU MOTORS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #717121
Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 1999
Power TrainFire
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY NOTICED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. RECALL 91V118000. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL GAUGES (DIP STICKS) INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT TO DESIGNED SPECIFICATIONS. THE GAUGE INDICATES THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID SHOULD BE ADDED WHEN IT IS AT THE CORRECT LEVEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: ADDING MORE TRANSMISSION FLUID THAN REQUIRED WILL CAUSETHE FLUID TO LEAK THROUGH THE FLUID LEVEL GAUGE TUBE ONTO THE MANIFOLD AS THEENGINE TEMPERATURE RISES. THIS CREATES A POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE OIL LEVEL GAUGE AND NOTIFY OWNERS TO USE ONLY THE SPECIFIED AMOUNT OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID.
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
1
EA95009 · Takata Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Mar 10, 1995 · Closed Aug 2, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
1991 Isuzu Rodeo Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration