IllustrationVEHICLE WOULD NOT START. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE/STARTER/CIGARETTE LIGHTER. *AK
1994 Isuzu Rodeo
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 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
Limited mileage data: 18 of 82 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 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
82 reportsTHIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE WINTER OF 1998 WHEN I FIRST MOVED FROM CALIFORNIA TO COLDER NEBRASKA AND NOW IN KENTUCKY. IT ONLY HAPPENS IN WINTER TIME AFTER A COLD START (NEVER GOT COLD ENOUGH IN CALIFORNIA). THE BRAKES ARE FROZEN FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMS UP AND THEN FINALLY GIVE SLOWLY. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE …
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THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE WINTER OF 1998 WHEN I FIRST MOVED FROM CALIFORNIA TO COLDER NEBRASKA AND NOW IN KENTUCKY. IT ONLY HAPPENS IN WINTER TIME AFTER A COLD START (NEVER GOT COLD ENOUGH IN CALIFORNIA). THE BRAKES ARE FROZEN FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMS UP AND THEN FINALLY GIVE SLOWLY. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE LEARNED TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE BY LETTING THE CAR WARM IDLE. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW INSTANCES AS IN THIS LAST WINTER WHERE I WAS IN A HURRY AND FORGOT TO LET IT WARM UP WITH THE RESULT OF GOING DOWNHILL AND NOT BEING ABLE TO BREAK AT WILL. I HAVE CHECKED WITH VARIOUS MECHANICS AND NONE HAD HEARD OF SUCH A CONDITION. AS I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DROP OFF THE CAR SO FAR LONG ENOUGH TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, I REALLY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. IF THERE HAS BEEN A DIAGNOSIS, SINCE I HAVE SEEN ANOTHER IDENTICAL COMPLAINT FROM SOMEONE FROM ALASKA ON THIS SITE, PLEASE ADVISE.*AK
MOTOR STAYS OVERHEATED.*AK THE WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT, AND BYPASS HOSE HAVE BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUES, VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCES HESITATION. CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF NOISY BRAKES, ROTORS WERE GLAZED, ROTORS, PADS, AND SEALS WERE REPLACED, BRAKES CONTINUE TO MAKE NOISE. BATTERY CABLE WAS CORRODED. VEHICLE LURCHES …
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MOTOR STAYS OVERHEATED.*AK THE WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT, AND BYPASS HOSE HAVE BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUES, VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCES HESITATION. CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF NOISY BRAKES, ROTORS WERE GLAZED, ROTORS, PADS, AND SEALS WERE REPLACED, BRAKES CONTINUE TO MAKE NOISE. BATTERY CABLE WAS CORRODED. VEHICLE LURCHES INTO REVERSE, FUEL INJECTOR WAS LEAKING AND CAUSED LONG CRANK, ALL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED. REAR DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE DUE TO LATCH STICKING. *SLC ALSO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS INOPERATIVE.*JB
ANY TIME I HAVE TIRES TAKEN OFF CAR , THE LUGS: NUTS: STUDS BREAK OFF. I HAVE HAD EVERY SERVICE PLACE TO TELL ME THEY DON'T LIKE WORKING ON ANY ISUZU BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE SPENT $500.00 REPLACING STUDS ON MY CAR. I WANT TO KNOW IF OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO WONDER HOW SAFE THESE CARS CAN B…
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ANY TIME I HAVE TIRES TAKEN OFF CAR , THE LUGS: NUTS: STUDS BREAK OFF. I HAVE HAD EVERY SERVICE PLACE TO TELL ME THEY DON'T LIKE WORKING ON ANY ISUZU BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE SPENT $500.00 REPLACING STUDS ON MY CAR. I WANT TO KNOW IF OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO WONDER HOW SAFE THESE CARS CAN BE. HAVE THERE BEEN REPPORT. *AK
THE MANUFACTURER SUPPLIED "STUDS" ARE MADE FROM AN INFERIOR METAL WHICH, OVER TIME WILL "SNAP OFF" WHILE DRIVING AND/OR SERVICING THE VEHICLE. MOREOVER, WHEN I REPLACED THE STUDS, I COULD ONLY USE THE SAME INFERIOR ISUZU STUDS TO REPLACE THE OLD ONES, BECAUSE I AM RESTRICTED TO ONLY USE THE ISUZU PARTS (NO OTHER PARTS WILL WORK…
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THE MANUFACTURER SUPPLIED "STUDS" ARE MADE FROM AN INFERIOR METAL WHICH, OVER TIME WILL "SNAP OFF" WHILE DRIVING AND/OR SERVICING THE VEHICLE. MOREOVER, WHEN I REPLACED THE STUDS, I COULD ONLY USE THE SAME INFERIOR ISUZU STUDS TO REPLACE THE OLD ONES, BECAUSE I AM RESTRICTED TO ONLY USE THE ISUZU PARTS (NO OTHER PARTS WILL WORK DUE TO AN INHERANT DESIGN). I HAD TWO STUDS SNAP OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 2 MINOR CHILDREN IN THE CAR CAUSING ME TO TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*AK
ON 2 OCCASIONS VEHICLE TOOK OFF WITHOUT FOOT ON ACCELERATOR AND SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR. CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES, BUT COULD NOT OVERRIDE ACCELERATION. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN OFF ENGINE AND COAST TO SIDE.*AK
LUG NUTS AND BOLTS ARE BRITTLE AND THREADS ARE BROKEN. BOLTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED.*AK
REAR DOOR LOCKS LOCK OR UNLOCK AT TIMES. WHEN CONSUMER FIRST BOUGHT VEHICLE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. BUT CURRENTLY, BOTH DOORS DO NOT LOCK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS WILLING TO FIX IT. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK ALSO, THE WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. *YH
CONSUMER HAS OWNED VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS. PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED 3 TIMES ALREADY, BUT IS REOCCURRING. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK REAR DOORS DO NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH WATER RUNNING DOWN INSIDE THE DOOR AND CORRODING THE LOCKING CONTROLS, DEALER INSTRUCTED CONSUMER TO…
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CONSUMER HAS OWNED VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS. PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED 3 TIMES ALREADY, BUT IS REOCCURRING. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK REAR DOORS DO NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH WATER RUNNING DOWN INSIDE THE DOOR AND CORRODING THE LOCKING CONTROLS, DEALER INSTRUCTED CONSUMER TO LUBRICATE THE DOORS IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS TO KEEP THE PROBLEM FROM REOCCURRING, HOWEVER 7-8 MONTHS LATER PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN, DEALER STATES THIS IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. RADIO HAS HAD INTERNAL FAILURE, SPEAKER HAS SHORTED, AND LIGHTER DEFORMED, POSSIBLY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH DRIVER'S REAR WHEEL FELL OFF WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. *AK ALL OF THE LIGNUTS AND ONE BOLT WERE MISSING ON LEFT REAR WHEEL WHEN THE DRIVER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE RIGHT AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS ALSO MISSING A LUG NUT. *YH
Official recalls
402V281000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Oct 15, 2002
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS, THE LATCH PLATE USED IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO DESIGN DIMENSIONS. IF THE SEAT BELT TONGUE IS INSERTED SLOWLY AT AN ANGLE INTO THE BUCKLE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TONGUE TO COME OUT OF THE BUCKLE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR HARD BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW BUCKLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MID-DECEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-643-4070.
97V034001 · Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator
Mar 7, 1997
AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITHIN THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR CAN CONTAIN MANUFACTURING ERRORS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL CHARGING OF THE VEHICLE'S ALTERNATOR, RESULTING IN ENGINE CONTROL MALFUNCTION, AND/OR EVENTUAL ENGINE STALL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR WITH A NEW REGULATOR.
96V170002 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Sep 17, 1996
THE LATCH PLATE USED IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO DESIGN DIMENSIONS. IF THE SEAT BELT TONGUE IS INSERTED SLOWLY AT AN ANGLE INTO THE BUCKLE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TONGUE TO COME OUT OF THE BUCKLE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR HARD BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW BUCKLE.
94V132000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Jul 19, 1994
CONSTANT EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSES THE CAMSHAFT SEAL END PLUG CAN BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS ALLOWS OIL TO LEAK FROM THE CAMSHAFT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE FROM OIL LEAKING ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL CAMSHAFT END SEAL PLUG RETAINER PLATES.
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
2RQ02009 · Seat Belt Latch Failures
Opened Apr 11, 2002 · Closed Dec 17, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts; Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
TAKATA/NISSAN/ISUZU HAVE DETERMINED THAT DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN (96V-170), SOME VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE CAMPAIGN. NISSAN WILL RECALL 92,500 MY1994 PATHFINDER AND D21 PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-125).ISUZU WILL RECALL 13,831 MY1994/1995 RODEO, AMIGO, TF AND PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-281) .ISUZU IS ALSO RECALLING 618 MY 1994 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES UNDER RECALL 02V-281 (THE HONDA PASSPORT IS MANUFACTURED BY ISUZU FOR HONDA AND IS SIMILAR TO THE ISUZU RODEO VEHICLE). THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
TAKATA/NISSAN/ISUZU HAVE DETERMINED THAT DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN (96V-170), SOME VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE CAMPAIGN. NISSAN WILL RECALL 92,500 MY1994 PATHFINDER AND D21 PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-125).ISUZU WILL RECALL 13,831 MY1994/1995 RODEO, AMIGO, TF AND PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-281) .ISUZU IS ALSO RECALLING 618 MY 1994 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES UNDER RECALL 02V-281 (THE HONDA PASSPORT IS MANUFACTURED BY ISUZU FOR HONDA AND IS SIMILAR TO THE ISUZU RODEO VEHICLE). THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
TAKATA/NISSAN/ISUZU HAVE DETERMINED THAT DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN (96V-170), SOME VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE CAMPAIGN. NISSAN WILL RECALL 92,500 MY1994 PATHFINDER AND D21 PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-125).ISUZU WILL RECALL 13,831 MY1994/1995 RODEO, AMIGO, TF AND PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-281) .ISUZU IS ALSO RECALLING 618 MY 1994 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES UNDER RECALL 02V-281 (THE HONDA PASSPORT IS MANUFACTURED BY ISUZU FOR HONDA AND IS SIMILAR TO THE ISUZU RODEO VEHICLE). THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Seat Belts
TAKATA/NISSAN/ISUZU HAVE DETERMINED THAT DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN (96V-170), SOME VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE CAMPAIGN. NISSAN WILL RECALL 92,500 MY1994 PATHFINDER AND D21 PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-125).ISUZU WILL RECALL 13,831 MY1994/1995 RODEO, AMIGO, TF AND PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-281) .ISUZU IS ALSO RECALLING 618 MY 1994 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES UNDER RECALL 02V-281 (THE HONDA PASSPORT IS MANUFACTURED BY ISUZU FOR HONDA AND IS SIMILAR TO THE ISUZU RODEO VEHICLE). THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Seat Belts
TAKATA/NISSAN/ISUZU HAVE DETERMINED THAT DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN (96V-170), SOME VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE CAMPAIGN. NISSAN WILL RECALL 92,500 MY1994 PATHFINDER AND D21 PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-125).ISUZU WILL RECALL 13,831 MY1994/1995 RODEO, AMIGO, TF AND PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-281) .ISUZU IS ALSO RECALLING 618 MY 1994 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES UNDER RECALL 02V-281 (THE HONDA PASSPORT IS MANUFACTURED BY ISUZU FOR HONDA AND IS SIMILAR TO THE ISUZU RODEO VEHICLE). THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
SQ96009 · Brush/grille Guard Campaign
Opened Jan 10, 1996 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
ADDITION INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE NATURE AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE SUBJECT BULLETIN.LOSS OF AN ITEM THIS SIZE WOULD HAVE SAFETY COSEQUENCES.THIS SQ IS OPENED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.