IllustrationTHE FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE IS RUSTED EXCESSIVELY AND IS DEEMED BY QUALIFIED MECHANICS AS NOT ROADWORTHY. ALL OTHER PARTS OF THE VEHICLE WORK PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE STILL LOOKS GREAT. *TR
1996 Isuzu Rodeo
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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: 11 of 97 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.
- Wheels. Review the 22 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 →
- Air Bags. Review the 11 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 reports2 fire reports9 injury reports
Suspension complaints
7 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXCESSIVE RUST WAS BUILDING UP UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V436000 (SUSPENSION:REAR) BUT THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE RECALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXCESSIVE RUST WAS BUILDING UP UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V436000 (SUSPENSION:REAR) BUT THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE RECALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD EXTEND THE RECALL TO LATER MODEL VEHICLES AS THE FAILURE WAS CONCURRENT WITH THE FAILURE. 150,000. UPDATED 9/16/11 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE GAS TANK LEAKED DUE TO THE RUSTING OF THE VEHICLE. THE GAS TANK SUPPORTS RUSTED OUT AND THE FRAME WAS CRUMBLING FROM THE RUST. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE WAS BEYOND REPAIR. UPDATED 11/02/11
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 ISUZU RODEO. THE FRAME WAS CORRODED AND COVERED WITH RUST. AFTER A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECK THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED AND COVERED WITH RUST. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE WAS NOT INCL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 ISUZU RODEO. THE FRAME WAS CORRODED AND COVERED WITH RUST. AFTER A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECK THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED AND COVERED WITH RUST. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.
WHEN DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING AND TICKING NOISE WITHIN THE FRONT END. ALSO, ABS LIGHT AND THE GAS LIGHT DID NOT WORK DURING LONG DRIVES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND SHUDDERS. THE CONDITION IS MORE OBVIOUS WHEN TURNS ARE MADE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE ROLLOVER DUE TO COLLISION, SEAT BELTS UNLATCHED DURING COLLISION.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE WAS FORCED TO MAKE A FAST TURN INTO OPPOSITE LANE, LOST CONTROL AND ROLLEDOVER, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *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.