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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 →
118Owner complaints

Model-year median: 89.5

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
82
1994176
199597
1996118
1997478
1998550
1999274
2000
Compare all Rodeo years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Structure
32Engine And Engine Cooling
16Wheels
14Air Bags
13Vehicle Speed Control
11
All reported categories
Power Train
10Service Brakes, Hydraulic
8Unknown Or Other
8Electrical System
7Suspension
7Tires
5Visibility
4Fuel System, Gasoline
3Fuel System, Other
3Seats
3Equipment
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Parking Brake
2Child Seat
1Exterior Lighting
1Interior Lighting
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes
1Steering
1Visibility/wiper
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
10,000 miles · May 2, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkages

2006 I PURCHASED 1997 ISUZU RODEO. NOT LONG AFTER WE NOTICED ENGINE MADE A TICKING SOUND BROUGHT IT TO SHOP AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS NO OIL PRESSURE. WE HAD TO HAVE ENGINE REPLACED IT TOOK ABOUT 2 MONTHS. THEY HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE 2. FIRST ONE THEY INSTALLED WAS ALSO BLOWN. ENGINE STILL TICKS. THERE IS ALSO PROBLEMS WITH TH…

Read full complaint

2006 I PURCHASED 1997 ISUZU RODEO. NOT LONG AFTER WE NOTICED ENGINE MADE A TICKING SOUND BROUGHT IT TO SHOP AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS NO OIL PRESSURE. WE HAD TO HAVE ENGINE REPLACED IT TOOK ABOUT 2 MONTHS. THEY HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE 2. FIRST ONE THEY INSTALLED WAS ALSO BLOWN. ENGINE STILL TICKS. THERE IS ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE SUV WANTING TO ACCELERATE WHILE AT A STOP. SOMETIMES NOT EVEN HOLDING THE BREAK FIRM STOPS IT FROM ROLLING. THE HEATER CORE STARTED LEAKING ANTIFREEZE INTO THE VEHICLE. THE REPLACEMENT FEE JUST FOR THE PART IS 400.00. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328399

Mileage unknown · May 29, 1998
Latches/locks/linkages

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35-40MPH, THE HATCHBACK WOULD POP OPEN FOR NO REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 10 TIMES. ITS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. AT TIMES ONE CAN HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING TO UNLOCK LATCH. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC SAID NO PROBLEM TO FIND. HATCHBACK DID NOT POP OPEN AT DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #823790

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.