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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
118Owner complaints

Model-year median: 89.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1997 Isuzu Rodeo

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 118 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Structure: 32 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 16 reports
  • Wheels: 14 reports
  • Air Bags: 13 reports
  • Vehicle Speed Control: 11 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    82
    1994    176
    1995    97
    1996    118
    1997    478
    1998    550
    1999    274
    2000
    Compare all Rodeo years →

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

    What owners reported most

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

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.