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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.

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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

What owners actually said

118 reports
150,000 miles · Dec 20, 2009
Structure

REGULAR FRAME REPAIR TO 1997 RODEO. JULY IS MY INSPECTION MONTH AND FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS IT HAS BECOME FRAME REPAIR TIME, IT NEVER ENDS. IS ANYTHING BEING DONE ABOUT A RECALL ON RODEO & PASSPORT FRAMES? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10296475

84,000 miles · Jul 16, 2008
Structure

FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO A RUSTED OUT FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234528

157,000 miles · Feb 11, 2008
Structure

I HAVE A '97 ISUZU RODEO. I HAVE KEPT IT IN GOOD SHAPE. THE FRAME OF THE CAR HAS CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE THE FRAME HAS BROKEN. I AM SO GLAD THIS WAS DISCOVERED BY MY TECHNICIAN. IF THIS HAD FULLY COME APART ON THE ROAD IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I AM SURE OURS IS NOT THE ONLY RODEO TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THESE T…

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I HAVE A '97 ISUZU RODEO. I HAVE KEPT IT IN GOOD SHAPE. THE FRAME OF THE CAR HAS CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE THE FRAME HAS BROKEN. I AM SO GLAD THIS WAS DISCOVERED BY MY TECHNICIAN. IF THIS HAD FULLY COME APART ON THE ROAD IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I AM SURE OURS IS NOT THE ONLY RODEO TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THESE THINGS ARE TIMEBOMBS ON THE ROAD! SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO COMPENSATE OWNERS OF THESE CARS. THE FRAME OF THE CAR SHOULD NOT JUST COME APART! THIS WILL KILL PEOPLE ON THE ROADS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217676

59,000 miles · Nov 2, 2006
Structure

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT 18,000 MILES, ALL ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT A LOCAL SERVICE STATION; THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AN INDEPENDENT BODY SPECIALIST INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE FRAME WAS BEYOND RE…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT 18,000 MILES, ALL ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT A LOCAL SERVICE STATION; THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AN INDEPENDENT BODY SPECIALIST INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE FRAME WAS BEYOND REPAIR. THE CONTACT WROTE TO THE MANUFACTURER, BUT A RESPONSE HAD NOT BEEN RECEIVED. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOT ALERTED. *AK UPDATED 12/01/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10172463

180,000 miles · Aug 4, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS IN THE CITY, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10164463

130,000 miles · Nov 1, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlInjury

I STARTED THE CAR AND NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS SURGING. I THOUGHT IF I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, I COULD QUELL THE ENGINE. THE CAR BOLTED IN REVERSE OUT OF MY GARAGE, ACROSS THE BACK ALLEY, DOWN A DRAINAGE DITCH EMBANKMENT BEHIND BY HOUSE AND UP THE OTHER SIDE. I ENDED UP IN THE FIELD BEHIND MY HOUSE. I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CA…

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I STARTED THE CAR AND NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS SURGING. I THOUGHT IF I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, I COULD QUELL THE ENGINE. THE CAR BOLTED IN REVERSE OUT OF MY GARAGE, ACROSS THE BACK ALLEY, DOWN A DRAINAGE DITCH EMBANKMENT BEHIND BY HOUSE AND UP THE OTHER SIDE. I ENDED UP IN THE FIELD BEHIND MY HOUSE. I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAR SLOWED IN THE MUDDY FIELD. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10141436

90,000 miles · Jun 4, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE QUITS RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WHEN ENGINE COLD OR HOT, IN DIFFERENT SEASONS AND WEATHER. TIMES BETWEEN EVENTS RANGES FROM A FEW MINUTES TO A FEW MONTHS, NO DISCERNABLE PATTERNS. ENGINE GENERALLY RESTARTS EASILY BUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AFTER STARTING. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER AND INDEPENDENT GARAGE WITH NO R…

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ENGINE QUITS RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WHEN ENGINE COLD OR HOT, IN DIFFERENT SEASONS AND WEATHER. TIMES BETWEEN EVENTS RANGES FROM A FEW MINUTES TO A FEW MONTHS, NO DISCERNABLE PATTERNS. ENGINE GENERALLY RESTARTS EASILY BUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AFTER STARTING. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER AND INDEPENDENT GARAGE WITH NO RESULTS; PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #10124182

82,381 miles · May 17, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT: TWO WEEKS AFTER BUYING A USED CAR, IT STARTED MAKING A NOISE AND ON THE WAY TO THE MECHANIC THE FAN BELT BROKE. AFTER THEY FIXED THE FAN BELT (ABOUT A WEEK AFTER) THE ENGINE FROZE. THE USED CAR LOT THAT THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE CAR FROM SAID SHE COULD NOT BRING THE CAR TO THEM BECAUSE SHE DID NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, A…

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DT: TWO WEEKS AFTER BUYING A USED CAR, IT STARTED MAKING A NOISE AND ON THE WAY TO THE MECHANIC THE FAN BELT BROKE. AFTER THEY FIXED THE FAN BELT (ABOUT A WEEK AFTER) THE ENGINE FROZE. THE USED CAR LOT THAT THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE CAR FROM SAID SHE COULD NOT BRING THE CAR TO THEM BECAUSE SHE DID NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND THEY DID NOT OFFER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER OF VEHICLE WILL NOT HELP. SHE HAS NO MONEY TO GET IT FIXED AND SHE CAN' T TAKE HER FATHER TO THE DOCTOR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10121201

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2005
TiresCrashInjury

ON APRIL 4, 2005, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 1997 ISUZU RODEO ON INTERSTATE 24 IN MARION COUNTY, TENNESSEE WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION, AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER THREE TIMES. MIRACULOUSLY, SHE SURVIVED. I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRE, SO THAT OTHER MOTORISTS MAY BE …

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ON APRIL 4, 2005, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 1997 ISUZU RODEO ON INTERSTATE 24 IN MARION COUNTY, TENNESSEE WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION, AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER THREE TIMES. MIRACULOUSLY, SHE SURVIVED. I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRE, SO THAT OTHER MOTORISTS MAY BE APPRAISED OF THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. BRIDGESTONE DUELER 684, TIRE SIZE P245/70 R16 106S. THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED IN COLUMBIA, S.C. ON JANUARY 13, 2005 FROM A FIRESTONE STORE. THE STATE TROOPER WHO INVESTIGATED THE ACCIDENT LISTED THE TREAD SEPARATION AS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO FISH TAIL, AND MY DAUGHTER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT THEN TURNED OVER THREE TIMES. I HAVE THE TIRE. *AK THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND PLEASE INFORM ME OF THE RESULTS OF YOUR INVESTIGATION. DENNIS BOLT

NHTSA ODI #10118035

167,430 miles · Nov 30, 2004
Tires

DEAR SIR/MADAM: I OWN A 1997 ISUZU RODEO AND THE TIRES I HAVE ON THIS VEHICLE ARE THE BF GOODRICH LONTRAIL T/A . THE PROBLEM IS THAT IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS I HAVE EXPERIENCE TWO BLOWOUTS AND AM AFRAID THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME SORT OF MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS WITH THIS BRAND OF TIRE. BOTH TIRES WERE RELATIVELY NEW, APPROXIMA…

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DEAR SIR/MADAM: I OWN A 1997 ISUZU RODEO AND THE TIRES I HAVE ON THIS VEHICLE ARE THE BF GOODRICH LONTRAIL T/A . THE PROBLEM IS THAT IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS I HAVE EXPERIENCE TWO BLOWOUTS AND AM AFRAID THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME SORT OF MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS WITH THIS BRAND OF TIRE. BOTH TIRES WERE RELATIVELY NEW, APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS OLD AND I SEE NO REASON WHY THE TIRES WOULD EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS BACK IN MAY 2004 THE TIRE BLEW OUT (LEFT FRONT) AND THE TREADS LITERALLY FELL APART. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS ON THE MORNING OF 19 NOV 2004, AGAIN I HAD A BLOW OUT (RIGHT REAR) AND THE SIDEWALLS FELL APART. I CONTACTED BF GOODRICH ABOUT THIS SINCE AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT MICHELIN TIRES WHO NOW OWN BF GOODRICH, THEY IN TURN HAD ME CONTACT SEARS AND HAVE ONE OF THEIR TECHNICIANS INPECT THE TIRE. THE SEARS TECH TOLD ME THAT IT WAS DUE TO ROAD HAZARD, WHICH I SAID WAS IMPOSIBLE SINCE I WAS ON A VERY CLEAN ROAD (JULIA TUTTLE CAUSEWAY) IN MIAMI AND I DID NOT HIT OR RUN OVER ANY OBSTRUCTION OR FOREIGN OBJECT. WHEN YOU INSPECT THE TIRE YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT THE TIRE BLEW OUT, AND NOT DUE TO ANY ROAD HAZARD. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT IN BOTH CASES I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, AND WAS ABLE TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE. CAN YOU PLEASE INFORM ME IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY OTHER REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS BRAND OF TIRE AND IF SO WHAT IS MICHELIN DOING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE CONTACT ME EITHER BY PHONE OR E-MAIL. MY WORK NUMBER IS (305) 437-2976, CELL (305) 905-7161. E-MAIL ADDRESS: A.V.CORREA@ATT.NET WORK E-MAIL: CORREAA@HQS.SOUTHCOM .MIL . *AK

NHTSA ODI #10100745

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.