Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Isuzu Rodeo Sport problems
Owners filed 24 complaints about the 2002 Isuzu Rodeo Sport with NHTSA between Aug 2003 and Jan 2018. The most-cited component is suspension (9).
Complaints
24
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Suspension9
- Structure6
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Equipment3
- Electrical system2
- Visibility2
- Vehicle speed control1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Power train1
- Seat belts1
- Other / unknown1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
1
0
2
2
1
0
3
5
3
0
0
2
2
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Suspension
9 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU RODEO SPORT. UPON RECEIVING AN INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS PREMATURE RUST, CORROSION, AND HOLES NEAR THE TRAILING ARMS, CLOSE TO THE FRAME AND IN THE REAR NEAR THE STABILIZER BAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED OR EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V436000 (SUSPENSION). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.”
Structure
6 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU RODEO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE WELL RUSTED AND CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO DETACH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Engine and engine cooling
4 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU RODEO SPORTS. WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO GARAGE FOR A DIAGNOSIS, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE AUTO GARAGE INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,306 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 6/2/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK.”
Equipment
3 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU RODEO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONING UNIT OVERHEATED TO THE POINT THAT IT FRACTURED THE AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL UNIT AND MELTED THE WIRES. THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE UNIT ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.”
Electrical system
2 reports
“SUV WILL STALL WHEN YOU GIVE IT GAS, IT WILL START TO SHAKE AND THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT ALL COME ON, THEN THE VEHICLE GOES DEAD. SOMETIMES IF YOU HIT A BUMP IT WILL JUST TURN OFF. THIS HAPPENS ON AN ALMOST DAILY BASES, AND THE DEALER STATES THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, I HAVE CHANGED MULTIPLE PARTS AT THERE PROMPTING TO FIX THIS, THEY HAVE ALL FAILED, THEY CONTINUE TO TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD BE FATAL TO MY SON WHO DRIVES THIS VEHICLE. IT STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. *NM”
Visibility
2 reports
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE BACK WINDOW CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOTHING HIT THE WINDOW. THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THE CONTACT TAKE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO GLASS REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT SHOWED LITTLE CONCERN OF THE PROBLEM. *AK”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.