1998 Isuzu Rodeo service brakes, hydraulic problems

“I BOUGHT A 1998 2WD ISUZU RODEO FROM A PRIVATE PARTY SIX MONTHS AGO. SINCE I BOUGHT IT, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCE (EVERY DAY, MAINLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD) THAT RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES AND CONTINUOUS ILLUMINATION OF THE ABS WARNING LAMP. MY GARAGE MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS ISSUE IS DUE TO THE ABS COIL INTEGRATED MODULE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON IT FOR 1998-1999 ISUZU RODEO VEHICLES (CAMPAIGN NO. 02I-002, CAMPAIGN BULLETIN SB03-09-S001D, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02I002000). I CALLED TWO ISUZU DEALERS BUT THEY TOLD ME THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE VIN#. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY 1998 ISUZU RODEO IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED PERIODICALLY. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING OVER SAND OR GRAVEL ROADS. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT HER VIN WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CLOSEST DEALER WAS IN CONNECTICUT. THE CONTACT LIVES IN NEW YORK. A LOCAL ISUZU DEALER STATED THAT THEY ONLY REPAIRED TRUCKS AND COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VIN WAS CONFIRMED AS A PART NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02I002000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.”

“I HAVE SOME VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES PERTAINING TO MY 1998 ISUZU RODEO. I READ SEVERAL BLOGS ON A FORUM FROM OTHER RODEO OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE WITH MINE. THE BIGGEST ONE IS THE ABS SYSTEM AND THE OTHER IS THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND GAS GAUGE. THESE ARE TWO OF THE MOST REPORTED PROBLEMS BUT NOT THE ONLY ONES. IT SEEMS THAT ISUZU SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING TO CORRECT THESE AND OTHER PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE ABS HAS BEEN ADDRESSED IN SOME BUT NOT IN OTHERS. ALTHOUGH THE GAS GAUGE DOES NOT POSE ANY REAL SAFETY ISSUES IT IS ONE THAT POSES MINOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF RUNNING OUT OF GAS BECAUSE OF NOT KNOWING THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE CAR. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ISUZU RODEO. APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AGO, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR HER ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. THE MECHANIC WOULD NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR AND STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO HAVE HER CARBURETOR REPLACED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2,000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO BECAUSE HER BRAKES LOCKED. AS A RESULT, SHE CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH. THE WOMAN SHE STRUCK STATED THAT HER NECK WAS INJURED, BUT SHE DID NOT FILE A CLAIM. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE AGENCY PAID FOR THE DAMAGES. THE CONTACT HAD TO GET HER VEHICLE TOTALLY REBUILT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 95,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.”

“VERY DISSATISFIED WITH VEHICLE. IT''S HAS MANY PROBLEMS FROM START. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND GOING INTO GEARS THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. CAR SHIMMY'S WITH NO AVAILABLE FIX. VEHICLE HAS STRONG SUSPENSION VIBRATION AND BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED AS SPEED INCREASES. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. THE BRAKE PEDAL NEVER SEEMS TO GO TO THE FLOOR, IT JUST GETS SPONGING AND YOU FEEL THE ABS PULSATING THRU THE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE DOESNT SLOW DOWN, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. FUEL SENDING UNIT IS OPERATING ERRATICALLY. GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY NEARLY ALL THE TIME REGARDLESS OF LEVEL OF FUEL. AFTER FILLING TANK GAUGE WILL RISE TO 1/2 THEN AS YOU DRIVE A FEW MILES IT WILL DROP AND READ EMPTY. PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY MOUNTS HAVE COME LOOSE WHICH CAUSES AIR BAG ASSEMBLY TO MOVE AROUND BEHIND DASH. THIS RATTLE IS VERY BOTHERSOME. PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX PROBLEM, BUT THE RATTLE WAS BACK SOON AFTER. THE BOLTS CAME LOOSE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR. WHEEL STUDS ON 1998 ISUZU RODEO STRIP OFF. GLOVE BOX IN 1998 ISUZU RODEO STICKS AND HARD TO OPEN.”

“RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR 98 ISUZU RODEO CONTACTED BELL ISUZU WAS TOLD THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME CALLED BACK SEVERAL TIMES,WAS PULLING IN DRIVEWAY BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR SMASHED INTO BEDROOM OF ROOMMATE. CALLED ISUZU THEY REPLACED PART THEN SAID IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MY BRAKES. SAID THEY TESTED MY BRAKE FLUID IT WAS CONTAMINATED, AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW MASTER CYLINDER. THE PART REPLACED DIRECTLY AFFECTED THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM FROM WORKING PROPERLY THEY BELIEVE ITS NOT FAILURE FROM THIS ABS MODULE, ALIGORTHAM THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *JB”