Problems · by component

1998 Isuzu Rodeo structure problems

70 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Isuzu Rodeo cite structure, 14% of all 486 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
70
14% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the structure

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“DRIVING ON HIGHWAY HIT A POTHOLE AND HEARD A LOUD THUMP FROM REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT TILL THE NEXT DAY WHEN I DROVE TO WORK. IT SEEMED EVERY BUMP I GOT THE SAME NOISE. GOT TO WORK,LOOKED UNDER CAR, ALL SEEMED FINE. JUST HAPPENED TO LOOK IN REAR CARGO ARE AND SAW LUMP IN CARPET. THE SPRING WAS POKING UP THRU THE REAR FLOOR !!!! HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL? AFTER SEEING THE POSTS ONLINE I REALIZE THIS IS COMMON. I NEVER KNEW, BEEN DRIVING VEHICLE FOR 10 YEARS WITH NO ISSUES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 18, 2015StructureODI 10811206
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STAY IN POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY STEER THE VEHICLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB FRAME ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WAS CORRODED AND FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 21, 2015StructureODI 10735422
“REAREND CAME LOOSE DRIVING WENT TO GET CHECK OUT,BAD NEWS CLAMPS HOLDING REAREND TO FRAME CAME APART BECAUSE FRAME RUSTED OUT AND THEIR IS NOTING TO HOLD ON TO BECAUSE FRAME GONE.SO WANT DO I DO NEXT? *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 5, 2014StructureODI 10662446
“AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE ROAD THE SPARE TIRE AND TRAILER HITCH FELL OFF FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE ALMOST CAUSING A HUGE ACCIDENT. UPON INSPECTING THE UNDER BODY OF THE VEHICLE I OBSERVED THE REAR FRAME TOTALLY RUSTED OFF AND MISSING. THE REST OF THE FRAME IS BADLY RUSTED ALSO. I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT KNOW OF THE ROTTED FRAME ISSUE ON THESE CARS. PLEASE HELP AS I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO BUY ANOTHER CAR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 6, 2014Suspension, StructureODI 10641579
“ISUZU HAS RECALLED MY 1998 ISUZU RODEO DUE TO FRAME RUST. THE FRAME IS RUSTED TO THE POINT OF IT ALMOST NOT BEING DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 183,000 MILES AND EVERYTHING ON IT IS OKAY OTHER THAN THE FRAME. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED. IT IS NOT MY FAULT THAT THE PROBLEM WASN'T ADDRESSED TO ME. I AM JUST ASKING TO GET ANSWERS ON WHAT I SHOULD DO ABOUT GETTING THIS RECALL WORK DONE BECAUSE IT ISN'T FAIR FOR ME TO HAVE TO SUFFER DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 10, 2014StructureODI 10632308
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY LOCKED THE CONTACT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY WAS USED IN ORDER TO UNLOCK THE FRONT PASSENGAR'S AND REAR PASSENGAR'S SIDE DOORS MANUALLY. THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE OCASSIONALLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD NOTICED THAT THE REAR END OF THE FRAME HAD RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 16, 2014Electrical system, Structure, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10588981

Showing 6 of 70 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.