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Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

1999 Isuzu RodeoRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 564 owner complaints for the 1999 Isuzu Rodeo. Most complaints involve service brakes, hydraulic (193) and suspension (85). The EPA rates it 16–20 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
16–20mpg
EPA · 5 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
5campaigns
Latest Sep 2010
Owner complaints
564
Top: service brakes, hydraulic
Fuel cost / yr
$3,200est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Suspension: rear

Free remedy

ISUZU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2002 ISUZU RODEO AND MODEL YEAR 2002 ISUZU AXIOM VEHICLES, AND HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN 1998-2002 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES, THAT WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED, IN THE STATES OF MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WEST VIRGINIA, OHIO, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, IOWA, MISSOURI, AND KENTUCKY. VEHICLES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED SUSTAINED EXPOSURE TO HIGHLY CORROSIVE MATERIALS USED IN SOME JURISDICTIONS FOR ROAD DEICING PURPOSES MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CORROSION IN THE VICINITY OF THE FORWARD MOUNTING POINT BRACKET FOR THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK PRIOR TO THE TIME THAT SUCH CORROSION WOULD NORMALLY BE EXPECTED.

SuspensionReported Sep 22, 2010NHTSA 10V436000

Service brakes

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS), THE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES IN CERTAIN TYPES OF BRAKING EVENTS.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Jun 3, 2002NHTSA 02I002000

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Free remedy

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1998-2000 RODEO (UE) AND AMIGO (UA) MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 2.2L 4-CYLINDER ENGINES. THE TIMING BELT COULD BREAK BEFORE THE RECOMMENDED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.

Engine and engine coolingReported May 29, 2001NHTSA 01I002000
See all 5 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

564 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 1998 – May 2023
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic193
  2. Suspension85
  3. Structure74
  4. Fuel system, other60
  5. Engine and engine cooling51
  6. Vehicle speed control40
  7. Power train38
  8. Fuel system, gasoline37
  9. Electrical system28

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

By model year

Complaints for each Rodeo model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
199697
1997118
1998486
1999564
2000286
2001441
2002101
200316
200439
Crashes reported
78
Fires reported
8
Injuries reported
33
Deaths reported
1
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Service brakes, hydraulic

193 reports48 crashes3 fires
“WE HAVE A 1999 ISUZU RODEO MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 25 MPH DURING THE RAIN WHEN SHE GENTLY APPLIED THE BRAKES, SHE HEARD A NOISE THE RODEO BEGAN SLIDING CAUSING AN IMPACT WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. VARIOUS OTHER TIMES WE WOULD BE DRIVING AND ESPECIALLY DURING WET ROAD CONDITIONS THE BRAKES MADE A NOISE CAUSING THE TIRES TO ROTATE PREMATURELY IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE SLIDING MOTION.IN 2011 WE TOOK OUR RODEO IN ON RECALL NO. 10V-436, (EXCESSIVE CORROSION MAY RESULT IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE FRAME, WHICH CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH.) THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED THE INSPECTION WHICH WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RECALL SHOULD NOT BE PERFORMED. DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION THE REINFORCEMENT BRACKET REMEDY WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE. IN ORDER TO PERFORM THIS RECALL THE BODY IS DETACHED FROM THE FRAME AND IF CORROSION IS PRESENT ON THE FRAME THIS RECALL WOULD ONLY CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGES WEAKENING THE FRAME MAKING IT UNSAFE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE FRAMES SHOULD BE RECALLED ALSO! THE FRAMES ALSO HAVE EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND ALSO ONCE A FRAME IS COMPROMISED IT'S WEAKENED! BY DOING THIS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 11, 2011Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, StructureODI 10439320

Suspension

85 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE FRAME. IN ADDITION, THE CONTROL ARMS ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME CONDITION. THE DEALER (MANCARI'S CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP, RAM, 708-423-0910, LOCATED AT 4630 W 95TH STREET, OAK LAWN, IL 60453) WAS CONTACTED AND INDICATED THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER AUTHORIZED TO SERVICE ISUZU VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO RECEIVE A RECOMMENDED DEALER TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 4, 2018Suspension, StructureODI 11133276

Structure

74 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS PRESENT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK CORRODED AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 198,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 1, 2016Structure, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10871931
All 1999 Rodeo problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

5 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
2.2L 4-cyl · 3.2L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Rodeo 2WD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
182220$3,200444
Rodeo 2WD
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
161917$3,800523
Rodeo 4WD
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
161917$3,800523
Rodeo 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
151916$4,000555
Rodeo 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
151916$4,000555
  • Rodeo 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    18 city · 22 hwy · $3,200/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    16 city · 19 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo 4WD
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    16 city · 19 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    15 city · 19 hwy · $4,000/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    15 city · 19 hwy · $4,000/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1999 Isuzu Rodeo as of Oct 28, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 28, 2026Vehicle 4004
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

1999 Rodeo questions

How many recalls does the 1999 Isuzu Rodeo have?

5 safety recalls as of Oct 28, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 1999 Isuzu Rodeo problems?

Owners filed 564 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are service brakes, hydraulic (193), suspension (85), structure (74). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 1999 Isuzu Rodeo get?

The EPA rates the 1999 Isuzu Rodeo at 16–20 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026