Problems · NHTSA complaints

1999 Isuzu Rodeo problems

Owners filed 564 complaints about the 1999 Isuzu Rodeo with NHTSA between Oct 1998 and May 2023. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (193).

Complaints
564
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
78
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
33
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  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
  10. Service brakes, air18
  11. Visibility14
  12. Air bags13
  13. Tires11
  14. Equipment9

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 Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19981
199919
200075
200145
200243
2003112
200473
200536
200621
20078
20081
200913
201029
201147
201213
20135
20149
20156
20163
20172
20182
20190
20200
20210
20220
20231

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Service brakes, hydraulic

193 reports48 crashes3 fires1 related recall
“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 crashes2 related recalls
“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 crash1 related recall
“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

Fuel system, other

60 reports
“FUEL GAUGE NOT READING FUEL SYSTEM CORRECTLY. SHOWS EMPTY WHEN REACHING CLOSE TO HALFWAY. OTHER REPORTS LIST PROBLEM WITH FUEL SENDING CONTROL UNIT CONTACTS. UNIT AND FUEL SYSTEM NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 25, 2009Fuel system, otherODI 10266697

Engine and engine cooling

51 reports1 fire1 related recall
“AFTER ONLY HAVING MY RODEO FOR A FEW MONTHS MY ABS WENT BAD BUT IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. THEN SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE WARRANTY ENDED AND GAS GAUGE WOULD READ EMPTY BUT IT WAS FULL, NEXT I HAVE TO ADD OIL TO MY CAR EVERY TWO TO THREE DAYS BECAUSE IT BURNS OIL REALLY BAD NO LEAKAGE OR NOTHING LIKE THAT. NOW I HAVE STARTED ADDING ANTI-FREEZE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME. THERE ARE MAJOR TRANMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND FROM READING THE INTERNET IT'S NOT JUST MY CAR IT'S ISUZU. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 1, 2009Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10272550

Vehicle speed control

40 reports12 crashes
“MY SON WAS DRIVING A 1999 ISUZU RODEO WHEN HE HAD AN ACCIDENT. SINCE THERE WERE NO "BRAKE MARKS" ON THE ROAD THE ACCIDENT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE HIS FAULT. HE STATED THAT HE TURNED LEFT FROM A STOP SIGN AND CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS ON, APPLIED BRAKES AND CAR CONTINUED TO REV UP CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL, HIT A DITCH, AND LAND CAR ON IT'S SIDE. NO INJURIES EXCEPT SORE WRIST. THE CAR HAS 138,000 MILES *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 22, 2014Vehicle speed control, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 10667617
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

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