Problems · by component
1999 Isuzu Rodeo power train problems
38 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Isuzu Rodeo cite power train, 7% of all 564 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
38
7% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE CHECK TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 239,990. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/02/16*LJ *TR”
“I BOUGHT A 1999 RODEO FROM TRADER MIKE'S AUTO SALE'S. THE RODEO HAS A RUSTED OUT FRAME WHICH IS UNSAFE FOR DRIVING. I PAID 1,643.75 FOR THE 1999 RODEO AND DEALER PUT 700.00 ON TITLE. I'VE SPENT OVER 1,200 IN IT BEFORE I FOUND THE FRAME RUSTED AND BROKE. I TRY ASKING HIM NICELY TO REFUND MY MONEY FOR THE 1999 RODEO VIN-[XXX] AND THE MONEY I SPENT ON THIS UNSAFE 1999 RODEO. I DIDN'T SIGN THE OTHER AS IS FORM FROM DEALERSHIP, JUST THE BILL OF SALE"S BILL OF SALE"S GIVE ONE PRICE AND TITLE SAY"S ANOTHER. SO NOT ONLY I GOT HURT IN THE SALE SO DID THE V M B . IT"S NOT THE WAY TO DO GOOD BUSINESS. HE OWES ME 2,843.75 FOR HIS JUNK 1999 RODEO HE SOLD ME FEB.17TH 2014. NOT MY FAULT HE SOLD IT TO ME AND SAID IT WAS A GOOD 1999 RODEO 4X4. AS IS ON BILL OF SALE DON'T WORK , THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH IN PLACES AND WELDS ARE RUSTED OUT HOLES IN THE MAIN FRAME AND BROKE. *TR”
“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”
“DT: THE CONTACT S OWNS A 1999 ISUZU RODEO. HE RECEIVED A RECALL ON 10-14-05 REGARDING THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE CAR ITO DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ONE YEAR AGO. A CHILD RAN O IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, HE SWERVED TO MISS THE CHILD, HIT THE BRAK THEY DID NOT WORK, AND THE VEHICLE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. HE FELT THAT THE ACCIDENT CAUSED OTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR, SUCH AS TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. HE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AGO. HAD TO DO A LOT OF REPAIR WORK TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AGO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ,AND HE HAS NOT HAD THEM INSTALLED AGAIN.*AK”
“DT: THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE INHIBITER SWITCH THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS PROBLEM FIRST STARTED ON 8-16-05. WHEN THE GEARS ARE MOVED THERE IS A CLANKING SOUND AND THE TRANSITION FROM ONE GEAR TO THE OTHER IS HARD. WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY TOLD HER THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD GO OUT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND ADVISED HER TO PARK THE VEHICLE. ALSO,ANOTHER MECHANIC TOLD HER TO PARK THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS ON BACK ORDER BECAUSE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS IN MULTIPLE VEHICLES. *AK”
“THERE WAS A FEW INCIDENTS. ONE DAY MY TWO SISTERS WHERE RIDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND OUT OF NO WHERE MY TRUNK WINDOW COMPLETELY BUSTED OUT. MY SISTERS WERE TERRIFIED AND LUCKILY A COP PULLED UP. HE TOLD THEM THAT IT LOOK LIKE SOMEONE HAD PUT TINT OVER THE HEATING WIRES THAT THEY USE TO DEFROST. BEING THAT I HAD BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALERSHIP THEY LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT MY TINT WAS MANUFACTURED. I FEEL THAT I WAS RIPPED OFF FROM THE COMPANY BECAUSE THEY OVER CHARGED ME AS WELL. WHEN I BOUGHT MY 99' ISUZU RODEO IT WAS FOR 21,995 WHEN THEY FINISH MY PAPER WORK I THOUGHT NOTHING ABOUT WHAT THEY ADDED ON TO MY BILL. YEARS HAD WENT BY AND I DECIDED TO TRADE MY VEHICLE IN FOR A NEW MODEL. SOME FRIENDLY SALESMEN FROM A ISUZU DEALERSHIP FOUND OUT THAT I HAD BEEN RIPPED OFF BY THE PREVIOUS PLACE THAT I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM. I FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD CHARGED ME IN ALL $34,00. ON MY RECEIPT IT SAID THAT I SUPPOSE TO HAD, INSURANCE AND A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT. I JUST FELT SO BAD BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THEY HAD TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME BECAUSE I WAS A WOMAN. OTHER THINGS THAT I HAD TO GO THROUGH WITH MY VEHICLE WAS PAYING CONSTANTLY FOR IT TO GET…”
Showing 6 of 38 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.