Problems · NHTSA complaints
2000 Isuzu Rodeo problems
Owners filed 286 complaints about the 2000 Isuzu Rodeo with NHTSA between Jun 2000 and Feb 2021. The most-cited component is structure (85).
Complaints
286
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
23
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
19
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Structure85
- Suspension69
- Engine and engine cooling39
- Service brakes, hydraulic36
- Power train19
- Fuel system, other19
- Fuel system, gasoline16
- Electrical system15
- Vehicle speed control14
- Air bags7
- Seat belts6
- Tires6
- Steering6
- Equipment6
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
12
31
16
29
27
20
12
2
10
10
39
29
14
12
10
6
2
3
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 12 |
| 2001 | 31 |
| 2002 | 16 |
| 2003 | 29 |
| 2004 | 27 |
| 2005 | 20 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 39 |
| 2011 | 29 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Structure
85 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT BODY FRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.”
Suspension
69 reports3 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“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”
Engine and engine cooling
39 reports1 crash4 fires1 related recall
“AT TIMES WHEN COMING TO A STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE VEHICLE MOTOR REVS AND LURCHES HARD TO KEEP STOPPED AND YOU AT TIMES WIND UP IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM MY SISTER BECAUSE SHE WAS TO SCARED TO DRIVE IT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ISUZU DEALER TWICE BUT STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. *KB”
Service brakes, hydraulic
36 reports6 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR SHOCK BRACKETS WERE RUSTED AND FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE BRACKETS STRUCK THE BRAKE LINES AND CAUSED A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKING POWER. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE BRAKE LINES BUT THE RUSTED SHOCK BRACKET WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CALL BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,800.”
Power train
19 reports2 crashes
“I BOUGHT THIS 2000 ISUZU RODEO IN 2002, AND HAVE HAD TO INSTALL 2 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION..MY MILEAGE IS JUST OVER 102000. ANY HELP OR RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR”
Fuel system, other
19 reports1 crash
“I TOOK THE DEALER ISUZU TO LEMON LAW AND I WAS TOLD IT WORKS AS DESIGNED. THE JURY WAS SO STUPID IT WAS UN BELIEVABLE, THEY ALL CAME UP TO MY WIFE AND I AND SAID MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERS TO GET IT FIXED. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH ISN'T THAT WHY I AM HERE IN COURT? GOOD LUCK PEOPLE ARE STUPID AND WE ARE STUCK DRIVING AN UNSAFE CARE BECAUSE CONSUMER REPORTS WILL NOT GET INVOLVED. LEMON CARS FOR SALE ANY ISUZU CHEAP (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2000, MAKE=ISUZU, MODEL=RODEO). *TR”
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.