Sign inCreate free garage
Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2001 Isuzu RodeoRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 441 owner complaints for the 2001 Isuzu Rodeo. Most complaints involve structure (236) and suspension (129). The EPA rates it 16–18 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
16–18mpg
EPA · 11 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest Sep 2010
Owner complaints
441
Top: structure
Fuel cost / yr
$3,550est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 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

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES WERE MANUFACTURED AND SHIPPED WITHOUT A NECESSARY COMPONENT KNOWN AS A CHECK VALVE PIN.

Air bagsReported Aug 9, 2002NHTSA 02V213000

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE INFLATORS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULES HAVING THE WRONG AMOUNT OF GENERANT.

Air bagsReported Feb 22, 2001NHTSA 01V055000
See all 4 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

441 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 2001 – Oct 2020
  1. Structure236
  2. Suspension129
  3. Engine and engine cooling26
  4. Electrical system25
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic22
  6. Power train20
  7. Fuel system, gasoline19
  8. Fuel system, other13
  9. Steering11

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
21
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
16
Deaths reported
0
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

Structure

236 reports6 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE SERVICE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND KEPT REFERRING THE CONTACT TO DEALERS THAT NO LONGER SERVICED ISUZU VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 8, 2019StructureODI 11206235

Suspension

129 reports2 crashes
“WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, VEHICLE STARTED SWAYING IN THE BACK LIKE IT WAS HYDROPLANING. SAME THING HAPPENED ON WAY HOME. DIDN'T DRIVE IT DURING THE NEXT TWO DAYS, SAME THING HAPPENED THE NEXT TIME. ON FOURTH DAY, I NOTICED A BRACKET HAD COME APART FROM THE RUSTED FRAME. CAR WAS BOUGHT IN 2018, AND AM STILL PAYING FOR IT. DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 20, 2019SuspensionODI 11290311

Engine and engine cooling

26 reports1 crash1 fire
“MY BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. IN THE PAST YEAR, I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES AND ON THE NEXT OCCASION, THE REAR BRAKES. THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE OF A NEAR ACCIDENT WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE AND IT FAILING TO SLOW DOWN TO A STOP. EVENTUALLY STOPPING. THE NEXT TIME, IT ACTUALLY DIDN'T STOP UNTIL I HIT THE BACK OF A MINIVAN, THEN A SEDAN AND SUV CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR. WHEN I GOT MY BRAKES REPLACED AFTER THAT, I ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN LESS THAN A BLOCK FROM THE REPAIR SHOP. THEN DRIVING TO WORK, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES STILL WEREN'T RESPONDING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SHOP THE NEXT DAY, AND HAD THE MECHANIC DRIVE AROUND AND DRIVE THE CAR WITH ME. HE FELT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. IT KEPT HAPPENING. I PRESS DOWN ON THE BRAKE. IT STIFFENS UP, THEN MAKES SOME CLICKING SOUNDS, AND THE CAR JUST GLIDES, I.E. KEEPS ON MOVING. THAT IS NOT SAFE!! I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR OR TAKE ANY LONG DISTANCE TRIPS BECAUSE OF THE APPREHENSION OF MY BRAKES FAILING AS USUAL. FINALLY, I WENT BACK ONCE AGAIN TO THE MECHANICS AND EXPLAINED WHAT EXACTLY THE BRAKES ARE DOING, AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE THINKS THAT IT IS THE "BRAKE SENSOR" DUE TO THE RUST AROUND IT.…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 6, 2010Steering, Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, StructureCrash reportedODI 10329206
All 2001 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

11 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
172118$3,550494
Rodeo Sport 2WD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
172118$3,550494
Rodeo 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
162017$3,800523
Rodeo 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
152017$3,800523
Rodeo 2WD
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
151917$3,800523
Rodeo 4WD
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
151917$3,800523
Rodeo Sport 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
152017$3,800523
Rodeo 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
151916$4,000555
Rodeo Sport 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
151916$4,000555
Rodeo Sport 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
151916$4,000555
Rodeo Sport 4WD
Man 5-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
    17 city · 21 hwy · $3,550/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo Sport 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    17 city · 21 hwy · $3,550/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    16 city · 20 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    15 city · 20 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    15 city · 19 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo 4WD
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    15 city · 19 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo Sport 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    15 city · 20 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    15 city · 19 hwy · $4,000/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo Sport 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    15 city · 19 hwy · $4,000/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo Sport 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    15 city · 19 hwy · $4,000/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo Sport 4WD
    Man 5-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 2001 Isuzu Rodeo as of Oct 28, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 28, 2026Vehicle 4243
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

2001 Rodeo questions

How many recalls does the 2001 Isuzu Rodeo have?

4 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 2001 Isuzu Rodeo problems?

Owners filed 441 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are structure (236), suspension (129), engine and engine cooling (26). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2001 Isuzu Rodeo get?

The EPA rates the 2001 Isuzu Rodeo at 16–18 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (11 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026