Problems · by component
2001 Isuzu Rodeo engine and engine cooling problems
26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Isuzu Rodeo cite engine and engine cooling, 6% of all 441 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
26
6% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.…”
“I HAVE A 2001 RODEO SPORT, V-6. THERE APPARENTLY IS A FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT. THE GAS GAUGE DOES WORK PROPERLY, MOVING ON IT'S OWN, EVEN IF THE TANK IS FULL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND CONTINUES TO STAY ON AS THE FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATES. OCCASIONALLY, THE FUEL GAUGE WILL SHOW FULL, UPON FILL UP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL GO OFF BUT AS THE FUEL LEVEL DROPS, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE STARTS TO FLIP OUT, MOVING FROM FULL TO EMPTY AND BACK TO FULL AGAIN, IT CAN SHOW ANY AMOUNT OF FUEL AT ANYTIME. AS SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS HAVE POINTED OUT, ISUZU IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ALL BET THERE IS A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM, BY REPLACING THE SENDING UNIT, THIS INVOLVES DROPPING THE GAS TANK AND REMOVING THE FUEL PUMP AND REPLACING THE SENDING UNIT. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS NOT EASY FOR THE WEEKEND MECHANIC WHO DOESN'T HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS. I ALSO HAVE A OIL PROBLEM. THERE ARE NO LEAKS OF THE ENGINE BUT ABOUT EVERY 1500 MILES, I USE 1-2 QUARTS OF OIL. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS FROM OTHER OWNERS. APPARENTLY, ISUZU DOESN'T CONSIDER THIS AN ISSUE UNTIL IT BECOMES A QUART EVERY 1000…”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED, SLOWED DOWN, AND ATTEMPTED TO STALL. THE CONTACT NOTICED SOMETHING BOUNCING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THEN OBSERVED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. SHE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 125,000.”
“I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. 1. SERVO VALVE 12/2005, 2. DOOR LOCK, 2005, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, GAS METER PROBLEMS, REPLACE GAS TANK 1/2008, 3. REPLACE ALTERNATOR 9/2008, NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT WORKING NOR IS MY EGR AND EVAP SENSOR. I ONLY HAVE 58,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. ALSO ONE OF THE OEM BRAKE PADS FALL OUT OF THE HOLDING BRACKET AND GOT STUCK BETWEEN THE CALIPER AND THE ROTOR. NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS SUV. *TR”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 70 MPH, THE LOSS OF POWER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND THE CONTACT CROSSED OVER FIVE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SAFETY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS SENSOR FAILURE AND THEY REPLACED THEM SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE HARNESS AND WIRING BE REPLACED FOR THE ENGINE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE REPAIR COST WAS ESTIMATED AT $1,100. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000. UPDATED 3/17/09*LJ ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. UPDATED 03/17/09. *JB”
“1. REAR SHOCKS WENT BAD AT 30,000 MILES COST 500.00 TO REPLACE. 2. MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH SMALL COMPONENTS BREAKING. 3. 6 DISK CHANGER BROKE AT 50,000 MILE 4. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AT 45,000 MILES- 2 CODES FOR EGR VALVE STUCK. 5. CAR STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE IN MOTION AND FINALLY JUST DIED. NEEDED NEW FUEL SENDING UNIT AT 55,000 MILES, COST $1,300.00 6. AIR CONDITIONER BROKE AT 60,000 MILES, NEEDS NEW COMPRESSOR AND CONDENSER, RECEIVED ESTIMATE FOR $1,200.00. *TR”
Showing 6 of 26 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.