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Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2003 Isuzu RodeoRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 16 owner complaints for the 2003 Isuzu Rodeo. Most complaints involve structure (4) and engine and engine cooling (4). The EPA rates it 17–19 mpg combined.

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Combined MPG
17–19mpg
EPA · 5 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Oct 2013
Owner complaints
16
Top: structure
Fuel cost / yr
$3,400est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Suspension: rear

Free remedy

Isuzu Manufacturing Services of America, Inc (Isuzu) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Rodeo and Axiom, and 2003 Rodeo Sport vehicles that were originally sold in, or are currently registered in, 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, Kentucky and Missouri. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion near the forward mounting point bracket for the left or right rear suspension lower link.

SuspensionReported Oct 31, 2013NHTSA 13V547000

Fuel system

Free remedy

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO FUEL CONTAMINATED WITH SILICON MAY DEVELOP SMALL PIN HOLES IN THE FUEL PUMP FEED PORT. SILICON HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE FUEL SYSTEMS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES AND IN CERTAIN FUEL AVAILABLE IN THE REGION OF TYLER, TEXAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN TEXAS AND THE FOUR SURROUNDING STATES: OKLAHOMA, ARKANSAS, NEW MEXICO AND LOUISIANA.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Oct 7, 2005NHTSA 05V466000

Service brakes

Free remedy

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS." THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE IN THE EVENT OF DECREASED BRAKE FLUID VOLUME.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Oct 10, 2003NHTSA 03V390000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

16 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 2003 – Oct 2018
  1. Structure4
  2. Engine and engine cooling4
  3. Suspension2
  4. Power train2
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic2
  6. Fuel/propulsion system1
  7. Fuel system, gasoline1
  8. Vehicle speed control1
  9. Wheels1

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
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Structure

4 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 12, 2014StructureODI 10568873

Engine and engine cooling

4 reports
“03 ISUZU RODEO 3.2L BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. TAKES A QUART EVERY 250 MILES. DONE EVERYTHING RECOMMENDED AT THE RECOMMENDED INTERVALS, OIL CHANGES, EGR VALVE, PCV VALVE, ECT. I AM VERY GOOD ABOUT CHANGING RECOMMENDED PARTS WHEN NEEDED. THIS ENGINE SHOULD NOT BE TAKING OIL. I DO NOT TOW OR REV OVER 5,000 RPM, EVER! OTHER ISUZU OWNERS HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THIS TO ME, THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ISUZU ENGINE. I NOW NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF 3,000 PLUS INSTALLATION LABOR CHARGES. THIS IS THE THIRD RODEO I HAVE HAD, GOOD LUCK WITH THE OTHER TWO, BUT NOT THIS ONE. IF THIS CANNOT BE RESOLVED, I WILL PURCHASE ANOTHER MODEL IN THE FUTURE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2008Engine and engine coolingODI 10239068

Suspension

2 reports
“FRAME RUST PROBLEM IDENTICAL TO THE 2002 ISSUE MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 7, 2013Suspension, StructureODI 10491757
All 2003 Rodeo problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

5 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 27, 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
182219$3,400468
Rodeo 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
162118$3,550494
Rodeo 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
152117$3,800523
Rodeo 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
152117$3,800523
Rodeo 4WD
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
162017$3,800523
  • Rodeo 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    18 city · 22 hwy · $3,400/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    16 city · 21 hwy · $3,550/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    15 city · 21 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    15 city · 21 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Rodeo 4WD
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    16 city · 20 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 27, 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 2003 Isuzu Rodeo as of Oct 27, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 27, 2026Vehicle 4988
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

2003 Rodeo questions

How many recalls does the 2003 Isuzu Rodeo have?

3 safety recalls as of Oct 27, 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 2003 Isuzu Rodeo problems?

Owners filed 16 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are structure (4), engine and engine cooling (4), suspension (2). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2003 Isuzu Rodeo get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Isuzu Rodeo at 17–19 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 27, 2026