Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Isuzu Rodeo problems
Owners filed 16 complaints about the 2003 Isuzu Rodeo with NHTSA between Oct 2003 and Oct 2018. The most-cited component is structure (4).
Complaints
16
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Structure4
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Suspension2
- Power train2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Wheels1
- Electrical system1
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 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
4
3
1
0
1
1
1
0
0
2
1
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 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
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”
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”
Suspension
2 reports1 related recall
“FRAME RUST PROBLEM IDENTICAL TO THE 2002 ISSUE MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR”
Power train
2 reports
“THE "U" BRACKET WHICH PREVENTS THE DRIVE SHAFT FROM FALLING DOWN BROKE OFF AND SLID DOWN THE SHAFT AND WORE THE SHAFT DOWN AND MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
2 reports1 related recall
“DT: THE CONTACT'S MOTHER HAD BOUGHT A CAR ON 9-23-05, AND SHE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF PROBLEMS. THE BRAKES WERE GRINDING AND SQUEALING. THE ALIGNMENT WAS SEVERELY OFF, AND THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OUT OF CENTER. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT ANY SPEED THE FRONT WHEELS STOPPED, AND IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS HITTING THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP TOOK IT AND FIXED NINE THINGS REGARDING THE WHEELS, THE BRAKES AND OTHER THINGS. SHE WAS NOT SURE EXACTLY. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE MOTION IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. SHE WANTED A NEW CAR. A MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE MANAGER THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE. *AK”
Fuel/propulsion system
1 report
“THIS COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION REGARDING FUEL TANK RETENTION. THE FUEL TANK SHIELD ON THIS VEHICLE IS ROTTING AWAY DUE TO RUST AND ONE OF THE TWO FUEL TANK STRAPS HAS ALREADY BROKEN. THERE IS NO ACCESIBILITY TO AN OEM OR AFTERMARKET SHIELD, THE PART IS DISCONTINUED AND AFTERMARKET COMPANIES DO NOT PRODUCE IT AS FAR AS I CAN FIND. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, AND IT WOULD BE SERIOUSLY EXPENSIVE TO GET A NEW SHIELD MANUFACTURED BY A MACHINE SHOP. DUE TO A LACK OF RODEO'S ON THE ROAD, THERE ARE NO VIABLE OPTIONS I'VE FOUND AT LOCAL JUNKYARDS TO GET A REPLACEMENT SHIELD. WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED RECENTLY I NOTICED THE FUEL TANK CORROSION BUT WAS UNAWARE OF THE LAXK OF AVAILABILITY. THIS HAS TURNED INTO A MUCH MORE WORRYSOME AND PROBLEMATIC ISSUE THAN I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. I KNOW THIS ISSUE IS BEING LOOKED INTO ALREADY BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE MY COMPLAINT WAS ON FILE, AND TO POSSIBLY PROVIDE MORE INSIGHT AS TO WHY IT'S SUCH A LARGE ISSUE. IF THE OTHER STRAP BREAKS AS WELL IT WILL TURN INTO A MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE REPAIR.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.