VehicleVerdict

1999 Isuzu Rodeo problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 735 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 6.1 times the median Rodeo year — the 1999 model ranks #1 of 16 Rodeo years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include 2 deaths and 41 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

Brakes leads the complaint categories with 225 reports (31% of the total).

735

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

3

Investigations

94

Crash-involved

9

Fires reported

41

Injuries

2

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 1999 compare to other Rodeo years?

Rodeo NHTSA complaints by model year, 1999 highlighted735 complaints1990: 0 complaints1991: 60 complaints1992: 112 complaints1993: 41 complaints1994: 122 complaints1995: 233 complaints1996: 121 complaints1997: 167 complaints1998: 627 complaints1999: 735 complaints2000: 354 complaints2001: 515 complaints2002: 121 complaints2003: 19 complaints2004: 68 complaints2008: 1 complaints
Rodeo NHTSA complaints by model year, 1999 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Rodeo years to avoid →

What are the most common 1999 Isuzu Rodeo problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes22531%
Fuel System9213%
Suspension8612%
Body & Structure7410%
Engine608%
Speed Control416%
Transmission405%
Electrical System314%
Tires & Wheels203%
Visibility & Wipers152%
Airbags142%
Other101%
Steering81%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)61%
Seat Belts61%
Lighting30%
Seats20%
Latches & Locks10%
Child Seat10%

Does the 1999 Isuzu Rodeo have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

10V436000SuspensionSeptember 22, 2010 · 149,992 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET AREA. FOR VEHICLES IN WHICH LITTLE OR NO CORROSION IS FOUND, THE AREA WILL BE TREATED WITH AN ANTI-CORROSIVE COMPOUND. FOR VEHICLES IN WHICH CORROSION HAS DAMAGED THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET AND AFFECTED ITS CONNECTION TO THE VEHICLE FRAME, A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET WILL BE INSTALLED. IN THE RARE EVENT THE CORROSION IS SO SEVERE THAT THE REINFORCEMENT BRACKET REMEDY WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE, A REPURCHASE OFFER WILL BE EXTENDED TO THE VEHICLE'S OWNER. ALL INSPECTIONS AND REMEDIES WILL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE 10 YEARS OLD OR LESS. FOR VEHICLES OLDER THAN 10 YEARS, ISUZU WILL OFFER A FREE REMEDY, BUT ONLY IF THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTED TO AN ISUZU SERVICE FACILITY, OR HONDA DEALER (AS APPLICABLE), DEALER WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF WHEN OWNER NOTIFICATIONS WERE ISSUED. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 10, 2010. ISUZU OWNERS MAY CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727. HONDA OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

02I002000BrakesJune 3, 2002 · 161,927 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS), THE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES IN CERTAIN TYPES OF BRAKING EVENTS.

Consequence

EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT COMPUTER ALGORITHM FOR THE ABS THAT IS BASED ON THE ALGORITHM USED IN ISUZU'S MY 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES, WHICH HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM. THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES, WITH THE MY 1998 2WD VEHICLES COVERED FIRST, SINCE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE MOST PROBLEMS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 20, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-643-4070.

01I002000EngineMay 29, 2001

Defect

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1998-2000 RODEO (UE) AND AMIGO (UA) MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 2.2L 4-CYLINDER ENGINES. THE TIMING BELT COULD BREAK BEFORE THE RECOMMENDED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO CRANK BUT WILL NOT START OR THE ENGINE COULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT RESTART.

Remedy

DEALER WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CONDITION OF THE TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TIMING BELT. DEPENDING ON THE CONDITION OR MODEL OF THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER, THE TENSIONER MAY ALSO BE REPLACED. ISUZU HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 22, 2001. OWNERS CAN CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-643-4070, EXT. 426, CONCERNING THIS PROGRAM.

00V121001Body & StructureApril 28, 2000 · 45,252 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT."

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE INTERIOR OF YOUR VEHICLE.

00V058000SuspensionMarch 2, 2000 · 213,736 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. PAINT WAS APPLIED UNEVENLY ON THE REAR AXLES, RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT PAINT HARDNESS. SHOULD THIS OCCUR ON THE SURFACE THAT CONTACTS THE REAR AXLE LOWER LINK BRACKET BOLT HEAD AND/OR NUT, THE NUT MAY LOOSEN.

Consequence

THE BOLT COULD DETACH FULLY, CAUSING SEPARATION OF THE LOWER LINK FROM THE REAR AXLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR AXLE LOWER LINK JOINT NUT AND BOLT.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE RODEO ON A CLEAR NIGHT WITH CLEAN ROADS. SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE ABS KICKED IN. SHE HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHICH INDICATED THE ANTILOCK BRAKES WERE ON. SHE LET UP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REAPPLIED THE BRAKES AND GOT THE SAME THING. SHE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · February 24, 2001 · crash

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE GASKETS WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO JERK OR BUMP…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · April 25, 2000 · crash

WHILE DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT AT 40-45 MPH, I HYDROPLANED INTO A GURADRAIL AND THEN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FELT AS IF ALL OF THE SUDDEN I LOST ALL CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND NO CORRECTIVE MEASURES HELPED. THEN EARLIER THIS MONTH, 10-2001, WHILE DRIVING AGAIN ON WET PAVEMENT, HAD SAME EXPERIENCE, BUT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · February 23, 2001 · crash

VEHICLE COLLISION RESULTED IN ROLLOVER DUE TO DESIGN OF VEHICLE, NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DURING COLLISION RESULTING IN FACIAL INJURIES. *MJS

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · November 30, 1999 · crash

AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES, THE ENGINE HAS BEEN BURNING 1/2 QUART OF OIL EVERY 200-300 MILES. NOT LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND AND DO NOT SEE IN THE EXHAUST. ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. THE ABS SENSOR CONNECTION ON THE REAR AXLE IS ALWAYS LOOSE. GAS GAUGE NOT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · May 5, 2002

1999 Isuzu Rodeo — common questions

Is the 1999 Isuzu Rodeo reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 735 complaints put the 1999 model at #1 of 16 Rodeo years. It is one of the Rodeo years to avoid.

What are the most common 1999 Rodeo problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (225 complaints), fuel system (92 complaints), suspension (86 complaints).

Does the 1999 Isuzu Rodeo have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 1999 Isuzu Rodeo. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1999 Isuzu Rodeo under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 3 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Isuzu Rodeo years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Rodeo years to avoid are 1999, 1998, 2001, 2000, 1995, 1994. The cleanest record among Rodeo years belongs to 1990.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.