1997 ISUZU RODEO Recalls, Complaints & Safety

This specific car with this VIN number is missing the back window and just a piece of wood is covering where the window should be. Grocery bags and rags are sticking out of the wood. A 10 month old child travels in this car in freezing cold weather conditions. Back seat rests were also missing from this vehicle so child is very unsafe in this vehicle

THE TRUCK IS ERODING AWAY THE UNDER CARRIAGE AND HAS STATED TO COME THROUGH INTERIOR EFFECTING THE BOLTS AND THE SUPPORTS HOLDING SEAT DOWN. ALSO THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. BLOWN KNOCKING ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE SERVICE, THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME ON THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE BEING INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE UNDERBODY AND THE BRAKE LINES. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE COMPONENTS BEING FULL OF RUST AND THE RISK OF FRACTURING AT ANY TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

I SENT IN A COMPLETE ALREADY I HAVE NEVER HEARD BACK I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW THE 96 AND 98 WERE RECALLED FOR FRAME PROBLEMS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM YOU FOR THE 97 I AM IN A TIGHT SPOT I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THIS CAR I HAVE GOOD CREDIT BUT BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE COSIGNER I CAN NOT REPLACE THIS CAR. *TR

WENT TO GO GET INSPECTED WAS TOLD IT WOULD NOT PASS FRAME ROTTED IN 2 SPOTS ON RIGHT SIDE OF CAR ALSO NOT SURE IF THE YEAR IS RIGHT OR NOT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE FRAME AND STATED THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE EXTREME RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,418.

I HAVE A 1997 ISUZU RODEO WHICH I HAVE OWNED FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS AND WANT TO SELL IT. IT IS PHYSICALLY AND MECHANICALLY IN EXCELLENT CONDITION EXCEPT FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL AMOUNT OF RUST TO THE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE. UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, ISUZU HAD A RECALL ON MANY OF THESE VEHICLES WHICH I WAS NOT AWARE OF, EVEN THOUGH I HAD BOUGHT THIS USED VEHICLE FROM AN ISUZU DEALER. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALER AND ASKING WHY I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL, HE SAID ALL VEHICLES WERE NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. UPON LOOKING UP MY VIN, HE SAID MY VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED!!! I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY AS, AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE, MY VEHICLE HAS ALL THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF THE VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED AND I AM AFRAID IT MAY BE UNSAFE TO SELL!. I REALIZE THE RECALL ENDED IN DECEMBER AND ISUZU IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS BUT I FEEL I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL AND GIVEN THE OPTION TO CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RECALL OFFER.IS THERE ANY RESOLUTION TO THIS OR WILL I BE STUCK WITH A VEHICLE I AM AFRAID TO SELL? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UNDERBODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

MY VEHICLE IS 1997 AND IT IS SAME ISSUE WITH 10V-436 RECALL NOTICE. I AM WONDERING WHY MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL AS I SEE THE SAME ISSUE WITH MINE. THERE WERE 2 OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE SERVICE WHEN THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER MAIN FRAME RAIL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGES WERE BEYOND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

ACCELERATED CHASSIS TRAILING ARM RUST UNDERNEATH THE AUTO. *KB

1997 ISUZU RODEO - INFORMED BY AUTO MECHANIC THAT VEHICLE FRAME IS EXTREMELY RUSTED OUT AND VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO OPERATE. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BODY MOUNT PUSHED THROUGH RUSTED FRAME SO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE NOW RESTS ON THE FRAME NO LONGER SECURING THE VEHICLE BODY TO THE FRAME AT THAT MOUNTING LOCATION. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT A HALF INCH LOWER THAN THE DRIVER SIDE AS THE BODY MOUNT PUSHED THROUGH THE RUSTED FRAME. FRAME HAS EXTENSIVE, PREMATURE HEAVY RUST AND IS RUSTED THROUGH IN A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS. *KB

UNDER FRAME HAS RUSTED AND CORRODED SO BADLY WE ARE BEING ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE.

I AM FILING THIS FOR MY 1997 ISUZU RODEO THAT MAY HAD A RECALL. *TR

FRAME RUSTING AWAY FROM UNDERNEATH OUR 1997 ISUZU RODEO. FILED A COMPLAINT OVER A YEAR AGO WITH NHTSA INCLUDING PICTURES, PIECES OF THE METAL FROM THE FRAME AND DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED FOR THE RECALL ON RODEO'S AND PASSPORTS. (MY ODI #10299607) AS YOU WILL SEE THE INFORMATIONWAS TAKEN DOWN INCORRECTLY AN STATES A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. THAT IS HOW WE FOUND OUT THE FRAME WAS BAD IS WHEN WE TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR. THERE ARE MANY ISUZU AND PASSPORT OWNERS WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ARE UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE FRAMES ARE ROTTING OUT AND CAUSE COMPONENTS TO LET GO FROM THE FRAME WHICH COULD CAUSE AND ACCIDENT. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL TO TRY TO FIX THE LOWER BRACKETS BUT MOST ARE NOT FIXABLE BECAUSE THE FRAMES ARE SO GONE. WE WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL BECAUSE ISUZU AT THEIR DISCRETION ONLY CHOOSE A FIVE YEAR PERIOD FROM 1998-2002. WE SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS WELL AS OTHERS BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO LIMIT THEIR EXPOSURE AND KEEP COST DOWN WHILE IN THE MEANTIME SOMEONE COULD GET HURT. THE RECALL SHOULD GO BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FRAMES WHICH SOMEONE ON THE BLOG FOUND OUT IT HAS BEEN DETERMINE TO BE THE DANA CORP. WHO ALSO MADE THE BAD FRAME ON TOYOTA TICUMSA. THE RECALL NEED TO BE FROM MANUFACTURE DATE OF THE FRAMES MADE FOR ALL ISUZU AND PASSPORTS. THIS RECALL IS NOT BEING HANDLE CORRECTLY AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

BAD FRAME ROT ON MY 1997 ISUZU RODEO WAS CHANGING OUT MY U-JOINTS AND INSPECTING THE VEHICLE WHEN I NOTICES SEVERAL SPOTS WHERE THE FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH. I BEGAN CLEANING THE FRAME AND SOME SPOTS DISINTEGRATED WHEN I HIT THEM WITH A WIRE WHEEL. WELDED ANY CRACKS I FOUND FILLED IN SMALLER HOLES AND WELDED PLATES AND SUPPORTS INTO THE BAD SPOTS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THIS WAS A ONE OFF INCIDENT BUT AFTER A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE IT SEEMS FAIRLY COMMON. *TR

1999 ISUZU RODEO. CONSUMER IS QUESTIONING WHY HER VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 10V436000. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY TO HAVE THE EXHAUST PIPE REPLACED WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE FRAME AND SUB FRAME WERE EXCESSIVELY CORRODED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE SUB FRAME COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED BUT WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS SERIOUS CORROSION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED HER NOT TO DRIVE IT. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST BECAUSE THE 1997 VEHICLES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 195,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR SPRING MOUNTS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS A SAFETY CONCERN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,500. UPDATED 01/04/118LJ UPDATED 01/10/11*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE CHANGING THE OIL, HE NOTICED EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED TWO LOCAL WELDERS AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE FRAME. THE LOCAL WELDERS STATED THAT THE CONTACT'S YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE UNKNOWN RECALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE CONTACT STATED THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO LATER MODELS BECAUSE THIS OF THE KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

1997 RODEO TOOK IT IN TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME IS RUSTED THRU AND HOLES EXIST IN A NUMBER OF AREAS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ISUZU RODEO. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHEN THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS CRACKED AND CORRODED. THE FRAME WAS WELDED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS INFORMED EVERY YEAR WHILE HAVING THE STATE INSPECTION PERFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT WOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO HER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EACH YEAR TO HAVE THE FRAME RE-WELDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

THE FRAME OF MY 1997 ISUZU RODEO HAS RUSTED SO BADLY THAT IT HAS BROKEN IN HALF. I CAN PULL CHUNKS OUT OF THE FRAME WITH MY BARE HANDS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE IT. *TR

I OWN A 1997 ISUZU RODEO; I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. THE FRAME OF MY RODEO IS RUSTING AWAY. I SAW A REPORT ON THE NEWS LAST NIGHT REGARDING RODEOS AND PASSPORTS AND THE SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVED WITH THESE RUSTING FRAMES. THE NEWS REPORTED A NHTSA STUDY ON THIS ISSUE. THE REPORT SUGGESTED THAT A COMPLAINT BE FILED WITH NHTSA. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A THUMPING SOUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION AS THE ENTIRE FRAME HAD RUSTED UNDERNEATH. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED AND THE CONTACT REFUSED TO DRIVE IT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 139,481. UPDATED 07/14/2010.*LJ RECEIVED PICTURES OF FRAME. UPDATED 09/13/10

2006 I PURCHASED 1997 ISUZU RODEO. NOT LONG AFTER WE NOTICED ENGINE MADE A TICKING SOUND BROUGHT IT TO SHOP AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS NO OIL PRESSURE. WE HAD TO HAVE ENGINE REPLACED IT TOOK ABOUT 2 MONTHS. THEY HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE 2. FIRST ONE THEY INSTALLED WAS ALSO BLOWN. ENGINE STILL TICKS. THERE IS ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE SUV WANTING TO ACCELERATE WHILE AT A STOP. SOMETIMES NOT EVEN HOLDING THE BREAK FIRM STOPS IT FROM ROLLING. THE HEATER CORE STARTED LEAKING ANTIFREEZE INTO THE VEHICLE. THE REPLACEMENT FEE JUST FOR THE PART IS 400.00. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. *TR

1997 ISUZU RODEO FRAME IS RUSTING. THERE ARE SEVERAL PLACES WHERE IT HAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. IT HAS NOT FAILED YET, BUT LOOKS LIKE IT IS FLEXING BADLY IN THESE SPOTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 ISUZU RODEO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE MAIN FRAME EXHIBITED SEVERE RUST CORROSION. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO A SAFETY HAZARD. THERE WERE CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISKS INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 2/1/10 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE FUEL PUMP HAD TO REPLACED. UPDATED 02/02/10.*JB

REGULAR FRAME REPAIR TO 1997 RODEO. JULY IS MY INSPECTION MONTH AND FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS IT HAS BECOME FRAME REPAIR TIME, IT NEVER ENDS. IS ANYTHING BEING DONE ABOUT A RECALL ON RODEO & PASSPORT FRAMES? *TR

FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO A RUSTED OUT FRAME. *TR

I HAVE A '97 ISUZU RODEO. I HAVE KEPT IT IN GOOD SHAPE. THE FRAME OF THE CAR HAS CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE THE FRAME HAS BROKEN. I AM SO GLAD THIS WAS DISCOVERED BY MY TECHNICIAN. IF THIS HAD FULLY COME APART ON THE ROAD IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I AM SURE OURS IS NOT THE ONLY RODEO TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THESE THINGS ARE TIMEBOMBS ON THE ROAD! SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO COMPENSATE OWNERS OF THESE CARS. THE FRAME OF THE CAR SHOULD NOT JUST COME APART! THIS WILL KILL PEOPLE ON THE ROADS. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT 18,000 MILES, ALL ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT A LOCAL SERVICE STATION; THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AN INDEPENDENT BODY SPECIALIST INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE FRAME WAS BEYOND REPAIR. THE CONTACT WROTE TO THE MANUFACTURER, BUT A RESPONSE HAD NOT BEEN RECEIVED. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOT ALERTED. *AK UPDATED 12/01/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS IN THE CITY, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

I STARTED THE CAR AND NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS SURGING. I THOUGHT IF I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, I COULD QUELL THE ENGINE. THE CAR BOLTED IN REVERSE OUT OF MY GARAGE, ACROSS THE BACK ALLEY, DOWN A DRAINAGE DITCH EMBANKMENT BEHIND BY HOUSE AND UP THE OTHER SIDE. I ENDED UP IN THE FIELD BEHIND MY HOUSE. I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAR SLOWED IN THE MUDDY FIELD. *NM

1 injured

ENGINE QUITS RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WHEN ENGINE COLD OR HOT, IN DIFFERENT SEASONS AND WEATHER. TIMES BETWEEN EVENTS RANGES FROM A FEW MINUTES TO A FEW MONTHS, NO DISCERNABLE PATTERNS. ENGINE GENERALLY RESTARTS EASILY BUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AFTER STARTING. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER AND INDEPENDENT GARAGE WITH NO RESULTS; PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.

DT: TWO WEEKS AFTER BUYING A USED CAR, IT STARTED MAKING A NOISE AND ON THE WAY TO THE MECHANIC THE FAN BELT BROKE. AFTER THEY FIXED THE FAN BELT (ABOUT A WEEK AFTER) THE ENGINE FROZE. THE USED CAR LOT THAT THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE CAR FROM SAID SHE COULD NOT BRING THE CAR TO THEM BECAUSE SHE DID NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND THEY DID NOT OFFER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER OF VEHICLE WILL NOT HELP. SHE HAS NO MONEY TO GET IT FIXED AND SHE CAN' T TAKE HER FATHER TO THE DOCTOR. *JB