1997 Isuzu Rodeo Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about frame and underbody corrosion, which many say was found during routine service or inspection and which in some cases left the vehicle unfit to drive. A second cluster of complaints covers engine and cooling trouble, wheel lug nut and stud breakage, unexpected engine speed or surge, and airbags that owners say did not deploy in a collision. Reported mileages vary widely, from a few tens of thousands of miles up to nearly 200,000.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Frame and underbody rust-through

   • 23 complaints (19%)
   • median 142,240 mi at 13.8 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • filed 2006–2015

   Owners describe frame rails, subframes and body mounts rusted through, sometimes badly enough that the frame cracked or a body mount pushed through the metal. In most complaints the corrosion was spotted by a mechanic during an oil change, inspection or unrelated repair rather than noticed by the owner, and shops often advised that the vehicle should not be driven or would not pass inspection. Several owners report being told that a frame recall did not cover this model year, and that neither the dealer nor the manufacturer would assist. Reported across a wide mileage range, typically from about 100,000 to nearly 200,000 miles, and frequently found during routine service or annual inspection rather than after a specific event.

   What to check: Have the frame and underbody inspected from below on a lift before purchase, paying attention to the frame rails, body mounts and rear spring mounts. Ask for any prior inspection notes or welding and repair records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10330994, filed 2010-05, 126,500 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10378370, filed 2011-01, 169,700 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalling or overheating

   • 11 complaints (9%)
   • median 82,381 mi at 8.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2010

   Complaints describe the engine quitting without warning at various speeds and restarting easily, with no stored code and no pattern found by either the dealer or an independent shop. Other owners report overheating while driving or while stopped at lights, in one case leading to major engine repairs and in another to a seized engine shortly after a belt failure. Some owners also mention a ticking noise from the engine and loss of oil pressure. Reported from about 50,000 to 180,000 miles, with overheating appearing both in city driving and at stops.

   What to check: Check coolant level and condition, look for leaks at the heater core and hoses, and ask whether the water pump and timing belt have been replaced. On a test drive, watch the temperature gauge in stop-and-go traffic.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10328399, filed 2010-05, 10,000 miles

   “Problem with vehicle time after time,1997 Isuzu Rodeo which costing me about 24000.00 dollars with high interest,now problem with crank shaft sticking out about 1 and a half inches when you mash down on clutch in which service mechanics say it should not do,and that it is coming out too much. Abs light stays on,ticking sound coming from the engine like the valves. Can not pay on it good because I am always spending money to try to keep it running. Payment of 384.00 dollars per month for 5 years. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10019031, filed 2003-05
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Engine surging or racing at idle

   • 9 complaints (8%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 7.1 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2005

   Complaints describe the engine idling or revving well above normal, sometimes climbing to a few thousand rpm on its own at stoplights or while parking, which owners say makes the vehicle hard to control. One owner reported the vehicle lurching away in reverse when the engine surged, and another described the throttle staying open until a wiring connection was cleaned. Several say the dealer could not reproduce or identify the cause, and one owner mentions the problem appearing mainly in winter. Most sampled reports fall between roughly 60,000 and 130,000 miles; one owner notes the behavior returned during winter months.

   What to check: During a test drive, let the engine idle in park and at a few stops and watch whether the tachometer settles. Ask whether the throttle body and idle control components were cleaned or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10141436, filed 2005-11, 130,000 miles

   “My son was taking me to o'hare airport on 12/21/00. Rodeo suddently began to accelerate on its own. The brakes would not respond. The SUV was in 4 wheel drive at the time and we could not disengate it. For a harrowing 6 miles, he pumped the brakes until it slowed but we could not stop it. Due to it being 6:30 am and a lot of good luck we did not hit anything. Finally when the car had slowed we put it in neutral and regained control. The smell from the brakes by that time were overwhelming. …”

   NHTSA complaint #740496, filed 2001-02
4. 4
   Wheels

   Lug nuts and wheel studs breaking

   • 14 complaints (12%)
   • median 61,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2004

   Owners report aluminum lug nuts snapping or wheel studs shearing when wheels are removed for tire rotation or brake work, and in one case studs came loose while driving at low speed and the hub had to be replaced. Some say the nuts were replaced repeatedly and that shops were reluctant to remove the wheels at all. According to the complaints, a dealer service department and a repair shop gave differing explanations, pointing to torque from earlier work in one case and heat-related seizing in the other. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 80,000 miles, often at the time of a tire rotation or brake service.

   What to check: Ask whether the lug nuts are original and have them checked or replaced with new ones before rotating tires; inspect studs for stretched threads or corrosion.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The engine overheated with only 53,000 miles of very easy driving and regular maintenance. Needs major repairs and have replaced lug nuts every time tires are rotated etc.”

   NHTSA complaint #10021222, filed 2003-06, 53,000 miles

   “Took car in for maintenance and brake check...Isuzu certified tech would not remove tires as studs would break.brakes now squealing and now afraid that more studs will break.contacted Isuzu 1-800 and was told it was due to incorrect torque from other repairs told by garage it was due to excessive heat which fused the two together common defect on 97 rodeos.”

   NHTSA complaint #10082843, filed 2004-07
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in a crash

   • 11 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 2.8 yrs old
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2003

   Several owners describe collisions at highway speeds, including frontal impacts and a rollover, in which they say the airbags did not deploy. In one case the owner reports being told by customer service that the vehicle must be struck in a particular way for deployment, and another describes a seat separating from the floor in a rear impact. These accounts come from individual crashes and do not identify a specific part failure. Mileage is not given in most of these reports; the complaints span model years of ownership from the late 1990s into the 2000s.

   What to check: Check that the airbag warning lamp comes on at startup and then goes out, and ask whether the vehicle has ever been in a collision with prior airbag or seat-mount repair.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While traveling, a vehicle cut consumer off leaving consumer to swerve to the right into a sand barrier on the exit ramp, airbags did not deploy and consumer sustained injuries, consumer called customer service and they stated that vehicle had to be hit a certain way for the airbags to deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #877883, filed 2001-01

   “Consumer was traveling about 50mph on highway and a deer jumped in front of vehicle, consumer was trying to avoid hitting the deer , he swerved and lost control of vehicle. Driver's side airbag didn't deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #898252, filed 2001-10

Buying note. Corrosion of the frame and underbody is the item most worth spending time on: have the vehicle put on a lift and inspected before buying, and treat serious rust-through as a reason to walk away. Beyond that, check idle behavior, the cooling system and the wheel hardware, and ask for maintenance records.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.