Faults:

I have a 1999 Rodeo. I bought this car in 2003.

As soon as I bought it, the transmission went out. Aamco rebuilt the transmission ($2,300). A month after Aamco rebuilt the transmission it went out again. I took this truck back and forth to Aamco for a 18 months (the length of the warranty). Finally the warranty was up, and they wanted to charge me for the service to be done again. I then paid another mechanic to put in a totally different transmission.

My next problem is the fault gas gauge. When I fill up, gauge shows full, 20 mile later, empty, and the fuel light comes on, then starts to blink and finally the check engine light follows.

The other problem is the oil consumption. I don't know where it goes, but I have to check the oil regularly. I have over 200200 miles on it now. Every mile it makes is a miracle to me. I'm going to pass it to my 18 year old son, and let him finish it off.

Faults:

Stabilizer bar linkage broke; $30 fix and 10 minutes of my time.

Gas gauge doesn't work, but I already knew about that. I drive about 250 miles between fillups to be safe, but could drive another 50 miles further.

Tranny shifting hard from 2 to 3.

General Comments:

Gas mileage is fair, but could be better for the size of the vehicle.

Faults:

When I purchased the Isuzu Rodeo, for $3,500 from a private seller, it ran fine. But now I've gotten these problems:

- Gas gauge is messing up.

- Clutch is slipping, and it grinds anytime I try putting it into reverse.

- The rear windshield wipers stopped working.

- The very back door will not open.

General Comments:

I wouldn't recommend buying one.. at all. For a first vehicle, I could have done better. Can anyone help?

Faults:

Problem with either the fuel filter or fuel pump.

CD player skips too easily, and the speakers in the front no longer work.

Anti lock brakes aren't responsive at times.

General Comments:

I know everybody calls them lemons, but I really have enjoyed this vehicle.

It's got good pickup and go, and a fairly smooth ride for a truck based SUV.

The 5 speed manual is a must for sure, I haven't had any issues along the line of problems from it.

I have found that it burns oil at a kinda faster pace, but it's nothing that's been insane.

I also noticed that slamming on the brakes in the rain causes the brakes to work poorly.

I got it used, and worked with the guy who owned it previously. He tipped me off cause his wife thought "it was too cruel to the environment." She hates me for buying it, but it's not my problem. He warned me to watch the oil consumption, but it really hasn't given me too many problems.

Faults:

Burn a lot of oil.

Handles like a truck - roll, squat and dive.

Front bumper/fender bends easily.

Squeaks, squeals, rattles, thumps, bangs, knocks, pinks, and has occasional periods of silence.

General Comments:

1999 V6 Rodeo LS 4wd on 135k miles.

Uses 1 quart of oil ~600 miles - if you own a Rodeo CHECK THE OIL OFTEN. It's a design defect in the pistons, well known issue, not a "problem" as such, just buy oil in bulk from CostCo and keep it topped up. It holds 5 quarts, if it drops down below 2.5 quarts, your transmission will shift very harshly and you'll be 50% down on power. Those are the warning signs, ignore them and you'll bleed cash, but DON'T take your Rodeo to the mechanic and tell him your transmission is shifting harshly UNTIL you've tried topping up the oil - otherwise he'll convince you your tranny is toast and pull your pants down on the cost.

The transmission (4 speed auto) is otherwise silky smooth, despite having no dipstick it's checkable and re-fillable. Mine has lasted about 50k miles so far. If the number lit up on the dashboard (P, D,R,1,2,3) is not equal to the gear that you're in, then you have to take the shifter apart (under the car) and clean up the contacts in the shift position selector, common problem to watch out for.

City mileage is around 15/16 mpg, less if you boot it frequently (powerful engine, very tempting). Highway ~20mpg @ 75mph, ~25 @ 55mph (but you'll only get that if you drive an entire tank (450 miles or so) on the highway with a cop behind you)

Costs: new front brake pads fitted & machined rotors will cost around $200, because it's 4wd, and the locking front hubs complicate matters. Also, replacing CVs (inevitable in any car after 100k miles) will cost $600+ if you have the 4x4, because the front transfer case has to be dropped. only buy the 4x4 if you really need it. It's not a full time 4x4 anyway, and you can't use it on dry pavement. Tires cost me $600 for 4 new all seasons at Costco.

Lots of squeaks and rattles, don't take them to heart - it's a body on frame SUV, it's meant to talk to you. My hood has started squeaking on left hand turns, sounds like the suspension is about to collapse. It might well be, who knows, that's all part of the fun :)

Conclusion: a ten year old car, unless it's Honda or Toyota, is going to need maintenance. I feel sorry for the folks who bought these things new (wow, $30K, that's serious!) but as a $4k vehicle, for people with the right car-repair mindset, the Rodeo now represents excellent value for money.

Mine will get me through any snow-storm, up (and down!) any gradient, will pull as much as a 3.2L V6 can be expected to pull (4000 pounds), will cruise on the highway, fit into city parking spaces, has excellent visibility, is safe (airbags, ABS, SOLID frame), looks cool (my opinion), looks cooler the more dents it has (again, my opinion) and is cheap to insure.

All in all, a great used car deal.