1995 Isuzu Rodeo review from North America
"Forget luxury; the '95 Rodeo was engineered for reliability and performance"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Serpentine belt replaced at 100,000 miles.
Timing belt replaced at 90,000 miles; replaced again at 150,000.
Burns oil.
Clutch has became stuck twice, most recently at 140,000. The shifter is a little tore up, but the clutch itself is in good working order.
Rear door lock gets stuck at times.
Front doors no longer lock unless the door handles are held up while the door is being shut.
Tailgate will not open and, unless repaired, is permanently shut.
Dashboard light bulb went out behind speedometer.
This has been by far the most reliable vehicle!
General comments?
Would never pull anything with it, lacks power on long hills, but with regular maintenance it performs well, even on the interstate.
A constant ticking noise is evident. Noisy on the highway, but not as bad as some older vehicles I've driven.
Excellent snow vehicle. I have not driven a vehicle in the snow I like better.
Handles well, even at higher speeds.
Normal wear and tear parts holding up nicely.
No problems with the brakes at all, they are still working great.
Doors and locking mechanisms lack integrity, but as long as she still runs well, I'm happy.
Good gas mileage (for a 14 year old vehicle), at close to 20 highway and a not-as-good 15-17 city.
Because it is a manual, the brake system has held up with little maintenance, and the clutch has held up as well, surprisingly.
Lacks comfort, low-mounted stereo, in-convenient cup-holder set-up.
I have no doubt this car will last for over 200,000 miles. I do worry about valve seals leaking, or the starter failing, only because the engine gets extremely hot.
Recommended reviews
| Fun and frugal |
| Great Value |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1995 |
| Year of manufacture | 1994 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.2L Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 60000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 150000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 27th January, 2009 |