1999 Isuzu Rodeo LS from North America - Comments

Front end ball and socket had to be replaced at 45,000 miles.

4 wheel drive button is easily bumped or inadvertently pushed, causing frequent unintended operation in 4-wheel drive.

Power drive and winter buttons are easily pushed due to placement on center console. This can occur just by setting purse or other items in center console.

Engine has a SERIOUS design flaw. There is a service bulletin out on how to test the engine in case of oil consumption. What Isuzu doesn't tell you is that the engine design tightened up the piston ring tolerances to the point that the piston rings can become locked into the piston and allow oil to get into the combustion chamber, thus burning oil without the owner knowing. When this happens, oil consumption can increase to 1 qt every 800 miles.

The vehicle was due for an oil change and the "check oil" light came on. There was no oil on the dipstick. Immediately after the oil was changed the very next day, a "tick" and a "knock" were now in evidence. Prognosis is the tick is a lifter and the knock is a main or connecting rod bearing. Cheapest quote for repair is $4400 for a motor and $1500 labor.

Engine repair shop I talked to was unable to do the centerline boring necessary to rebuild engine because of special offset of this engine.

Isuzu is not being responsive because the vehicle is "out of warranty". We were not notified by any means as to the potential problem. Shame on you Isuzu.

Bottom line: I will NEVER own another Isuzu product, nor will I purchase a vehicle from their parent company.

I also own a 1999 Rodeo, and agree 100% with this review. The manufacturer recommendation is to change the oil every 5K miles. My Rodeo burns more than 5 quarts of oil over this 5K distance. I'm essentially changing my oil every 2.5K.

I'm adding at least a quart of oil every 1K miles. Usually more. I brought the truck into an Isuzu dealer twice about the oil consumption, and they told me it was considered "normal and acceptable" to consume up to 1qt oil per 1K miles. Normal for what, a 2-stroke engine?

Why the EPA isn't all over Isuzu's case about this is amazing. Where is this oil going? Into the air and onto the ground, that's where.

And what is going on with Isuzu in general? This is the only auto manufacturer that is losing dealerships instead of adding them. Not that I'm interested in buying another Isuzu, because that will NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. But I need parts, and no Isuzu dealer ever has ANYTHING in stock.

I had to have my intake manifold gasket replaced, plus a valve adjustment and timing belt replaced. It took two weeks to get the parts. While it was in the shop, the technician informed me that the thermostat was UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD! In other words, it would cost me around $300 in labor and parts to replace the thermostat. I told him to go ahead and replace it, which meant more delays because NO ISUZU DEALER WITHIN 100 MILES STOCKS THERMOSTATS! Worse, when we finally got the part from Isuzu, it was WRONG!

I called Isuzu's manufacturer-direct customer service line. All I got was BS and double-talk.

If you've got $30K+ to throw away on an Isuzu, call me first. I'd be happy to screw you for half the price, and I'd still show you more respect afterward than Isuzu has shown me.

I love my 2001 Honda Passport (aka Isuzu Rodeo), but at 41,000 miles I'm beginning to agree with the above comments. My plan had been to only use Mobil 1 for the life of the car, changing the oil every 5000 miles (the manual suggest 7500 I believe)...but the way it burns off the oil it's just too expensive.

First time I realized this it was almost too late. Took the car to get the oil changed maybe around 28k and it was bone dry inside. Now I add a quart every 1000. Good news is Jiffy Lube will refill your car for free between oil changes; bad news is that they're way overpriced and inconvenient.

Right now my Passport is in the shop because its intake gasket blew. I'm being told it's because of build-up in the EGR system. I'm also being told this is very uncommon for a vehicle with 41,000 (almost entirely highway) miles on it. Apparently this is what has been causing the car to shudder in first gear. Anyway, I'm glad I have the 10 yr 100k miles warranty on it, I have a feeling I will be getting a lot of use out of it.

Hey just another rodeo owner here. Mine had the headgasket replaced at 28k, egr valve and tube at 38k, compressor at 42k, now the truck drinks 1 qt of oil per 500/600 miles. Guess it is thirsty. Waiting to see if isuzu is going to back this truck up. Glad it is a lease that ends in less than 2 years. Bye bye rodeo.

I too am a rodeo owner, a 2000 s 6cyl 4x4. To be honest, I love my truck... if I too didn't have major oil consumption issues. I actually was just in the middle of an oil consumption test. before you read on, consider this: my car only has 33000 miles on it and starting showing oil consumption issues after approx 19000 miles...

Oil consumption test start---->

after 500 miles - 1/4 qt low

after approx 1200 miles - 1 qt. low (though I suspect it was more, dipstick was dry and the service manager said a qt qas normal every thousand miles and even tried to get me to stop the consumption test. She indicated it probably wasn't necessary to continue. wink wink.

After approx 2400 and after the 1qt was added at 1200 miles - 4qts. low and I had to pull over with check engine lights/oil lights and sloggy responsiveness.

I called the dealer (it was on a Saturday) and told them I was in the middle of a comsumption test. I informed her that it I needed to put oil into it and that I was having a mechanic fill it up and I would be in with a receipt on Tuesday. Tuesday came and went they informed me that my actions mitigated the consumption test. mitigated the consumption test. then they tried to charge me money for an oil change to start another consumption test. unbelievable. after I just put four qts in three days ago.

Long story short, nothing, but the run around. I too know about the oil drain back holes and the design flaws that Isuzu will not acknowledge. I mention it to people at the dealer and its like they aren't even hearing me. They won't acknowledge the flaw in anyway, even though they know it exists. I too am starting to wonder if they (Isuzu) are going to stand by their product. I will NOT purchase an isuzu product again, nor will I ever recommend an Isuzu product to anyone (i used to quite frequently). I would be interested in speaking with anyone who has had similar issues with their rodeos (i know your out there, all 600,000 of you). Come on people, don't buy the whitewash, 1qt. of oil usage for a 1000 miles is not normal for any car. Is this the new normal? Carrying 4qts of oil with you to go to the store and get a loaf of bread???

R. Hildenbrand

sales@vibrantinnovations.com.

2001 rodeo LS 2wd owner.

I thought I was just going nuts, can this thing be burning so much oil? The answer, yes I put in about 1 qt every 1500 miles. I also had my fan motor cable fall off, it was put back on then it got stuck and the plastic knob broke due to the cables being stuck. My transmision had to be serviced twice due to slipping. Then I got a cluck every time I started off. Lucky I had the warenty but not without the deductable. I am trading thsi thing in ASAP, be cautious to ask owner if you are going to buy one used.

I’m another victim of Isuzu. My used ‘98’ Rodeo burns through oil like I burns through cigarettes (and I’m a heavy smoker). Plus I have this god-awful noise when I accelerate, several mechanics (I refuse to go back to the dealer) figure it was the heat shield. Nobody wants to touch it because it’s such a pain to remove and replace. I’m stuck with this truck till I pay it off, and then it’s trash. The only way I own another Isuzu product is if I falls out of the sky title and all, (with my luck it will land on the one I’m still paying on and I’ll own two junk boxes.)

Newport4@msn.com.

We are "new" Rodeo owner's. We bought a 2000 "used" at 117000 km with what we thought was a great price. Then 2 months later the honeymoon was over. We have had to replace the dual catalytic converter (no warranty), then the front right 4X4 axle broke. Our mechanic has never replaced one of those before - he was surprised. Then we the engine light come on for months. We finally had to take it to the dealer a distance away because our poor mechanic was exhausted with a diagnosis. Apparently Rodeo only likes GM spark plugs, nothing else. That will make the engine light stop! Then we had to put in a new 4X4 switch and I will stop with the list. We have a serious oil consumption issue and have to add a quart every 1000 km and gas is about 450 - 500 km per tank. We thought we were buying something really great and reliable. Now our friends won't travel any long distance with us! And we are left with a car that we will never recover the 6,000 (CDN) that we have paid in repairs. Yes - it is safe to say that Isuzu will NEVER have our patronage again! In fact - we are certain that although some foreign cars are well made - it is much better to just support the good old North American Products!!! Wish us luck in unloading the beast!

I wish I would have read ya'll comments earlier. My 99 rodeo has 64,000 miles and I have had it for 2 years or so. Everytime I would goto get my oil changed (3000 miles) they would tell me there was no oil on the dipstick. I just passed it off because it ran fine. Then the other my oil light came on and I heard a "ting" and a "knock".I was right at time for an oil change. As I look a t the dip stick it had no oil on it. One quart no oil, 2 none, 3 still no oil it took 5 quarts before I could get a reading. well this did not improve the noise. I bought it used and did not by an extended warranty, I did think my powertrain from the factory would cover it, but it didn't. so know I'm stuck with 2 more years on my payment of 300 a month and not the money to fix it was in the process of buying my first home for my family and know I don't know what I will do, my stepfather works on cars, but he said it would be almost impossible to to fix. Really don't know what to do I think I am going to have a nervous breakdown. I can't belive I bought that thing. I sould of known better. If any one has any advice before I jump off a bridge please tell me.

Re the above comment, oh well, that's what happens when you don't bother to check your oil. The repeated notices that your dipstick showed no oil should have motivated you not to wait until your next oil change to find out that your engine was low on oil, but instead you waited for the oil light to come on and the engine to make expensive noises.

I have a 1995.5 Isuzu Rodeo and it to burns oil like an Iraqi oil fire. So this defect has been around quite a long time.

I just bought my 99 Isuzu Rodeo about 45 days ago with 51,000 miles on it. After me putting 3000 miles on it, the engine blew due to NO OIL!!! The only time my oil light came on was when my engine went off and the warranty company is telling me it won't be covered because lubrication is my responsibility.

45 days + no oil light indicator + no cooperation from the dealership, manufacturer, or Fidelity (warranty) = SOL.

Now I don't have a vehicle to get to work, but I have a payment and a huge expense if I am to have a vehicle again. I really don't know what I'm going to do.

Anyone know a good Attorney?

Ahansome@aol.com.

Do we have any recourse at all? I spent $14,000 on a 1999 Rodeo 2 years ago. My oil ran dry 2500 miles after my last oil change.

Needless to say, I'm out a vehicle. I also can't afford to pay the $5500 I was quoted for an engine as old as mine was. Can't we band together and hire someone to help our cause?

I too have a 99 Rodeo LSE - about 2 years ago I finally took the vehicle to the Dealership with the same results and response from the oil consumption test (1 qt per 1k was acceptable). Other than the oil consumption it has been a very good vehicle I just have to keep an eye on it! The dealership was also insisting that the compressor for the A/C was bad (the vehicle sounded like a semi-truck when I started it) and would need to be replaced at $1800 price tag. I have recently found a mechanic that worked for ISUZU and determined the bearing was bad - much cheaper fix 1/3 of the price - remember the mechanics are there to make money and they'll take it if you'll pay it!

I have a 1995.5 Isuzu Rodeo. It has been a pretty reliable vehicle. We spent about $500 to stop a suspected oil leak around 130,000 miles. But since then, the engine has started burning oil rapidly. We just continue buying more and more quarts of oil on a regular basis to get by.

I have a 2001 Rodeo LS with 76,000 miles. Everything has been OK until 3 days ago when the check oil light came on and the engine made a horrendous noise. Towed it to a shop and they informed me that there was not a drop of oil in it and now I need a new engine. Why didn't any lights come on before this happened? I get the oil changed every 3000 miles like the responsible car owner I am. SO how in the world did the oil just disappear? I have an extended warranty, but like with everyone else, they don't want to pay. Has anyone found any recourse or solution to this obviously common problem?

Pepita198@yahoo.com.