5th Jun 2009, 13:56

I just bought a 2000 Isuzu Rodeo LS 4x4. It seems to be OK for now. I do have the problem with the gas gauge and also the check engine light I bought it for 1700 cash. I have a 2 year old and a 5 month old, and it seemed like the perfect car for me. Does anyone have some advice. Should I take my chances with it or should I sell it? What should I do??? Thankx.

19th Jun 2009, 19:09

This comment is to the last one. If your Rodeo is running good, don't worry about it!!! My friend has a 2000 Rodeo and the only thing she's had a problem with is the gas gauge!!! And it runs good and looks like new. I think some of you bought lemons and didn't know at the time...

3rd Jul 2009, 17:45

I own a 1999 Rodeo bought it new. It's been a good car except the fuel sender light broke right away. About 55,000 miles it started shifting hard. Sometimes every gear accelerating and decelerating, but not all the time. Months will go by and it shifts perfect, then out of the blue it acts up. I've had it in for servicing several times. They can't find anything wrong. It NEVER happens when the mechanic drives it.

Does anyone have this problem? It sounds scary. I have 112,000 miles on it now.

20th Jul 2009, 20:53

I have a 99 Isuzu Rodeo LSE, and have had it for 8 years. I have 165000 miles on it and wouldn't trade it for anything. It has been a great truck.

The only problem was the ABS; I pulled the fuse and the dash bulb problem fixed enough for me. I'm about to change ball joints, but the truck is 10 years old, so it's only normal to have wear. I must have got a lucky well made version of the Rodeo; it burns a lot of oil, but as long as I check it, no problems. I wish they still made the Rodeo so I could buy a new one.

24th Aug 2009, 16:35

I have had 3 of the early versions of this car, and when I needed a cheap winter/beater, I bought this 98 Rodeo.

Man, I see that a lot of people are having problems. I have the gas gauge problem, so I repaired that, only to have the fuel pump go out within two weeks of the sending unit repair.

Fortunately, I am doing the work myself, but I can see how frustrating this must be for people who do not do their own repairs.

The 92-97 versions of these totally rock, and are very solid, stable units. If you like the vehicles capabilities, but are having trouble with these 2nd generation versions, look into an older one. Chances are, you'll be impressed with the reliability.

28th Aug 2009, 13:10

I have a 1995 rodeo, four wheel drive standard transmission with 195,000 on the clock. Total maintenance replacement parts are one rear wheel seal, clutch, brakes and water pump.

ABS went out several year ago but it was never designed to work in four wheel drive so I just disconnected it. Gas gauge is just starting to get flaky. Paint is peeling badly.

Oil consumption has been steady at 1500 miles per quart.

Vehicle has been driven in deep snow, rough roads, paved roads and everything else that would to a vehicle that is used for fishing, hunting, wood gathering, vacations and everyday use.

29th Sep 2009, 17:48

I have a 98 Isuzu Rodeo, and I too have the same issues as many of the comments here..

My biggest problem is the hard shifting from 2nd to 3rd while accelerating, and from 3rd to 2nd while slowing down.. Once in awhile it will be from 1st to 2nd. It is an automatic and I know when I will have the problem because when I turn the car on.. if the P (park) light doesn't light up, then I know I will have the problem.. It's is like it is confused what gear it is in.

When I go to neutral, it revs higher and then when I put it in drive, the light will move around to reverse or 2nd or 3rd and then back to the D.. and then the shift problem will happen. But if I turn the car on and the P lights up.. then my car will run smoothly.. any ideas?

I saw someone on here say maybe the sensor needs cleaning..

I also have the problem with the brakes not working when you hit a bump in the road while trying to stop. My fiance has this same 98 Rodeo and it also has that problem. He also has the gas gauge problem and I do not as of yet. Though I have the back wiper problem and he does not.

I think the brake thing is very dangerous and the shifting thing is scary, maybe if there are enough of us, there is something we can do to make Isuzu deal with these obvious should-be recalls..

1st Dec 2009, 09:32

I also have a 2000 Isuzu Rodeo. I love the car, bought it new and just have around 130,000 miles on it.

I have had many of the problems with this car; the oil burning of a quart every 3,000 miles. Isuzu replaced it at 50,000 miles and it doesn't burn a drop now.

Just replaced my first EGR valve.

I have had issues with the ABS and pulled the fuse, that made it shake when I got into loose gravel or hit a bump while braking, ended up finding a ABS module on ebay for 20 bucks and fixed it.

My newest problem is the transmission seems to shift all the time and acts like it's slipping, especially when cold. Backing up it acts like a power glide, and I have to rev it up to get it to go.

On long trips the check engine comes on while the check trans light flashes. Anyone have any ideas? I have a parts car that I can take all the parts I need off, just need to know which ones to change?

29th Jan 2010, 16:39

Well, well, where do I start??? I have a 99 Rodeo with pretty much all of the problems listed here.

1st - Bought the vehicle, and the rear wiper was all that was wrong.

2nd - EGR valve took it to the dealer, had it replaced and did fine for a while.

3rd - Problem continued, the idle constantly fluctuating while coming to a stop. Even would lurch forward like it wanted to keep going.

4th - ABS light came on.

5th - Check engine came on, tightened gas cap, went off, then came back on later.

6th - Popping noise in the rear axle... WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT??!!

7th - Driver side power window went out.

8th - Brake sensor to release from park screwing up - have to turn key to first click, then shift to neutral, then hold the brake and gas in order to start. UGH!!

9th - Head gasket cover; we think it's the idling issue.

10th - Replaced thermostat.

11th - ABS light came on.

12th - Bad ball joints.

And as of now my Rodeo is broken down. We thought it was the fuel pump, but we can hear it running when we turn on the ignition. The car died on me (in the rain) before making a kind of whining sound.

From reading these posts, we now think it could be the fuel sending unit (because that is the one thing we have not replaced.) So, as of now we are SOL'd with money still owed on the car. I loved this car from the get go, BUT all of these problems are so not worth the aggravation. We must have bought the biggest piece of CRAP RODEO out there!! If we get the car fixed, what will go wrong next???

My advice to the people reading this: DO NOT BUY A RODEO, and if you do have one that is RUNNING, get rid of it ASAP!!

I AM glad to hear that we are not alone, we would also love for something to be done! Such as a petition for recalls! So good luck to all of you Rodeo owners! I'm sure your luck will be better than ours!