1997 Isuzu Rodeo LS from North America - Comments

Rear passenger window stopped going down at 35,000 miles.

Belts have been squealing since 25,000 miles.

Dash lights went at 60,000 miles.

Wheel lug bolts snapped off before/during first service.

Engine started tapping at 55,000 miles (I was told it was normal, and okay).

At 104,000 miles my tapping engine blew (I was told that this, too, was normal, and the chances of getting a used one were slim).

The charging system is so unstable that I can't use a power inverter on trips (for a portable DVD player or Playstation 2).

This is the noisiest auto I have ever been in (windows up or down).

The seats are the most uncomfortable I have ever been in.

I cannot get the belts to stop squealing.

I put in a second engine ($3,600) with a 1 year warranty and that engine is now tapping, too!

The air conditioning still works great!

My cousin has the same tapping noise in her rodeo. So it may be normal for the engines to stink!

Duh that's because Isuzu is now own by GM, and they put an American piece of garbage engine on it...

I too had to the tapping problem on my 97 Rodeo. The tapping noise is from the rocker arms going bad. The repair of just the rocker arms alone is anywhere between $2400 & $3000. You can change your oil every 3K miles & it won't prevent the rocker arms from going bad. Rodeos are built in Indiana and not Japan like the Isuzu Trooper, so you won't get the extended miles on your Rodeo like you would with the Trooper. If you have to get a new engine, get a Jasper engine and not a dealership rebuilt engine since Jasper uses higher quality NEW PARTS and offers a 3 year 75K mile warranty on labor and parts. I feel for everyone with the rocker arm problem.

When the rocker arms "go bad" (cause of tapping) they aren't broken or worn out. They are full of sludge. They can be cleaned. They don't need to be replaced. The problem can be avoided altogether with the use of synthetic engine oil. 196,000miles on my 97 LS now... No tapping since switching to synthetic 2 years (40,000 miles) ago. Too bad Isuzu couldn't tell you that from the start though.

Have a 97 3.2L V6 Rodeo myself, with 138K tap free miles. She's never tapped a day in her life. I am the original owner with 138K miles now, have used 10W-30 Havoline (regular oil) and Isuzu Filter since day one, have not experienced a single problem.

I have never gone over 3k mile oil changes.

Wouldn't trade her for anything.

To the person who switched over to synthetic to stop the rocker arms from clacking: YOUR WRONG! I switched to Mobil One 5W-30, and it still tapped like crazy EVEN WITH A CLEAN ENGINE. Built in Indiana & not Japan like the Trooper is why the Rodeo's engine is no good.

It's funny for one to suggest that the Rodeo's engine is not as good as the Trooper engine. When in fact, the 3.5L in the Troopers - also an Isuzu engine, is an extreme oil burner, and MANY upon MANY of these engines have thrown a rod simply because they ran out of oil. The trooper's engine is an oil burner because of the design of the ring packs.

The 93-97 3.2L sohc engine's were/are the best of the best of the Isuzu engines. Some of them may burn a little oil, but NOTHING like the Troopers, and yes, many are known to tick, generally stemming from those that are using an incorrect oil filter as well as infrequent oil changes.

However, some 3.2L's tick for no previous reason too - however, I can think of hundreds of other engines from various manufacturers that have their own glitches.

I had 150k on my 1st 1991 Rodeo, which by the way was a 3.1L Chevy engine - a GREAT truck; followed by my current '97 Rodeo with the 3.2L Isuzu engine now at 152k miles. This truck has been the best vehicle with the least amount of problems.

This 3.2L does not use a drop of oil in 3k miles and does not tick. All I've ever used is Havoline and an OEM filter. I have owned both Rodeo's since new and am meticulous with the maintenance.