Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 442 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Isuzu Rodeo, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 171 | 39% |
| Suspension | 67 | 15% |
| Suspension | 49 | 11% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 15 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 15 | 3% |
| Power train | 10 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 9 | 2% |
| Tires | 9 | 2% |
| Fuel system | 8 | 2% |
| Fuel system | 8 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND OFF . WENT FOR INSPECTION TWICE PAID $99 DOLLARS FOR THE PLACE TO FIX FOR INSPECTION AND LIGHT IS BACK ON AGAIN. HE SAID THE AIR BAG MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
FUEL DELIVERY WENT OUT KILLING VEHICLE. FRAME COMPLETELY RUSTED REAR LINKS COMPLETELY GONE. ENGINE RANDOMLY LOSES POWER. WHILE TRAVELING TO WORK VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY, STARTED TICKING THEN ENGINE SHUT OFF. WON'T START. B
NHTSA complaint: Steering
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, VEHICLE STARTED SWAYING IN THE BACK LIKE IT WAS HYDROPLANING. SAME THING HAPPENED ON WAY HOME. DIDN'T DRIVE IT DURING THE NEXT TWO DAYS, SAME THING HAPPENED THE NEXT TIME. ON FOURTH DAY, I NOTICED
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE SERVICE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND KEPT REFERRING THE CONTACT TO DEALERS THAT
NHTSA complaint: Structure
2004 ISUZU RODEO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE SHIELD THAT COVERS THE PLASTIC GAS TANK BEING ROTTED THROUGH. *LD *JS *JS THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL 13V-547. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAI
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND SOMETIMES BANG INTO GEAR. THE SHIFTER LINKAGES GET STUCK AND HAVE TO SHUT OFF CAR AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO UNJAM SHIFTER. WHEN GOING TO TAKE OFF REAR END JAMS UP.
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
MY 2001 ISUZU RODEO SPORT SHAKES AND VIBRATES VIOLENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT LOW OR HIGH SPEEDS. IT FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO TURN OVER AT ANY MOMENT. I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING MESAGE WHEN I SEARCHED THE NHTSA DATA
NHTSA complaint: Steering
THE VEHICLE REAR SUSPENSION RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT WHILE DRIVING THE STABILIZING BAR DETATCHED WHILE VEHICLE WAS ON THE ROAD. THE FAILURE OCCURED AFTER RECALL REPAIR WAS PREFORMED 7 YEARS EARLIER. AT THIS POINT THE IZU
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2001 Isuzu Rodeo. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE INFLATORS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULES HAVING THE WRONG AMOUNT OF GENERANT.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT WOULD TRIGGER A PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, TOO MUCH GENERANT CAN CAUSE THE INFLATOR MODULE TO EXPLODE. IF THE AIR BAG MODULE EXPLODES, METAL AND PLASTIC DEBRIS COULD
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG UNIT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. DURING THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN FUEL RETURN HOSES, INCORRECT RUBBER MATERIAL FOR THE OUTER LAYER WAS USED.
Risk: THE FUEL RETURN HOSE DOES NOT MEET OZONE-RESISTANT SPECIFICATIONS, AND COULD ULTIMATELY CRACK, CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN INCORRECT HOSE. IF IT IS INCORRECT, DEALERS WILL REPLACE IT.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES WERE MANUFACTURED AND SHIPPED WITHOUT A NECESSARY COMPONENT KNOWN AS A CHECK VALVE PIN.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT INFLATE PROPERLY OR SUFFICIENTLY RESULTING IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON
ISUZU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2002 ISUZU RODEO AND MODEL YEAR 2002 ISUZU AXIOM VEHICLES, AND HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN 1998-2002 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES, THAT WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED, IN THE STATES OF MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND,
Risk: EXCESSIVE CORROSION MAY RESULT IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE FRAME, WHICH CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET AREA. FOR VEHICLES IN WHICH LITTLE OR NO CORROSION IS FOUND, THE AREA WILL BE TREATED WITH AN ANTI-CORROSIVE COMPOUND. FOR VEHICLES IN WHI
| Reliability raw | 70 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 73 | good |
| Maintenance | 86 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 52 | average |
| Efficiency | 33 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 442 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 171 of them (39%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 70/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 73/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2001 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.