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Isuzu Rodeo Owner Ratings & Reviews

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3.8
Overall
38 Reviews

2002 Isuzu Rodeo - Reliable small SUV

DF
Hicksville, New York
Overall
4.0
Value
4.0
Performance
3.0
Style
3.0
Comfort
3.0
Fuel Economy
2.0
Reliability
4.0
We have had this car since 2002. The ride is "truck-like", but overall is comfortable. It is reliable. We have had only one major issue with it since we got it. The transmission failed, but the warranty from Isuzu covered the transmission which they replaced. It just took months to get it completely fixed as the transmission came from a factory in France! Replacement parts for this SUV are hard to find as Isuzu no longer makes cars and SUVs.
Story
I took it on a sudden 5 day ski trip with just my very young kids on Christmas Day 5 hours away. Most of the gas stations were closed that day so I was sweating it when we got up north to Massachusetts and Vermont trying to find an open gas station and food, I finally found a gas station and we filled up on gas and snacks. It was nerve-wracking trying to find gas that day. It didn't occur to m... (more)
Pros
It is reliable, only one major issue which was covered. The seat material has held up over the years. The seats are form and the material didn't wear away, For a SUV of that age, it gets decent gas mileage. It is practical and comfortable for a small family. The trunk area is spacious. Front and side visibility is good.
Cons
Isuzu is out of business so no brand original parts are available. There was a recall for a short time for rust on the frame. The ride is rough. The lift gate is in 2 pieces- the window goes up and the bottom goes to the side. It cannot be opened all in one movement. There is no center seatbelt in the rear seat and there is no 3rd row.

1999 Isuzu Rodeo - Just Awesome

Sean
Perrysville, Ohio
Overall
5.0
Value
5.0
Performance
3.0
Style
3.0
Comfort
5.0
Fuel Economy
4.0
Reliability
5.0
My Rodeo has been the best thing I have owned with a engine, the seats all fold down flat so if you like camping you can actually sleep in the rodeo comfortably. The Isuzu rodeo has enough room to stack half a cord of cut fire wood, or if your nuts like me, you can actually stuff a snowmobile in this thing if you really need to.
Story
I bought a snowmobile last year, and my trailer broke, so I drove my Rodeo to the persons place, and I stuffed the snow mobile in the back of the rodeo, with the front forks sticking out the window hatch, I drove 97 miles like that, no problem!
Pros
Tons of room in the back, rack on the top, and my model has a spare tire on the back door, not under the body, which is better in my opinion 210 horsepower is pretty good. It also gets 20 miles to the gallon which for this size SUV, I think it's really good, from a 210 horse power v6.
Cons
2 Wheel drive only(this model) and sealed transmission, you can't just check your transmission fluid, you have to take it to someone for that, which is annoying, it's a rear wheel drive suv, so it's a little squirmy on snow if your not putting stuff in the back to weight the rear wheels down

2001 Isuzu Rodeo - Great Vehicle with Few Problems

RD
Rockford, Illinois
Overall
4.0
Value
4.0
Performance
3.0
Style
3.0
Comfort
4.0
Fuel Economy
2.0
Reliability
4.0
This vehicle runs very well and maintains good gas mileage considering the size of the vehicle. It has many features such as a six disc CD changer, sunroof, VCR player with TVs behind the headrests, options for winter drive and power drive for hauling, power seating adjustments and more. There are some issues with the vehicle. It is known for having rust issues with the body, although when I bought the vehicle, the rusted out areas were welded to be stronger than the original frame. The motor is known to run for a very long time and at 14 years old, the vehicle only has a little over 100,000 miles. It has some minor problems from a previous accident including loose front bearings which affect the ABS system and change the way the vehicle brakes at times. The primary issue I have at the... (more)
Story
I haven't had the vehicle for very long, but I did take it on a road trip with some friends to go to a concert. We jammed all the way there and made a few stops along the way. The concert was the most memorable part but the drive there and back was really fun despite being a long drive.
Pros
My favorite part about this vehicle is they are known to run well for a long time as long as they are maintained. I expect it to last a long time considering it only has 100k miles. It has a V6 engine but has comparatively better gas mileage than other vehicles with V6 engines. The factory stereo system is very nice for the year of the vehicle and holds up to six discs along with a tape deck option, which I use often with a cassette/AUX adapter to play music from my phone. The speakers are original but they still produce a good bass sound at a high volume. My son can watch movies in the ba... (more)
Cons
The primary complaint I have heard about this vehicle is rust problems. Before I bought the vehicle, several spots on the frame had to be welded and sandwich plated to keep the frame intact, although the welded spots should be stronger than the original frame now. There is still a great deal of noticeable rust and there is a tiny spot on the top of the car where water drips through during strong rain. The transmission also idles high at times and occasionally the check engine light comes on, though no problems could be diagnosed by a mechanic. The starter is my main concern at this point b... (more)

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