Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Isuzu Rodeo owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Vehicle was parked and unoccupied in front of owner's home - in first gear with parking break engaged and wheels turned toward the road. There was a clicking noise under the hood and, although parking break was applied, vehicle's wheels were rotating, as if the vehicle was "driving itself". Vehicle proceeded to hit another vehicle parked 6+ feet in front of it. When it hit the other vehicle it pushed and held the vehicle's frame about 3 inches forward. The engine started smoking and continued clicking. Fire and police were called. When fire and police arrived, firemen removed battery cables to vehicle and pushed vehicle back to the side of the road and the vehicle's body (vehicle that had been hit) swung back over it's frame. This very dangerous occurrence was witnessed by the woman whose vehicle had been hit. …
Dt: the contact stated h vehicle burned to the ground after it stalled. The fire originated from under the hood. The contact had no problems with the vehicle prior to the incident. He took the vehicle to dealer for an oil change less than twelve hours prior to the fire. A police report was taken. The fire department did respond. The police report indicated the fire was of an electrical nature. Updated 02/24/06.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Isuzu Rodeo. The contact stated that the electronic door locks intermittently locked the contact out of the vehicle. The front driver's side and rear driver's side doors failed to unlock electronically or manually. The contact mentioned that the key was used in order to unlock the front passengar's and rear passengar's side doors manually. The contact entered the vehicle from the front passengers side ocassionally. In addition, the contact had noticed that the rear end of the frame had rusted and corroded. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for a diagnostic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 143,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Isuzu Rodeo. The contact noticed fuel was leaking from the vehicle and while driving the fumes entered the vehicle. The fuel gauge was inoperable and she was unable to determine how much gasoline was in the vehicle. The dealer nor manufacturer were not notified. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who inspected the vehicle and confirmed that there was a hole in the top of the fuel tank and the fuel gauge was faulty. No repairs were performed. The current and failure mileages were 168,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Starting the vehicle became difficult because of anti theft. Turning the key to start the car would not elicit any reaction at all. The car is designed so that when the car ignition is turned this grounds the anti-theft and the electrical signal then can pass to the starter. To fix the problem we grounded the anti-theft permanently to the body from the engine mounted fuse box.
Dt*: the contact stated, the key would not come out of the ignition after the ignition was turned off and had been lodged there for 5 days. The contact notified the service dealer who determined the problem was with the cable coming from the transmission to the ignition. The manufacturer was notified.
Fuel gauge began reading erroneous. Replaced fuel sending unit located inside fuel tank but still only reads 1/8 of a tank when full. I believe the vehicle must be reprogrammed by the dealer for this particular model year. I have to go by the miles driven to estimate next fuel stop.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Isuzu Rodeo. When attempting to use the horn the sound, the volume was very low and other vehicles were unable to hear it. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current mileage was 100,000 and the failure mileage was at 258.
Vehicle registration was incorrect which caused the recall notice 98 v 170 000 to go to an incorrect address. The defect occurred, and manufacturer was refusing to honor the recall based on the campaign ending.
Vehicle originally failed summer of 2000 with ~42000 miles. While driving, engine would stall for a few seconds and re-fire. Vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that until the vehicle failed and would not start again, they could not diagnose the problem. As time went on, the failures became more frequent and more severe. The vehicle will stall and will not start for 5-20 mins. Sometimes the vehicle will not start in the morning when it is cold. This problem has been reported the last 6 times the vechicle was taken in for other service and the dealer has been unable to fix the problem. During hot weather, the vehicle stalls at least once per day. Same symptoms as 98V170000 recall. Dealer claims recall was performed or vehicle was n/a. Dealer just kept the vehicle for 11 days, was able to reproduce the problem 1 time. Contacted Isuzu and cleaned all ground wire contacts. …
Related recalls
Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. A ground connection terminal was not properly crimped in the supplier's engine wiring harness manufacturing line. This improper crimping process can leave an impression on the terminal that will eventually cause a stress fracture. S
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these vehicles.
Electrical complaints in other Rodeo years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1998 Isuzu Rodeo?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the electrical system of the 1998 Isuzu Rodeo, 6% of the model year's 478 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Isuzu Rodeo electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 98V-170 (front underhood, Jul 24, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1998 Isuzu Rodeo electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 99,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.