Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Isuzu Rodeo owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Vehicle is very unstable due to insufficent dampening of the supension, dealer says this there is no problem. Truck will bottom out on slight bumps, and bounce up and down as if you were in a boat, the suspension parts are inferior compared to the weight of the vehicle. Condition is very unsafe and could cause loss of control in certain driving situations. Bounce = loss of tread contact to pavement = loss of control. All tires/points of supension (springs/shocks) have the same problem. Would not reccomend this vehicle to anyone other than a pirate, as they are used to the heaving and yawing of a ship.-----------catalitic converter / engine ~ catalitic converter was glowing red one day (with the usual check engine light) jiffylube employee in the pit pointed this problem out to me, laughing and saying it was right next to the gas line, which could cause a fire. …
Tl contact owns a 2000 Isuzu Rodeo. The contact smelled the radiator burning. A mechanic stated that the thermostat failed. Isuzu stated that the thermostat, water pump, and oil seals needed to be replaced at the cost of $1,090. While idling at a stop sign, the vehicle shut down and would not restart. The vehicle had to be towed. Currently, the vehicle will not start and the diagnosis was that the trolley failed and caused the timing chain to come off the engine. The failure caused the engine to expand. The contact was informed that his VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 01i002000 (engine and engine cooling:engine). The current and failure mileages were 77,000.
Dt*: the contact stated a fire erupted in the vehicle while driving. The vehicle had just been filled with fuel. While stopping at a stop light the vehicle began to hesitate as if it were going to stall. The fire was first noticed on the front passenger side. Based on the fire departments investigation the fire started in the engine compartment. However, an arson investigator was contacted who determined the fire was electrical and started in an electrical box located near the battery. The vehicle was totaled as a result of the incident. The police were alerted but did not arrive on the scene. Updated 04/04/06.
I bought this car used with 50128 miles in April 3, 2004. On, July 12, 2004 around 55000 miles. I stopped and let the car running for 3 mins. I came back and the fuel sensor low light was flashing and the car said I was empty, but I knew I wasn't because I just filled the tank up that day. I started going and the fuel sensor said I had all my gas back. After that, everyday, the sensor will say low fuel after the sensor has passed 3/4 of a tank. On, July 15, when the fuel light comes on for sometime the check engine light will come on and stay on until I fill the gas tank up and drive for several miles. I am going to take it to my mechanic and maybe the dealership where I bought the car to solve this problem.
Vehicle continues to stall, checked transmission. And cruise set light come on seconds before vehicle stops. At first it happened a couple of times a months, then weekly, then almost daily. Mechanics could not duplicate problem. Vehicle stalled on May 28, 2004 directly infront of Isuzu dealership! Service manager coasted the car into the shop. "supposidly" a code appeared and I was told it was the EGR valve. It cost close to $500 to repair. Exactly one week later car stalled again. The vehicle is very dangerous to drive due to the excessive stalling. It has stalled on the interstate, at stop signs, and on busy highways.
I purchased the vehicle used in October of 2002. It has 23000+ miles on it. It currently has 35000+ miles on it and the engine is clicking. The dealership notified me that the engine is no good. Not only did the engine go bad, but we've been putting oil in the engine like mad. I think we've purchased 6 quarts of oil in the 8 month period and there is no leak and Isuzu states this is "normal". Also at just over 30000 miles the ABS light came on. The intake gasket had to be replaced 1 month after purchase and that in turn caused one of the valves (EGR I think) to need replaced as well.
Bought used 2000 Isuzu Rodeo 2 years ago only having 30,000 miles on it, since I bought it I have put oil in it about every 2 weeks, no leaks, just always seeming to be low. A week ago it just stopped, towing it to a garage only to find out it lost oil pressure which caused it to stop. The end result is it needs a new engine and it only has 50,000 miles on it. I do not have 7000 dollars to fix this problem and am at a loss as to what to do, on top of a car payment on top of it. Is there any recall or help I can get from the manufacturer?
Our 2000 Isuzu Rodeo 3.5 l v6 habitually burns oil. Has done so for years have found hundreds of similar posts about the same thing. Engine just blew up due to the engine being low on oil. Modest estimates put repair bills in the $4000-$5000 range (more than the car is worth). Isuzu acknowledges that a design flaw is the root cause of the issue and has released a "service bulletin" and will repair the problem if under warranty but has failed to release a full recall to help those of us who are out of warranty.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Isuzu Rodeo. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming one quart of oil per week. The oil was not leaking nor mixing with any other fluids but would burn off when transferred through the cylinders. The vehicle was inspected by a mechanic who stated that the failure could potentially cause the engine to fail. The vehicle was not repaired. The engine later failed. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 123,000.
I have had to repeatedly put oil in my 2000 Isuzu Rodeo. There is no engine leaks. Yet, it burns oil. The engine light only comes on when the engine is bone dry. In reading online forums, I was directed to place a complaint with this organization and also found out that I am not the only one with this problem but Isuzu is aware of this situation and does nothing to take of care of it or their customers!
Engine complaints in other Rodeo years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2000 Isuzu Rodeo?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2000 Isuzu Rodeo, 14% of the model year's 274 complaints. The component named most often is engine (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Isuzu Rodeo engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2000 Isuzu Rodeo, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 Isuzu Rodeo engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 4 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling 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.