Most common 2001 Isuzu Rodeo problems
Share of the 389 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Isuzu Rodeo complaints by model year
Best Rodeo years: 2003, 2004, 2002. Years to avoid: 1999, 1998, 2001, 2000, 1995. Compare all years →
2001 Isuzu Rodeo recalls (4)
Suspension › Rear
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, connecticut, new york, new…
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Frontal
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.
Remedy: 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 service date and do not…
Air bags › Frontal
Vehicle description: certain sport utility vehicles were built with the inflators in the passenger side air bag modules having the wrong amount of generant.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger side air bag unit.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. During the manufacture of certain fuel return hoses, incorrect rubber material for the outer layer was used.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicle to determine if the vehicle was equipped with an incorrect hose. If it is incorrect, dealers will replace it.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2001 Isuzu Rodeo:
Rear suspension lower link failure
During preliminary evaluation pe09-030, Isuzu motors America, inc (Isuzu) noted two primary differences once the rear suspension lower link separation occurs between the alleged defect (separation of the lower link from the frame) of this investigation and a safety defect involving lower link separation from the rear axle addressed by Isuzu in safety recall 00v-058.in the case of the defect condition identified in…
Rear Suspension Lower Link Detachment
On September 22, 2010, Isuzu Manufacturing Services of America, Inc (Isuzu) submitted a Defect Information Report (NHTSA Recall 10V-436) to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration affecting approximately 120,000 model year (MY) 1998-2002 Isuzu Rodeo and Honda Passport vehicles and MY 2002 Isuzu Axiom vehicles originally sold, or currently operated, in the following states:Connecticut, Delaware, the…
Fuel Tank Retention Failure
On April 10, 2018, NHTSA received a petition from Mr. Kevin Byrne (the Petitioner) requesting that the Agency ?undertake a defects investigation? of ?rust-related detachment of Isuzu Rodeo fuel tanks? (NHTSA ID 11091788). The Petitioner experienced a partial fuel tank detachment in his model year (MY) 2004 Isuzu Rodeo in July 2017.
What 2001 Isuzu Rodeo owners say
Body & structure all 214 →
My friend [redacted] and I were returning home from shopping in town. Hit a small pothole on spring street in vernon, ct about 5 pm. Took a left turn down a hill and heard scraping sound outside the car.I pulled over and stopped the vehicle, engaged the emergency brake and examined the wheels. The rear left tire was scraping against the mud guard. I was within .2 mi. From home and drove there slowly and carefully and parked the vehicle. On closer inspection we discovered that the shock/strut had separated from the frame, and that both parts were badly rusted. Since the left rear wheel is not safely connected to the frame, my steering was affected, especially when braking. Thank god this did not happen at high speed on the highway or involve injuries or an accident. My blind wife and I are both disabled on ssd and do not have the means to fix or replace this vehicle. …
Tl contact owns a 2001 Isuzu Rodeo. The contact stated that while traveling at speeds of 15 MPH, the front wheels folded inward and the vehicle began to turn sideways hitting a guardrail. The contact didn't state if there were any injuries or a police report was filed. The contact stated that the sway bars were rusted and fell off of the vehicle while driving causing the front tires to fold inward. The contact stated that the failure was a safety concern. There were no warnings preceding the failure. The vehicle had not been driven since the failure occurred. The failure and current mileages were 120,000.
Suspension all 115 →
Within the past few weeks we received a recall notice on our 2001 Isuzu Rodeo. I called the local Isuzu dealer and was told that they have not received the "tech bulletin" nor the parts to fix the vehicle but they would call me when they could get our vehicle in. They said it was only a minor issue that required spraying an anti rust spray on a part of the undercarriage. Yesterday, 01/30/2011 the left forward mounting bracket ripped away from the frame causing our vehicle to go into a irrecoverable clockwise spin. My wife and 2 year old son were in the vehicle with me. My wife was struck by flying debris and got some scratches and bruises. My son was secured in his car seat but was struck by flying debris and he got a contusion on his forehead and a black eye. I was able to fight through the spin and we ended up in a ditch with no other vehicles involved. …
My friend [redacted] and I were returning home from shopping in town. Hit a small pothole on spring street in vernon, ct about 5 pm. Took a left turn down a hill and heard scraping sound outside the car.I pulled over and stopped the vehicle, engaged the emergency brake and examined the wheels. The rear left tire was scraping against the mud guard. I was within .2 mi. From home and drove there slowly and carefully and parked the vehicle. On closer inspection we discovered that the shock/strut had separated from the frame, and that both parts were badly rusted. Since the left rear wheel is not safely connected to the frame, my steering was affected, especially when braking. Thank god this did not happen at high speed on the highway or involve injuries or an accident. My blind wife and I are both disabled on ssd and do not have the means to fix or replace this vehicle. …
Engine & cooling all 27 →
Tl contact owns a 2001 Isuzu Rodeo. While driving 10 MPH, the vehicle hesitated, slowed down, and attempted to stall. The contact noticed something bouncing underneath the vehicle and then observed flames under the hood. She pulled to the side of the road. The police and fire departments were called to extinguish the fire and a report was filed. The cause of the fire was unknown. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were less than 125,000.
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. Battery tests good alternator just replaced a week ago. 2001 3.2l Rodeo
2001 Isuzu Rodeo engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 21 / 18 |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 20 / 17 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 19 / 17 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 19 / 17 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 19 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Isuzu Rodeo a good car?
Based on 389 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Rodeo rates avoid: 2.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the Rodeo at the same age. It is one of the Rodeo years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Isuzu Rodeo?
The body & structure — 214 complaints, 55% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frame and members. Next are the suspension (115) and engine & cooling (27).
How many recalls does the 2001 Isuzu Rodeo have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2001 Isuzu Rodeo, the most recent from September 22, 2010 (rear). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Isuzu Rodeo?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2003, 2004 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 1998, 2001, 2000 and 1995. See the full Isuzu Rodeo years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Isuzu Rodeo problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 110,000 miles; 9% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.