Faults:

Purchased cheap because it needed the following repairs:

Fuel level sending unit.

Rear driver's door window motor.

Rear hatch wiper motor.

All 4 shocks.

Outer tie rod ends.

Passenger side sway bar end links.

Front brakes rotors/pad.

Also flushed radiator, changed rear diff oil, belts, spark plugs, lube job etc.

General Comments:

Got the Rodeo to use as a winter vehicle. It needed quite a bit of maintenance so only cost 700 to buy. After spending about 400 in parts and doing all the work myself, I feel that it was worth the work.

After 3 winters I can say the 4WD goes through the roughest Wisconsin blizzards with ease, the 5 speed manual shifts strong, and its yet to strand me anywhere. Since the initial tune up I've since bought it a good set of snow tires, replaced the front blown speakers and changed the alternator with a 90 amp unit.

I will continue using it as my winter beater until something major breaks on it.

Faults:

Well I bought it for $500 with a broken timing belt, and had to change 6 valves, ported the head, and ran it 3000 miles before the oil pump went out.

One month later, the alternator and A/C compressor.

1 year later, the head gasket blew, fixed it, AC went out again, blew the head gasket 6 months later (bought a cheap head gasket). Fixed it with a Felpro head gasket this time.

Fixed the AC, changed the sending unit, bought the sending unit on ebay for $45.

One month later the fuel pump goes out, pulled a pump from my parts Rodeo and needed a fuel pump strainer!! No parts house or dealer list a replacement strainer. Found out the 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora has the same exact strainer that is ACDELCO TS1011 $36 = shipping "Rockauto.com".

Also changed the transmission out; it was cheaper to buy a used one than to rebuild it.

So now the Rodeo will be put up for sale soon, LOL.

General Comments:

The GOOD - overall the Rodeo was a fun vehicle to drive on road and off road. It has a comfortable ride, and I drove the crap out of it!! Pulled trailers and boats with the 4 banger. I hate to get rid of it, but I have a V-6 model to fix up to drive!!

Faults:

I have to believe that the comments trashing the 99 Rodeo are from people who bought used lemons. This car has been nothing but a champ for myself and my family. It's been back and forth from Texas to Colorado, through New Mexico and down to Phoenix, Arizona. It handles every weather condition, every extreme of heat and cold (120+ degree days in AZ, -30 windchill days in CO), and has never broken down.

Difference? I bought the car new. I serviced it. I maintained it. Even after being the shuttle for three kids who are now 9, 7 and 3, the seats still look virtually brand new, and are untorn, unstained, and uncreased. The dash has yet to warp or crack.

Here's what's gone wrong with it. The fuel gauge no longer works. The internal sensor in the tank has gone bad, and apparently the labor costs to replace it put the fix at about $800 to fix a $10 sensor. The solution? Fill the tank, set the trip, refill when you know you're down to your last few gallons. Been that way for two years, have done multiple car trips from AZ to CO and back, and haven't run out of gas yet.

If you're crying about your lemon of a used car, guess what. A carfax probably would've told you all you needed to know. Don't blame Isuzu for the mistreatment of the car by others, or for your own lack of research. Caveat emptor, my friends.

Oh, and the styling shows Isuzu's innovation. After ten years on the road, it doesn't look out of place when new Highlander rolls up next to it. It could've rolled off the showroom last year, it doesn't look a bit dated. Frankly, I'm just sad I can't buy another.

General Comments:

The Rodeo is the REAL Trooper of Isuzu's product line. Great car.

Interior, styling, performance, never been an issue. Appropriate balance of efficiency and power. I've never needed more power, and appreciate a full sized SUV that still manages respectable fuel economy.

Would buy another if I could, but only if I was the first owner.