Faults:

One failed transmission solenoid.

Various electrical switches in the cabin.

A/C compressor clutch.

General Comments:

My 1994 Rodeo LS is 20 years old and still runs like new. Starts first time every time and has never left me stranded. There’s not even a hint of rust underneath except for on the exhaust bolts. With regular maintenance, this truck will last forever. It’ll take all kinds of abuse offroad and just keep going.

The only problems I have had are with the door window switches, which tend to fail internally and cannot be fixed. Parts are getting hard to find and Chinese-made copy parts are always way inferior to the OEM parts.

The engine and transmission are as strong as the day this truck rolled off the production line, and I’m gonna drive the car until its wheels fall off – which I fully expect won’t happen for another 20 years.

The first generation Rodeos were engineered to be strong and reliable – as good or better than any Toyota of the same age.

Faults:

Replaced the starter twice, alternator once. O2 sensor went out. Heater core was going out when I traded it in.

General Comments:

I owned this car for eight years, and it was the most reliable vehicle I ever had.

Faults:

Rear power windows go down, but have trouble going back up.

Hood pop cable flaky. Don't pop it too hard!

Tailgate release button on dash doesn't work, so you have to turn off the car and unlock it with the keys from the outside.

Power locks sometimes don't lock the first time, and make some noise.

General Comments:

I was given a 1994 Rodeo with a 5 speed manual and 3.2 V6 engine, and it's been a very nice truck for the first few months of ownership, and I expect that the pleasant experience will continue throughout the vehicle's life.

3.2 V6 SOHC 24 valve gas engine doesn't make much horsepower, but makes pretty decent torque, enough to smoke the tires a little from a stop if I'm in the mood. Doesn't get good gas mileage at all, but reliable as all hell. I'm expecting 300,000 miles out of this truck.

I once hit 1st gear instead of 3rd when shifting from 2nd, tires chirped and the engine rpm shot up, but I quickly clutched in and went to third, and everything was back to normal. No engine shuddering or roughness; Very tough. At almost 160,000 miles, the engine doesn't lose much oil between changes, and has enough power to climb somewhat steep hills at idle rpm with mostly open throttle. If there's one thing you can count on from your early 90s Japanese truck, it's that the engine and the transmission will never let you down.

5 speed manual transmission is tough, and the clutch grips like a truck clutch should. I *really* wish there was a tall 6th gear for highway cruising, so that I could turn ~1700 rpm at 70 mph, instead of over 3,000 like I do in 5th gear. That would certainly help for highway gas mileage, as well as the noise.

Seats are not supportive, and don't really offer any comfort, but it's a truck, not a Lincoln Town Car. It's not made to be comfortable. Leg room is good in the front, but not so good in the back. Stock speakers are pretty terrible.

All in all, I really love my Rodeo as a fun and tough truck, and would recommend it to anyone looking for such. The lack of comfort and highway gearing do make me want to get a nice Lincoln Town Car to supplement my Rodeo though.