21st Nov 2008, 06:32

I also own a 99 Rodeo LS. I bought the car used & it ran fine for the first year. Then in Feb. of this year, the transmission started acting up. I took it to a mechanic and they replaced way too many parts to list, to the tune of 1100.00.

The transmission worked fine for a couple of weeks and then it started having issues of not wanting to shift properly. When it did finally shift, it would jerk the car. Now the check transmission light is on. Check engine light has been on the entire time I've owned the vehicle, the gas gauge does NOT work properly, the rear window wiper has NEVER worked and the back door lock won't unlock with the remote any longer. It also uses oil like crazy.

I am seriously considering trading it in & getting a reliable vehicle. I am sick of sinking money into the endless money pit that Isuzu put on the market. They should be held accountable for the crappy mechanical contraptions they put on the road. NEVER AGAIN!!!

29th Nov 2008, 10:16

I have a 99 Rodeo LS V6 auto that I bought originally from the dealer. It has been a work-horse through 9 years of New England snowy winters, has almost 190,000 miles, and has been mostly trouble-free, except has had the starter and fuel sending unit replaced. I do most of my own maintenance & repairs, thanks to parts obtained on-line and surfing the Internet. Those having trouble with the intermittent or non-working front and/or rear wipers, these are a simple & cheap DIY repairs, I've performed the front wiper repair, but not the rear, since I haven't had this issue with this one yet. Good luck.

19th Dec 2008, 17:06

My 4x4 light just keeps blinking will not turn on or off and is stuck in 2x4? any thoughts or links?

22nd Jan 2009, 09:19

I have a 99 Rodeo LS parked in the garage with a blown engine. It lasted about 170K miles and then just died while I was driving on a heavily traffic-ed I35 here in Austin Texas.

Before then my dashboard looked like a Christmas tree with all sorts of warning lights on. Such as:

1) ABS bad

2) Check Engine

3) Fuel empty (even though the tank was full)

Anyway, I checked the oil every other time I fueled it up.

And sure enough it needed oil every single time.

I'm now torn between getting a new engine or just selling this thing for spare parts.

If a class action lawsuit is coming, count me in.

28th Jan 2009, 10:51

I JUST signed my life away for 3 years on a '99 Rodeo LS V6 4X4 with 100K on it. Ugh... I wonder if I would have done that had I come across this site first?!?! I bought this pretty thing only about 2 weeks ago. I'm 25 and have owned, thus far, 4 Isuzus--2 Troopers, 1 Amigo, and now this one. I LOVE Isuzus... LOVE THEM! But, I'm a little scared of this one.

It's the newest vehicle I've ever owned--$ I make as shop manager at a dog kennel doesn't allow me to buy the NEW vehicle I crave--and already it's making me a little nervous. I did notice the oil consumption issue. Having owned so many Isuzus, I am absolutely always checking my oil--obsessively. I am also a tiny bit worried because I SWEAR I see that freakin' temp gauge wiggle the entire time I'm driving it. I was just burned by a HORRIBLE '98 Subaru Forester 2.5 DOC with stupid-dumb overheating issues, so I'm paranoid like crazy mad... but, I keep an eye on the coolant level like my life depends on it... Well, yesterday as I was adding the SECOND quart of oil in the 2 weeks I've owned the bloody thing, I thought (panic, panic, panic...) I saw some kind of oil goop IN my reservoir!!! GOOD LORD!!! It wasn't frothy or white or anything, and the fluid is bright and healthy green, except for the drops of clean, healthy looking oil in a place they really shouldn't be!!!... Anybody out there had this? It doesn't really seem like a head gasket issue... but???... Ugh... I'm worried and venting.

My point is, has anybody had small amounts of strange little oil blobbies formed in their coolant reservoir?... I'm terrified that this feeling in the pit of my stomach isn't just paranoia due to the horrid experience with the Subaru.

Also, to rant just a bit more, does any one elses Rodeo sound like a tractor?! I thought it was just the normal Isuzu racket that they all seem to make, but now that I'm all worried and freaked out, I'm wondering if it really IS normal!!! Somebody PLEASE put my mind to ease! I thought this was such a great purchase two weeks ago!

It does run and drive like a tank, the way all my Isuzus have. I just hope I didn't land another lemon like the Suby.

~Jillian

Eldred, PA

One more quick question... anybody out there know where I could get a good 4 cyl. gas engine for a '90 Trooper, preferably out of a manual truck? Email me please-- jb_crow7@yahoo.com

28th Jan 2009, 16:32

I have a 2000 Rodeo; had it for a year.

The second year it spun a rod bearing. I've had the motor rebuilt now, the check engine light stays on with a code of p1120 (tps1 circuit). I have changed the TPS and checked all the wiring going to the TPS. If any one has any ideas about this problem, can ya let me know?

1st Feb 2009, 00:48

My Isuzu Rodeo 1999 runs like a charm.

I think it's a good idea for some of you guys having problems to join planetisuzoo.com. There are a lot of experienced folks there who can help you get your problems fixed.

The gas gauge thing is just a problem with all Isuzus; Isuzu even had a recall and fixed them for free for while, but you can fix it yourself for less than 50 bucks.

18th Feb 2009, 01:13

Bought my 1999 Isuzu Rodeo LS 2wd manual transmission brand new in 1999 as my first new vehicle. It currently has 208k miles on it!

I have never experienced the issues the folks are posting to this site on my vehicle other than the gas gauge that went out on me about 7 years ago. I never got around to get fixed cause it was not really an issue.

The only other issue is it does make a very light humming sound from shifting to first to second; it has been doing that for years. I have taken it to get checked out a couple of times but the mechanics could not find anything wrong with it.

Other small things is my stereo blew out 3 times when I first got it, and the fan clutch broke. Luckily it was still under warranty at the time.

I maintain it very well. Always on time for oil changes and scheduled maintenance.

It runs like a charm. It has outlasted two other cars I have bought after it. I brag on it sometimes cause I have not even had to change the brake pads yet!

I told my son (who is 13 now) it is all his once he starts driving. It is funny, he started in the car seat and soon he will be in the driver's seat of our old faithful Rodeo.