1998 Isuzu Rodeo Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Rodeo years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 478 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Isuzu Rodeo. That ranks 2nd out of 11 Rodeo model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (211 complaints, 44%), typically at around 76,161 miles. Complaints mention 81 crashes, 2 fires, 31 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 5 defect investigations involving it.

- 478owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 5NHTSA investigations
- 81complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Isuzu Rodeo problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 211 | 44% | 76,161 | “abs brakes” (10%) | — |
| Structure problems | 69 | 14% | 127,000 | “frame rusted” (22%) | — |
| Suspension problems | 59 | 12% | 145,000 | “suspension rear” (19%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 39 | 8% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 30 | 6% | 93,326 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 29 | 6% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 22 | 5% | 94,710 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 17 | 4% | 84,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 16 | 3% | 107,326 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 15 | 3% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 13 | 3% | 98,580 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 13 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 12 | 3% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 9 | 2% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 9 | 2% | 3,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 9 | 2% | 46,250 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 6 | 1% | 111,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 6 | 1% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 1% | 46,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 0% | 140,195 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Isuzu Rodeo recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Suspension:rear
Problem: 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 jersey, pennsylvania, delaware, maryland, the district of columbia, west virginia, ohio, indiana, michigan, illinois, wisconsin, minnesota, iowa, missouri, and kentucky. Vehicles that have experienced sustained exposure to highly corrosive materials used in some jurisdictions for road deicing purposes may experience excessive corrosion in the vicinity of the forward mounting point bracket for the left or right rear suspension lower link prior to the time that such corrosion would normally be expected.
Risk: Excessive corrosion may result in the left or right rear suspension lower link bracket becoming detached from the frame, which can affect vehicle handling and potentially cause a crash.
Fix: 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. For vehicles in which corrosion has damaged the rear suspension lower link bracket and affected its connection to the vehicle frame, a reinforcement bracket will be installed. In the rare event the corrosion is so severe that the reinforcement bracket remedy would not be appropriate, a repurchase offer will be extended to the vehicle's owner. All inspections and remedies will be provided free of charge for vehicles that are 10 years old or less. For vehicles older than 10 years, isuzu will offer a free remedy, but only if the vehicle is presented to an isuzu service facility, or honda dealer (as applicable), dealer within 12 months of when owner notifications were issued. The safety recall began on december 10, 2010. Isuzu owners may contact isuzu at 1-800-255-6727. Honda owners may contact honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Suspension:rear
Problem: Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. Paint was applied unevenly on the rear axles, resulting in insufficient paint hardness. Should this occur on the surface that contacts the rear axle lower link bracket bolt head and/or nut, the nut may loosen.
Risk: The bolt could detach fully, causing separation of the lower link from the rear axle, increasing the risk of loss of vehicle control.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear axle lower link joint nut and bolt.
Electrical system:wiring:front underhood
Problem: Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. A ground connection terminal was not properly crimped in the supplier's engine wiring harness manufacturing line. This improper crimping process can leave an impression on the terminal that will eventually cause a stress fracture. S
Risk: If a terminal is fractured, the powertrain control module (pcm) can receive an erroneous signal indicating a high vehicle speed, thereby causing the pcm to cut the fuel, causing a 'no-start' condition, or a possible engine stall.
Fix: Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these vehicles.
Unknown or other
Problem: Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles equipped with a driver's side optional equipment rubber floor mat. Repeated movement of the driver's feet and actuation of the accelerator pedal can result in a shifting of the mat's position. This shifting can cause an interference with the accelerator pedal.
Risk: This could cause a restriction of the pedal's return to the idle position, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Isuzu is asking for the return of the floor mat set and will reimburse owners for the cost of the rubber floor mat set along with any return shipping costs.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Rear Suspension Lower Link Detachment (EA09018) — opened Dec 7, 2009, closed Oct 15, 2010, led to recall 10V436000.
- Rear suspension lower link failure (PE09030) — opened Jun 16, 2009, closed Dec 8, 2009, led to recall 10V436000.
- Braking system/abs (EA99008) — opened Mar 31, 1999, closed Jul 31, 2002, led to recall 02I002000.
- Broken accelerator pedal (PE98054) — opened Oct 9, 1998, closed Feb 18, 1999.
- Braking system/abs (PE98051) — opened Sep 23, 1998, closed Mar 31, 1999.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
[redacted][XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM
Rusted suspension. Broke off from frame
Sudden uncontrolled acceleration at stop or moving slow in town. Extreme danger !!and has happened several times.
My air bag light will not go off...had codes checked and cleared but the light come back on....brakes has been replaced...but breaking distance is extended
Driving on highway hit a pothole and heard a loud thump from rear passenger side of vehicle. I didn't think much of it till the next day when i drove to work. It seemed every bump i got the same noise. Got to work,looked under car, all seemed fine. Just happened to look in rear cargo are and saw…
Other Isuzu Rodeo years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 Rodeo | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 Rodeo | 39 | 2 |
| 2003 Rodeo | 16 | 3 |
| 2002 Rodeo | 101 | 2 |
| 2001 Rodeo | 389 | 4 |
| 2000 Rodeo | 274 | 3 |
| 1999 Rodeo | 550 | 3 |
| 1998 | 478 | 4 |
| 1997 Rodeo | 118 | 0 |
| 1996 Rodeo | 97 | 0 |
| 1995 Rodeo | 176 | 1 |
See all Isuzu Rodeo problems by year, every Isuzu model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Isuzu models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Isuzu Rodeo?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, structure, suspension problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 211 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Isuzu Rodeo?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Isuzu Rodeo a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Rodeo model years, the 1998 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.