AI Damage2002 Isuzu Rodeo Sport: common problems
Owners of the 2002 Isuzu Rodeo Sport filed 23 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and structure. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 23
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 39% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 26% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 13% of all complaints
- 4 Equipment 9% of all complaints
- 5 Visibility 9% of all complaints
- 6 Electrical system 4% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 4% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 4% of all complaints
- Suspension: 9 complaints (39% of all).
- Structure: 6 complaints (26% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (13% of all).
- Equipment: 2 complaints (9% of all).
- Visibility: 2 complaints (9% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 23 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Mechanic said that the frame was severely rusted and he never seen anything like it before. Vehicle looks great on the outside, you'd never guess it was so bad underneath. Vehicle is a total loss. Seems to be a common problem with these vehicles.
Upon receiving an inspection of the vehicle, an independent mechanic diagnosed that there was premature rust, corrosion, and holes near the trailing arms, close to the frame and in the rear near the stabilizer bar. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer.
At last inspection, I was told by my mechanic that there is a lot of rear frame rust on my vehicle, and it may not be safe to drive as the rust progresses. There was a recall on these vehicles, but I never received a notice. I bought my 2002 isuzu in sept. Of 2012.
While driving at 65 mph, the spare tire well rusted and caused the spare tire to detach. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 150,000.
The contact stated that the vehicle's air conditioning unit overheated to the point that it fractured the air conditioning control unit and melted the wires. The contact noticed a burning odor in the vehicle. The contact replaced the unit on two other occasions, but the failure occurred.
I received a safety recall for my vehicle saying that "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 increase the risk of a crash." upon checking into this, I found out that the closest isuzu dealer to me…
The existing recall is for rusting and failure of the rear suspension lower link bracket.
Gas pedal on 2002 isuzu rodeo, stuck to the floor while passing another vehicle. This only happened once but I am afraid to "floor" the gas pedal again. There was no way to release the pedal, it was not caused by floor mats or other obstruction, it was mechanical.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 7,735 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 21% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Rodeo Sport has 18 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 23, above average.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Isuzu Rodeo Sport?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, structure, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 23. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rust, corrosion (48%), stalls while driving (9%), vibration (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2002 Isuzu Rodeo Sport?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2002 Isuzu Rodeo Sport from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2002 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.