The 2003 Isuzu Rodeo has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 24,386 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION13V5470002013-10-318,816 affected
Defect
Isuzu Manufacturing Services of America, Inc (Isuzu) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Rodeo and Axiom, and 2003 Rodeo Sport vehicles that were originally sold in, or are currently registered in, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,…
Consequence
The corrosion may allow the bracket to detach from the frame, impacting vehicle handling and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Isuzu will notify owners, and 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…
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO FUEL CONTAMINATED WITH SILICON MAY DEVELOP SMALL PIN HOLES IN THE FUEL PUMP FEED PORT. SILICON HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE FUEL SYSTEMS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES AND IN CERTAIN FUEL AVAILABLE IN THE REGION OF TYLER, TEXAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED FOR VEHICLES…
Consequence
A FUEL LEAK COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy
FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE STATES IDENTIFIED ABOVE, DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A NEW COVER OVER THE EXISTING FEED PORT ON THE FUEL PUMP OR, IF THE EXISTING FEED PORT HAS ALREADY BEEN DAMAGED, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL PUMP THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE NEW COVER. THE NEW COVER WILL BE MADE OF A DIFFERENT MATERIAL. …
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC03V3900002003-10-1055 affected
Defect
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS." THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE IN THE EVENT OF DECREASED BRAKE FLUID VOLUME.
Remedy
THE DIODES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. ALL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2
STRUCTURE:BODY
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
1
Total complaints19
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“This complaint is related to an ongoing investigation regarding fuel tank retention. The fuel tank shield on this vehicle is rotting away due to rust and one of the two fuel tank straps has already broken. There is no accesibility to an oem or aftermarket shield, the part is discontinued and…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 isuzu rodeo. The contact stated the frame was rusted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage and vin was not available. *tr”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 isuzu rodeo. The stated that while driving 30 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning, causing the contact to crash into a guard rail. There were no injuries. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where it was advised that…”
“Frame rust problem identical to the 2002 issue makes the vehicle unsafe to drive. *tr”
“Frame rust problem identical to the 2002 issue makes the vehicle unsafe to drive. *tr”
“The "u" bracket which prevents the drive shaft from falling down broke off and slid down the shaft and wore the shaft down and making the car undrivable. *tr”
“03 isuzu rodeo 3.2l burning excessive amount of oil. Takes a quart every 250 miles. Done everything recommended at the recommended intervals, oil changes, egr valve, pcv valve, ect. I am very good about changing recommended parts when needed. This engine should not be taking oil. I do not tow or…”
“Severe rust and corrosion of frame. 2003 isuzu rodeo. *tr”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP18001 Opened 2018-05-23 · closed 2020-03-05
Fuel Tank Retention Failure
On April 10, 2018, NHTSA received a petition from Mr. Kevin Byrne (the Petitioner) requesting that the Agency ?undertake a defects investigation? of ?rust-related detachment of Isuzu Rodeo fuel tanks? (NHTSA ID 11091788). The Petitioner experienced a partial fuel tank detachment in his model year (MY) 2004 Isuzu…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 Isuzu Rodeo as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.