This Rodeo has been reliable, with a few annoying downsides. I have the last model year of this car (2004), it's officially a relic and parts are not easy to come by. It has a 3.5L V6 engine, but it's a "special" design GDI engine, gasoline direct injection; Isuzu apparently installed only a few thousand of these engines in the last model year. One source stated that this Isuzu was the "first car under $100,000 with a GDI engine." This special engine design means that a new timing belt must be ordered from Isuzu Japan, because the cam gears are larger than in the standard 3.5L, and according to a knowledgeable source, the pins that fasten the gears to the cams are prone to shearing off. I'm at about 90K miles with no problem -- yet. This gear-pin shearing issue is also a larger concern because the engine is an "interference"design; if anything in the timing (belt, gears) breaks, the pistons crash into the valves, rendering the engine damaged, repaired only via pricey rebuild to replace pistons, valves, etc. Many engines today are "non-interference," which means that an engine-timing failure does not ruin the engine; simply fix or correct the timing issue, and the engine is up and running again. This car has burned oil since the day I bought it new in Spring 2005. I brought this to Isuzu's attention back in 2006; they said it's not a warranty issue "unless it burns a quart every 500 miles," adding that "they all do that." It burned about a quart every 2K miles, and it remains that way to this day, depending upon how hard it is driven. It also gets nasty mileage, about 14 MPG, even after I replaced the timing belt, water pump, spark plugs, and plug coils/wires at 79K miles. Weirdly, this car is EPA rated at 16-21 MPG. Note that I had to special order the timing belt and radiator hoses through Isuzu; these third-party parts (NAPA, Amazon, AutoZone, etc.) did not fit. Then, it took one month for the timing belt to ship from Japan; 2 months for the upper radiator hose; and 3 months bfor the lower radiator hose. I am in the process of replacing, with LEDs, bulbs in the dashboard; the cruise-control on/off button, dash-dimmer, and 4WD switch incandescent bulbs long ago burned out, and they're an annoying, tiny, special little"rice grain" bulb easy enough to physically replace, but good luck figuring out the actual Isuzu part, or third-party equivalent. I think I found what I need online, we'll see if they fit. Equally annoying is what little info about these bulbs (colors, quantities, locations) I can find in the official 2004 Isuzu Rodeo shop manual, which I bought online 5 years ago (approx. $45). Wife and I drove this car to MN from WA and back one summer back in 2017. I think the whole trip consumed about 1.5 gallons of oil (checked at every gas refill). In 2018, I replaced all 4 brake rotors with heavy-duty rotors, due to one or several rotors being warped, possibly from driving through the mountain passes in 2017. Bottom line: Stay on top of oil chan
Candace R
on October 7, 2020
It is a great thing toga e 4 wheel drive as you need it.
I sometimes feel like my vehicle could flip in bad weather. I feel safe other than that. I like the face that I am up off the ground a little bit.
Jade C
on September 11, 2020
Great vehicle! Rodeo all the way!
My vehicle runs great. Do not really have any problems out of it. The only bad thing is, it is a gas guzzler when the air is on. When the air is off, it is great on gas. Gets me to where I need to go. I can go almost 2 hours with 10$ in the gas tank. Great room. I have even picked up a dresser in it. The seats in the back lay down.
GENEVA N
on August 22, 2020
That the Isuzu is dependable
My vehicle is dependable. I like that it has plenty of room. This vehicle's accessories works and performs well
Amber B
on July 24, 2020
It is a good car. I like it. I don't know what else to write
It's good. I love it. Only complaint is it doesn't have a remote for locking
Jade C
on April 23, 2020
Ride wherever. Rodeo, runs great.
Runs great, light turns on for no reason. Have to replace breaks a lot. Pretty good on gas unless you use the air conditioner. 10$ can get you almost an hour away. When using the air conditioner, you have to buy much more gas.
Jen T
on January 6, 2020
Love my Rodeo! Takes a lickin' & keeps on tickin'!!!
Oldie but a goodie! Minimal repairs, runs amazingly after 179,000 miles it still drives great. A bit bumpy in the ride, but overall I'd buy it again.
Jean C
on November 20, 2019
It is hard on gasoline, using a lot.
I like it sits up higher so I can see farther ahead and I feel more comfortable, if I get in a wreck I might not get hurt as bad.
Beth A
on November 15, 2019
My red rodeo is a beautiful and trusting ride. I would take off anywhere in it.
I love my rodeo because your sitting up on the road and drives so well. The color makes it stand out as well as the luggage rack on top. I have racing tires on it which makes a difference to!! The inside is electronic windows and fully grey. It also has a hatchback with a windshield wiper and brake light. I have had this vehicle for five years and would definitely buy another one! Very trustworthy!
Cory S
on September 28, 2019
The most comfortable and satisfying SUV
My Isuzu Rodeo has been a very reliable vehicle and I would definitely recommend it to anyone in the market for a used vehicle. I wish Isuzu would make a new model in which case I would love to purchase it. I have owned other vehicles but none have met my satisfaction like the Isuzu Rodeo.
Valencia S
on July 26, 2019
2004 Isuzu rodeo is a good running vehicle.
My rodeo runs very well and we have had very little mechanical problems with it. There are only two issues that make it a little less than an ideal vehicle. It does not get very good gas mileage (I have traveled back and forth to Delaware from Georgia about 10 times in the last year) and it uses oil. I have to make sure to keep constant check to make sure it is not too low on oil. Other than that, this has been a very good running vehicle.
Carla S
on July 4, 2019
Isuzu rodeo is a practical and kind of fun vehicle to drive.
There is no transmission dipstick. Have to check it underneath the vehicle. You practically have to drain the transmission. It has a lot of room to haul whatever, does not look like a soccer mom van, although it does not get very good gas mileage. All in all, a good vehicle.
Michele M
on May 21, 2019
My car is my baby and fits my lifestyle.
My car is a manual which I love. Right now I am having an issue with getting it to pass emissions so I can renew my tag. I have had to change a lot of parts out on it from the water pump to the fuel pump. It is overheating. I have put in a new radiator, new hoses and still can't figure out what is wrong with it. However, it drives great as long as it doesn't sit still for too long while running. It is very comfortable. I love the seating in it. I do wish it had more cup holders for the people in the back seat. I like that it isn't a large SUV, but more medium size. I can carry a good bit in the back and the seats lay down.
Brooke S
on May 8, 2019
They should know how to properly take care of it, like checking the oil/water, tire pressure, replacing anything that needs it. Keep it running good!
I love my vehicle because it isn't bad on gas at all. It also has a lot of internal room for passengers to sit comfortably. It hasn't ever given out on me.
Roberta B
on April 4, 2019
It gives me the confidence to go out in bad weather.
Great on gas, snow and bad weather. The only problem is that it has a long wheel base so it takes 2 0r 3 k turns to make some circles.
Don U
on December 19, 2018
Reliability beyond belief
It is durable and runs well with nearly 200,000 miles. I have no serious issues or complaints and really can't think of anything I don't like about the vehicle.
Jennifer T
on December 16, 2018
Built to last, a real trooper of a car. Love my Rodeo!
It's really been a great vehicle. It needs a bit of body work, and the ride isn't the smoothest, but I love my Rodeo nonetheless!
Julie S
on December 1, 2018
It's dependable. Not afraid to drive long distances even for an older vehicle
It's very efficient. It gets great gas mileage. It's big enough for the family and also to haul things if need be.
ana G
on November 7, 2018
My car is a gray color. Its small and have very nice space inside.
I like my vehicle because it has no trouble during the winter it deals with the snow really well and its 4x4 so I really enjoy it, it's automatic with makes it ester and I really recommend it. The only thing I would say it's that it's a really unique car so it's often hard to find pieces for it. One time I lost the keys and it was extremely hard to find one