NHTSA — Vehicle Speed Control Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
31,250 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Isuzu Rodeo engine problems

engine problem

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1997 Isuzu Rodeo Owner Comments

problem #8

Nov 012005

Rodeo 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I started the car and noticed the engine was surging. I thought if I put the car in reverse, I could quell the engine. The car bolted in reverse out of my garage, across the back alley, down a drainage ditch embankment behind by house and up the other side. I ended up in the field behind my house. I was able to get out of the car and turn off the ignition when the car slowed in the muddy field.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #7

Nov 012003

Rodeo 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
Engine suddenly idles between 1,500 to 2,500 RPM. Problems seems to only happen during winter months--for the last two years. Took vehicle to Isuzu dealer in tucson, AZ. Dealer kept the car for about a week, was able to "duplicate" the problem, but they could not determine the cause.his is a safety concern because the engine "races" at stop lights, stop signs, etc. And is hard to handle. Waiting for traffic accident to happen....maybe this year.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #6

Feb 072003

Rodeo 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
Engine idles at 2,000 rpms.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #5

Dec 212000

Rodeo

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My son was taking me to O'hare airport on 12/21/00. Rodeo suddently began to accelerate on its own. The brakes would not respond. The SUV was in 4 wheel drive at the time and we could not disengate it. For a harrowing 6 miles, he pumped the brakes until it slowed but we could not stop it. Due to it being 6:30 am and a lot of good luck we did not hit anything. Finally when the car had slowed we put it in neutral and regained control. The smell from the brakes by that time were overwhelming. The car dealer informed us that the throttle cable had come undone. They deemed it an "adjustment and charged us to reattach it. They refuse to accept responsiblity for the damage to the brakes sustained in our attempt to save our lives. I want to alert you to the mechanical defect in this car and hope that no one has lost life or limb yet. Please investigate this and let me know if there have been other incidents. They will not give me customer satisfaction at the customer relations board for Isuzu. I can no longer drive this car on a highway due to my lack of confidence in the vehicle.

- Arlington Heights, IL, USA

problem #4

Oct 011999

Rodeo 4WD

  • miles
Engine revs to 3250 RPM and is uncontrollable. That means the thing in 5th gear races to about 80 mph! engine would not idel down regardless of inputs by driver. Very dangerious. Happened intermittanly until wiring connection failed, at which time dealer was able to clean connection. Took 5 months and many trips to the dealer for cause to be identified. Doubt if other than rountine diagnostic was attempted as dealer was unable to "recreate" the event until engine was 3250 RPM fulltime. I feel this is a very unsafe contition and should cause action by mfg.

- Boones Mill, VA, USA

problem #3

Aug 191997

Rodeo

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration on several occasions, causing collision.

- Orange Par, FL, USA

problem #2

Oct 171997

Rodeo

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration causing a collision.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #1

Mar 271997

Rodeo

  • miles
While backing out of parking lot, engine started racing and vehicle made a loud popping noise and went full throttle forward over sidewalk, hit a parked vehicle and pushed vehicle (2) feet sideways. Driver had to put vehicle in park and remove key to stop vehicle. Waiting for insurance Agency to look at vehicle.

- Florence, NJ, USA

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