I bought this used 2003 Rodeo 2.2L 4cyl Engine in 2012. I am a journeyman mechanic and am ashamed to admit that I jumped on the deal as it was the best thing I could find at the time. Therefore, I failed to do my homework to discern whether or not this vehicle was of the (crooked shyster design) interference engine design, or of a sensible design. However, immediately after I purchased it, I had it professionally serviced at a local, reputable shop. I had the timing belt replaced, regardless of its condition and new cam seals installed along with the sensors as well. However, Isuzu employs a cheap die-cast belt tensioner on this engine which cannot be upgraded to something not made of cheap garbage. Therefore, my like-new belt became totally useless after the cheaply made tensioner simply came apart in pieces. Thereby causing the rip-off chain reaction of destruction to occur. It will now be more advantageous to simply remove and replace the motor with a wrecking yard engine. $2200.00 in damage, versus the $200.00 it would have cost if it were a non-interference type design. And an easy fix as well.

This vehicle also constantly exhibited transmission slipping issues. Moreover, the tranny is an automatic, yet must be serviced, filled and checked from underneath the car which is also a built in design cheat. Furthermore, it has an extremely underpowered, raspy, screaming little engine which might get you run over as you try comically to merge onto freeway traffic at a crawling pace.

Anyone who is not a crooked cheat would know that such a design must be accompanied by a stainless steel, lifetime warrantied (or for the life of the motor) timing chain. If the chain fails, they replace your motor. However, Isuzu employs the $65.00 timing belt, with a toy of a tensioner (a garbage toy made overseas, by a child in a sweatshop) which all working parts must depend on as the motor is designed to beat itself to death as it goes out of time. I avow never again to fail to research whether I am buying a chump-designed engine again! I hate this design and will never buy one again! I do not curse Isuzu for this vehicle as I got what I expected; garbage. However, I am ashamed of Chevrolet as they are "in-bed" with Isuzu and helped to push this despicable piece of trash on the American people. Shame on you GM.