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Long-Term Test: 1998 Isuzu Rodeo

Road Test

Long-Term Test: 1998 Isuzu Rodeo

Introduction

Published Jan 1, 1999

    0 Ratings
    We've completed this test. Click here to see the final results.

    So impressed were we with the redesigned 1998 Isuzu Rodeo that we decided to buy one for long-term duty in our growing test fleet. The Rodeo, which accounts for 85 percent of all Isuzu sales in the U.S., has plenty of potential to regain the top-selling import SUV title that it held briefly in 1992. Why? It’s comfortable, has a smooth ride, looks like a million bucks, and has a powerful overhead cam V-6 engine under the hood.

    We selected the LS model, and equipped it with nearly every option. Painted silver with a dark gray leather interior and equipped with the optional Sport package, our Rodeo looks identical to the one in Isuzu’s print advertising for the truck. Exceptions to this rule are the tubular running boards and ugly plastic bug guard on the hood, but at least the latter will keep the paint from getting pitted during Denver winters. We’ve got a sunroof, a limited-slip differential, a trailer hitch, and an in-dash CD changer. What we don’t have is heated seats, and that leather is icy on cold mornings. Isuzu should add this item to the option list for the LS as soon as possible.

    The great thing about living with a vehicle is that you discover irritants that don’t make themselves readily apparent during a one-day or one-week test. For example, we raved about the cool hatchgate in our road test of the Rodeo earlier this year. Now we hate the damn thing. Grant Whitmore, who’s been charged with the Rodeo for the past few weeks, has large dogs that require plenty of food. Loading big bags of dog food into the Rodeo is a royal pain in the keister. The Rodeo has flip-up rear glass, but with the big spare tire hanging on the tailgate, it’s almost impossible to utilize without leaning against the spare tire, which has been covered with muck since we picked the Rodeo up from Joe Tynan’s Isuzu in Aurora, Colorado (an Auto-by-Tel dealership). So, Grant usually pops the glass up and opens the tailgate, a two-step operation. After tossing the dog food into the cargo area, a three-step process is required to get the cargo door closed. First, Grant pulls the release handle just above the bumper, which is usually coated with the same muck that covers the spare tire, and consequently, his hand. Then he swings the door closed and flips down the rear window. It didn’t take long for him to wish Isuzu had gone with a more conventional hatchback-style liftgate. (It should be noted that Rodeos with smaller 15-inch wheels and tires have the spare mounted under the rear of the truck, making the flip-up glass easier to use.)

    Other complaints include tall, vision-blocking rear headrests, a horn pad that only activates when hit dead center on the steering wheel, and winter/power transmission modes that are easy to inadvertently engage because the activation buttons reside right next to the cupholders on the center console.

    Fortunately, the Rodeo is great fun to drive. We can’t get enough of the smooth power made by the overhead cam 3.2-liter V-6. The penalty for brisk driving? Poor fuel economy. But those with deep pockets don’t need to worry about it. Sit back and enjoy the crisp sound coming from the in-dash CD player, or load up friends for a trip to dinner, because there’s plenty of room in the back seat. While we still like the Rodeo, its shine is quickly fading. We came out one frigid morning to find that the driver’s side exterior mirror had cracked in half. Worse yet, no Denver-area dealers stocked the proper replacement part, and wouldn’t order it unless they saw the Rodeo first. Harumph!

    Best Fuel Economy: 17.1 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 15.1 mpg
    Maintenance Costs: $0
    Problems: Cracked side-view mirror

    Road Test

    December 1997

    Not a happy time for the Rodeo, the holiday season. Our Editor-in-Chief, Christian Wardlaw, drove the Rodeo to Phoenix for Thanksgiving, racking up plenty of miles. So many, in fact, that we'll soon have to park the truck for a while to let the months catch up with the mileage.

    How did the Rodeo serve as a long distance cruiser? After a 12-hour stint behind the wheel, Wardlaw couldn't wait to get out of the Rodeo's flaccid driver's seat. With no power adjustment and no lumbar support, the low-mounted leather chair is not a good place to spend any amount of time. Couple the lousy seat with the fact that there was nowhere to rest his gangly right leg while driving with the cruise on (besides the gearshift lever, that is), and he dreaded the return trip to Denver.

    However, the Rodeo swallowed a week's worth of parent and baby gear with ease, and the rear seat was plenty roomy for Wardlaw's 6'0" 215-lb. frame during diaper changes and bottle feedings. Comments from family members in Arizona were largely positive, but Wardlaw's Explorer-owning brother lamented the Rodeo's hill-climbing power in the high country north of Phoenix. A family acquaintance that pilots a new Land Rover Discovery nearly choked on a wad of turkey when told the Rodeo's price tag.

    A brief off-road run revealed that the hatchgate doesn't seal well enough to prevent dust from coating the cargo bay. A fine layer of Sonoran desert filtered in, powdering the dark gray plastic moldings of the interior. Four-wheel drive is easy to engage and disengage, but attention must be paid to which dash-mounted button gets pushed. The one that engages the 4WD system is right next to identical buttons that operate the cruise control and the fog lights.

    Trouble arose on the return trip to Denver. Wardlaw was driving north between Albuquerque and Santa Fe as dusk fell. Before long, he noticed that the dash lighting wasn't illuminated. A quick check of the exterior running lights in Santa Fe revealed non-functioning taillights as well. According to the owner's manual, these lighting systems run off the same fuse. In the deepening darkness, however, we couldn't find the spare fuses and decided to drop into the Santa Fe Auto Mall on Cerrillos Road for some assistance. Fortunately, the owners of Rocky Mountain Motors selected this convenient location to build a Honda/Subaru/Isuzu/Volkswagen dealership. We pulled into the service entrance 15 minutes before closing time.

    Wardlaw explained his trouble to the service advisor, and told him that he was on his way to Denver. At first, the service advisor was reluctant to get involved with a new problem so close to quitting time, but Wardlaw was wearing an Edmund's sweatshirt and it didn't take long for the staff at Rocky Mountain Motors to put 2+2 together and reverse course. The electrical technician attempted to change the fuse that operates the dash lighting and taillights. Both times, the fuses blew immediately, indicating an electrical short. Finally, he got the lights operational again, and the folks at Rocky Mountain Motors sent Wardlaw on his way, assuring him that the lights would stay on as long as he didn't fiddle with the interior dimmer switch, which they suspected was causing the short.

    The lights shut down before Wardlaw reached the I-25 on-ramp. He returned to the Isuzu dealer and arranged to have the Rodeo looked at in more detail the next morning. The service advisor promised to get him back on the road the next day, even if it meant taking a dimmer switch from a vehicle in stock to repair our truck.

    Winter storm warnings were posted that night for northern New Mexico, and Wardlaw woke to a blizzard. Our Rodeo was the first snow-covered vehicle into the service bay that morning. After an hour and a half of fiddling, the service advisor hesitantly announced that they could not fix the problem right away. "The part can be here tomorrow morning," he said, the previous night's offer of using existing parts from a Rodeo in stock mysteriously vanishing from the radar.

    Well, needless to say, we didn't hang around. Instead we ventured forth onto ice-covered roads hazed with blowing snow. In a silver truck. With no taillights. Not good. The Rodeo performed flawlessly in the blizzard, though the rear side windows never defogged until we reached sunny central Colorado. But Wardlaw had little confidence in the truck. All he could think about as he nervously traversed miles of frozen and sparsely inhabited high desert was "What if the windshield wipers short out next?" "What if the alternator quits?" Snow was piled high along the sides of the road and on exit ramps. There was little traffic. Another electrical system failure would mean grave danger to our intrepid traveler.

    The Rodeo has shaken our confidence. At 3,500 miles, an electrical system failure stranded a member of our staff in a winter storm, and the local dealer couldn't fix the problem promptly because the parts weren't in stock. After the trip was over, the Rodeo spent six days at Joe Tynan's Isuzu/Nissan/Volkswagen waiting for the replacement of the cracked driver's side mirror, the repair of the short in the electrical system, and the replacement of the coarse tape grips on the top of the running boards (which had begun to peel off).

    A different staffer has taken the Rodeo to Phoenix for a different holiday. We'll see what that trip brings forth in the next update.

    Best Fuel Economy: 20.8 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 12.8 mpg
    Maintenance Costs: $0
    Problems: Electrical short shuts down taillights and dash lights. Grip tape on top of right running board begins to peel off.

    Road Test

    January 1998

    Our second trip to Phoenix went without a hitch, almost literally. At the U-Haul rental lot, we tried to hook a trailer to our Rodeo and discovered that the wiring harness didn’t work. At first we thought the ratty trailers at the lot were to blame, so we schlepped to another U-Haul office with newer trailers. None of those worked either. A test for current in the wiring harness indicated that there was no juice. We bought two tap-a-bulbs, which are secondary wiring harnesses that tap into the power that goes to the taillights. The trailer lights worked just fine with the tap-a-bulbs, and off we went to celebrate an Arizona Christmas that was definitely not white.

    While we still haven’t had our dealer investigate the trailer harness problem, we’ve suffered no other electrical glitches now that the faulty passenger side vanity mirror that caused our original short has been repaired (the Santa Fe dealer guessed wrong on the source of the short). The Rodeo performed well during its second run to Phoenix. A surprise blizzard in the-middle-of-nowhere Utah forced our hardy travelers into a motel one night, but otherwise travel was blissfully uneventful.

    Our drivers lauded the Rodeo’s engine, transmission, steering, and brakes. There is no question that the Rodeo is fun to drive. Seat comfort did take several more hits, and managing editor Whitmore lamented a lack of shoulder room and center console storage space. Our Rodeo also seems to have headlights that are either improperly designed or improperly aimed. Even truckers were brighting Whitmore as he sped south to the desert, despite the fact that the Rodeo was running with the low beams on and the fog lights off. Are any readers who own a Rodeo experiencing this as well?

    Transporting two big dogs, Christmas gifts, a couple weeks of luggage, and a U-Haul trailer took a toll on fuel economy, but it proved that the Rodeo is also up to the task. Whitmore appreciated the large cargo hold and the floor-mounted cargo netting, but complained that the Rodeo had inadequate secondary control lighting and no seat warmers.

    The Rodeo has been serviced twice since our last update. After Wardlaw’s harrowing ride home from Arizona, we ran the Rodeo over to Joe Tynan’s Isuzu in Aurora, Colorado. The oil change was free of charge because that’s how Joe does business: buy a vehicle from him and your first service is gratis. After towing a heavy trailer through the mountains of the southwest, Whitmore had the Rodeo serviced in Phoenix before returning to Denver. He tried to obtain an appointment at an Isuzu dealership to get an oil change with less than 48 hours to go until his departure time, but was not successful. The nice guys at Danny’s Family Carousel on Tatum Boulevard in Phoenix handled the job instead, charging us $44.88 for the fluid swap and a new air filter.

    New issues have cropped up since our last visit to an Isuzu dealer. We’ve discovered that the Rodeo suffers from poor airflow management. The vents cannot be completely shut off, and constantly trickle a breeze. One driver has complained about the left A-pillar blocking her view when making a left-hand turn. Finally, the ABS light is haphazardly flickering on and off for no apparent reason. Once the Rodeo is shut off and restarted, the ABS light extinguishes itself.

    One thing is certain: our test truck gets attention. We’ve installed a Performance Products dog gate, and while the view rearward has taken some getting used to, our vision is not obstructed and the truck imparts an even more rugged persona. One neighbor who used to work for General Motors commented on the Rodeo's good looks. We agree, but still question his judgement. It was Super Bowl Sunday in Denver, and this bonehead was sporting a Green Bay jacket.

    Best Fuel Economy: 18.6 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 12 mpg
    Maintenance Costs: $44.88
    Problems: Trailering harness is dead. ABS light comes on.

    Road Test

    February 1998

    Things have been pretty quiet with our long-term test Rodeo for the first time since we introduced the truck in November. No unexplained malfunctions, no hasty trips to a service center, just the solid transportation that we expected when buying an Isuzu. The flickering ABS light has not reared its head in awhile, but we plan to have it investigated, along with the faulty trailering harness, when the Rodeo goes in for its next service in March.

    This month, the Rodeo served basic commuter duty in Denver’s notorious stop and go traffic. The Isuzu’s commanding view kept our drivers informed of changing road conditions ahead, and its powerful engine allowed drivers to exploit narrow openings in traffic. There is a price to be paid for this power, however, and that is the Rodeo’s unimpressive gas mileage. We realize that most of our drivers have a lead foot, but the month’s best 13.8 mpg is a shocker even for us. Without any long trips to even things out, the Rodeo’s fuel consumption this month was abysmal.

    Quick trips to hiking trails have again changed our opinion of the hatch-gate. What had been applauded and then derided, is now being applauded again, as our dog-owning driver has realized the utility of the hatch-gate’s integrated cargo storage net. The net is perfect for holding towels, water bowls, retrieval dummies, and the other things necessary for having fun with a couple of dogs in the mountains.

    Speaking of dogs, the dog barrier and heavy-duty cargo mat that we received from Performance Products proved their worth to managing editor Grant Whitmore during a recent trek to his favorite dog friendly park. Both of his animals decided that it would be a good idea to jump into a half-frozen creek. They were pretty grimy when it was time to go home, despite his efforts to towel them off at the end of playtime. Fortunately, however, Whitmore didn’t have to worry about cleaning the entire interior after his trip home. The dog barrier served to keep his Labrador and Husky confined to the cargo area, and the cleanup process merely required wiping down the previously-mentioned cargo mat with a handful of damp paper towels. The cargo area itself is plenty big, too. In addition to capably hauling two large dogs around, it recently allowed one of our editors to transport all of the food and beverages necessary for a party of 30 people without having to fold down the rear seats.

    In this basically trouble-free month, we’ve had time to focus on the things that we like about this truck, instead of worrying about whether or not it was going to bring us home form our next road trip. There is general agreement among our editors that despite the new SUVs rolling out this year that the Rodeo is still the best-looking truck on the road. One of our evaluators has even gone so far as to commend the bug guard that sits forward of the Rodeo’s hood as being, "not too ugly, and pretty effective in keeping stones from hitting the windshield." Since the El Nino storms seem to be hammering everyone but those living in Denver, we have been treated to a fairly mild winter. As such, the tinted glass has come in handy keeping the interior pleasant on days when the Rodeo has been parked in the 70-degree sunshine. It also helps reduce the harsh glare of the sun in the Rodeo’s interior during our morning and evening commute. Other good news is that the fuel gauge seems to be reading more accurately. We are no longer pulling in for a fill-up to find that the Rodeo will only accept 10 gallons of gas, despite the needle showing that we are close to being stranded. Nevertheless, we’ll have the fuel level sensor checked out in March at the truck’s next servicing.

    Best Fuel Economy: 13.8 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 11.7 mpg
    Maintenance Costs: $0
    Problems: None

    Road Test

    March 1998

    Spring fever is upon us and some of the Rodeo’s luster is beginning to wane. Not because the truck is somehow inadequate, but merely because SUVs look better to our eyes during the cold night of winter than during the warm days of spring. Perhaps it’s merely a function of the fantastic weather we’ve been having in Denver this month. Whatever the case, we know that we’ve been eyeing the Miata and Mustang convertibles from our high perch in the Rodeo much more enviously this month than we were in February.

    Nevertheless, this truck continues to impress Edmund’s staff members and their friends. After spending a few days with the Rodeo, managing editor Grant Whitmore’s friend, Sunny Kim, had filled the logbook with compliments. Sunny, who has a penchant for fast vehicles, was immediately won over by the Rodeo’s strong engine. She also cited the Rodeo’s precise steering and hearty antilock brakes as factors that made this large truck easy for her to handle. Sunny’s chief compliment about the Rodeo, however, is one that we think may explain the sport-utility craze and carry it forward despite protests that these trucks are a menace to the environment and other motorists. Sunny said that the Rodeo made her feel safe and comfortable.

    The Rodeo made Sunny feel safe because it has antilock brakes, pushbutton four-wheel drive and a driving position that is so high off the ground that road spray from other vehicles almost never touches the windshield. It made her feel comfortable because she could travel easily with her fiance and two Siberian Huskies without having everyone packed together like sardines. Neither the Volkswagen New Beetle nor the Mazda Miata, two of Edmund’s staffers’ favorite cars, can offer drivers that sort of peace of mind on a daily basis.

    Other logbook entries complimented the Rodeo’s interior, actually commending the fake wood that covers the power window surrounds and parts of the dashboard. One writer claimed that she liked the wood trim because it "breaks up the monotony of all of that gray on the dashboard, making it not look so plasticky." After riding around in a Mitsubishi Montero Sport with a dashboard constructed of shiny, brittle plastic, we think she may have a point.

    The Rodeo was criticized this month for the ineffectiveness of the tubular running boards that seem to do nothing but soil the cuffs of the pants of whoever rides in this truck. Other gripes include the contrariness of the power moonroof controls that make it difficult to shut the moonroof on the first attempt. We also had a driver who kept bumping the floor-mounted automatic shifter from drive to third gear.

    We took the Rodeo to Denver Isuzu to have the oil and filters changed and to have the tires rotated. At that time, Denver Isuzu’s mechanics investigated the faulty trailering harness and found that we had blown a fuse. They also tested the antilock braking system that had been flashing a warning light at us intermittently. They found nothing amiss with the system itself and reset the computer to clear the codes. We’ve not had trouble since. The trailering harness and antilock brakes were serviced under warranty. To our surprise, we picked up the Rodeo at the end of the day and found that the good folks at Denver Isuzu had washed our truck inside and out. Nice job, guys. They had no idea that the truck is part of a test fleet and that their hospitality could grab them a plug.

    We’ve received a bike rack from Performance Products that we intend to install before our next piece on the Rodeo. This should give us the opportunity to inject a little more outdoorsy excitement into our lives, maybe making it easier to forgive all those little convertibles for being so damn cute.

    Best Fuel Economy: 14.2 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 10.5 mpg
    Maintenance Costs: $40.02
    Problems: None.

    Road Test

    April 1998

    It sure is a good thing that our Rodeo has clean looks and a powerful engine, because these are about the only positive points that any of our drivers had for our long-term test truck this month. A host of electrical problems have sprung up again, making us wonder if Isuzu has contracted with Jaguar's old electrical system supplier.

    This month our Rodeo's passenger-side illuminated vanity mirror quit lighting up (again), taking with it the driver's vanity mirror illumination. We also have seen a resurrection of the flickering ABS light that first plagued our Rodeo in January. The technicians at our service center have informed us that there has been a recall on the ABS monitoring systems and that they will replace ours … as soon as they have one in stock. For the time being, they can only reset the system's codes and hope for the best. For some odd reason, the panic button on our remote keyless entry system is no longer working, yet the lock and unlock buttons still work just fine. Our left side taillamp also went out this month, a new problem that doesn't really surprise us considering the trouble we've had with the rest of the electrical system. Non-electrical problems are limited to the grip strip on the running boards. Once again the adhesive is wearing thin, allowing the rubber strips to pull away from the running boards. This is the second time we've had problems with this; it was just replaced in December.

    As promised, we have installed an OSI bike rack on our Rodeo. The bike rack comes courtesy of Performance Products and is a slick unit that mounts to the trailer hitch receiver on the back of our truck. The rack is capable of holding four full-size bikes and features a lock to make sure thieves can't make off with our mountain bikes. Unlike traditional bike racks, the OSI rack's innovative rear-mounted design means that riders don't have to lift their bikes above their heads when securing them to the rack. Despite appearances, the rack doesn't impede access to the hatch-gate because is swings wide of the truck when a lever is released. The bike rack came partially assembled in three main pieces and took two of our intrepid editors less than one hour to install. The only tools necessary for the operation are an adjustable wrench and hammer.

    The Rodeo will be leaving Colorado soon, heading for warmer pastures in Los Angeles, California. Before this happens, though, we are going to make sure that we get some serious mountain biking done at one of Colorado's beautiful resorts where people trade two planks for two wheels when the snow melts. This assumes, of course, that our Rodeo doesn't have a full electrical meltdown before then.

    Best Fuel Economy: 15.3 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 11.1 mpg
    Maintenance Costs: $0
    Problems: The left taillamp is out, the driver and passenger vanity mirror illumination is out, the ABS light is flickering on and off, the button on the remote keyless entry system is not working and the grip strips are pulling away from the running boards.

    Road Test

    May 1998

    The Edmund’s long-term Rodeo was circulated around most of the editorial staff this month, allowing us to get feedback from drivers of all shapes and sizes. One resounding complaint from all drivers centered on the Rodeo’s awful front seats. Short or tall, skinny or not-too-skinny, nobody was able to get comfortable in those things. Christian Wardlaw compared the experience of sitting in the Rodeo to sitting in folding beach chairs. Edmund’s lanky online editor, Greg Anderson, said that riding in the Rodeo made him feel like he was sitting on the floor.

    More complaints poured in about the Rodeo’s dismal fuel economy, as the truck posted a month’s best of 14.8 mpg, including lots of freeway travel. Steering wheel shimmy has also reared its head, possibly caused by uneven wear on the front tires. Other problems include a center console that no longer latches properly, a remote keyless entry system that has a very limited range, a sunroof that takes only one touch to open, but two touches to close; and bumpers that do little to absorb the impact of a bump.

    That’s right folks, the Rodeo has been involved in a minor fender bender, or shall we say bumper buster. During a low-speed accident the Rodeo nudged the rear end of a GMC Safari minivan. The Rodeo’s airbags didn’t deploy and nobody was injured. The GMC Safari was undamaged in the accident. The Rodeo, however, needs to have its front bumper, right fog lamp and right fender replaced. All for a rolling collision that didn’t even wake up the 10-month-old baby sleeping in a car seat in the rear of the Rodeo. Unlike cars, trucks don’t have a minimum impact absorption requirement for their bumpers. As a result, a minor impact that probably wouldn’t have affected our Camry is sending our Rodeo to the repair shop. This must be why trucks have such high insurance ratings.

    In addition to having the collision damage fixed, the Rodeo is nearing the 15,000-mile mark, which calls for another trip to the service center for oil, filters and chassis lube. We’ll have the dealer look at the center console, tire wear and remote keyless entry system at the same time, and see if we can’t get some of these minor annoyances figured out.

    Best Fuel Economy: 14.8 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 11.4 mpg
    Maintenance Costs: $0
    Problems: There is a shimmy in the steering wheel, the center console latch is broken, the remote keyless entry system still isn't working properly and the front bumper, right fog lamp and right fender need to be replaced due to the accident.

    Road Test

    June 1998

    June was a quiet month for the Rodeo. We didn't take it camping or on any long trips, nor did we conduct any further tests of the impact absorption characteristics of the bumpers. The Rodeo's duties this month merely consisted of commutes across Denver and shuttling staff members to work and play.

    There is a growing rift over who likes this truck and who doesn't, and it seems to be breaking down along gender lines. Edmund's managing editor, Grant Whitmore, has spent a great deal of time with the Rodeo and can hardly stand to climb into the thing anymore. The uncomfortable seats and truck-like ride seem to be conspiring to send him to the chiropractor on a regular basis. He is itching for something quick and fun, like the Volkswagen Passat or Mazda Miata. His wife, however, loves the Rodeo, and has threatened to purchase a sport-ute for personal use despite the fact that the couple will soon be relocating from Colorado to Southern California, where four-wheel drive trucks are seldom needed for the daily commute. It seems that the Rodeo's cargo hauling abilities, high view over traffic and the feeling of safety imparted by so much steel is exactly what she wants.

    We are currently without the long-term Rodeo, because the truck is in for accident repairs as this is being written. The insurance estimate for last month's fender bender is $867, not nearly as high as we'd feared. This includes replacing the bumper, the bumper cap, the right fog light assembly and the right front fender. The truck should be back in our hands before the end of this week, meaning that it will have been out of commission for less than a full week for the repairs.

    The shimmy in the steering wheel is getting worse and the bug guard above the grille has loosened, we'll have both looked at during next month's fast-approaching 15,000-mile service. Oh yeah, our average fuel economy is up this month, posting a two-percent gain over last month. Doesn't seem like much, but with a vehicle this thirsty you take whatever you can get.

    Best Fuel Economy: 15.1 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 12.0 mpg
    Maintenance Costs: $0
    Repair Costs: $250 (insurance deductible for collision repair)
    Problems: Steering shimmy is worsening, bug guard has loosened.

    Road Test

    July 1998

    Our long-term Rodeo came back from the body shop looking shiny and new after its collision repairs. We had Denver Isuzu perform the Rodeo's 15,000-mile service that included an oil change, filter change, tire rotation and axle lube. They also investigated the steering wheel shimmy that had been worsening over the last two months, and carried out the work for the technical service bulletin that we received regarding a faulty mounting bracket and sensor for the antilock braking system.

    We were happy to get the Rodeo back after its week in the shop. During its short absence we missed its ability to swallow people and pets, although we didn't miss having to stop to gas it up every few days. We should note that, despite having to stop for frequent fill-ups, our Rodeo's fuel economy has improved for the second straight month posting an impressive (for a sport-ute) 20.1 mpg on a tank of gas. This month's worst fuel economy numbers were better than the best figures for last month.

    It is starting to bother us that every time we take the truck in for service it takes longer than expected to get it back. We aren't sure whether a limited supply of parts is to blame or what, but the Rodeo was scheduled to be ready on a Thursday, but wasn't actually available until the next day. If this were a one-time thing it would not be so bad. Unfortunately, this always seems to happen when we take the Rodeo into the shop.

    We have started to see a number of Rodeos on the streets of Denver and are surprised that many of them look exactly like ours: silver paint, an outside spare-tire carrier, running boards and a bug guard. While its gratifying to know that we picked the Isuzu most adored by the buying public (or at least that part of it that lives in Denver), it makes our vehicle look a little less special in the grocery store parking lot.

    With the steering wheel shimmy fixed and the bug guard tightened, the Rodeo is trouble-free. We hope it stays that way for awhile, because it soon may be heading to the Big Apple. New York is definitely not a place where we want to be stranded with problems.

    Best Fuel Economy: 20.1 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 17.4 mpg
    Maintenance Costs: $195 (15,000-mile Scheduled Service as per Rodeo Owner's Manual)
    Problems: None

    Road Test

    August 1998

    Our most frequent driver of the Rodeo, managing editor Grant Whitmore, was thrilled when he relocated to California, leaving the Rodeo far behind in Colorado. The ungainliness of the sport-ute had been bugging him for the last several months, and he couldn't wait to get to the Golden State where convertibles, not trucks, are the rule. What he noticed, however, is that not having a sport-ute in the family means that it is more difficult to travel with pets. The cargo area in the Rodeo, which is partitioned by a pet barrier that we obtained from Performance Products in February of this year, is a great way to transport pets around town and across the state. No other vehicle in our long-term fleet has a cargo area with a pet barrier, so Whitmore has been spending a lot of time and quarters at the car wash vacuuming pet hair from the seats of long-term test cars.

    Feature editor Ingrid Palmer spent a good portion of August with the Rodeo. What first impressed Ingrid was the Rodeo's low step-in height. Because of her short stature, Ingrid is used to having to hoist and fling herself into towering sport-utility vehicles. During her first drive of the Rodeo, she grabbed the steering wheel, gave a mighty pull, and heaved herself into the driver's seat. She scraped her head on the doorframe in the process. Relating this story to a coworker later, she claimed that she had never before hit her head when climbing into a sport-utility, and while that experience may not be pleasant, it confirms that the Rodeo may be easier for the vertically challenged to scramble into.

    The Rodeo's fuel efficiency has improved for the third straight month, posting 21.8 and 14.7 mpg as the best and worst figures. The long break-in time appears to be over, and the Rodeo is finally starting to get the fuel economy numbers that were posted on the window sticker when we bought it.

    Alas, all is not well in Rodeo-land; the driver's door is starting to squeak like a wounded field mouse when opened and closed. We are going to spray some WD40 on the hinges to see if it helps. If it doesn't, we're going to have it looked at by the service department on our next scheduled maintenance visit.

    Best Fuel Economy: 21.8 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 14.7 mpg
    Maintenance Costs: $0
    Problems: Driver's door is squeaking when opened and closed.

    Road Test

    September 1998

    Our Rodeo seems to have become the least popular vehicle in our long-term test fleet. Nobody wants to drive it anymore, because all of our staffers are convinced that they will be inconvenienced with a trip to the repair shop due to some malfunction. One of our inventive editors was able to save himself an unscheduled dealer visit by fixing the squeak in the driver's side door at home. Tightening the hinge bolts was all it took to silence the plaintive portal.

    Other build-quality complaints jammed the logbook this month. Our drivers are annoying other motorists because the headlamps are aimed too high. (We've had a dealer investigate this before, and they claimed that the Rodeo's lights are properly adjusted.) There is also a new squeaky noise coming from the dash panel. One of our editors has also noticed that the gas pedal makes a popping sound when the cruise control is disengaged.

    Senior Automotive Editor, Greg Anderson, can't imagine what buyers of the Isuzu-built Honda-badged Passport must think of the shoddy engineering and assembly of this vehicle. Thought you were getting a Honda? Think again. Honda may want to reconsider putting their name on this truck; it could seriously tarnish their image.

    The Rodeo is due for its 20,000-mile service this month, and is heading for the Big Apple as this is written. We can't wait to be regaled with the adventures of our cross-country traveler and this temperamental steed. It will be interesting to see how this truck fares in the biggest city in the United States.

    Best Fuel Economy: 21.7 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 14.7 mpg
    Maintenance Costs: $0
    Problems: None.

    Road Test

    October 1998

    There has been some concern that Edmund's editors are more critical of American cars and trucks than import vehicles. We've received hate mail from users that call us unpatriotic, and we've been flamed by emails that would make Joe McCarthy blush. These accusations aren't new to us, nor are they new to anyone who writes about cars. For some reason, (and if you know what it is, please tell us) cars made by American manufacturers are often not assembled as well as those made by foreign corporations. The nationality of the workers doesn't seem to matter much; Americans in Ohio make the Honda Accord which is one of the most reliable vehicles on the road, while Germans assemble the Cadillac Catera in Europe, and it remains one of the least reliable cars on the road.

    While Toyota and Honda may build more reliable cars than GM and Ford on a regular basis, it doesn't mean that we treat foreign manufacturers with kid gloves when they mess up. Take our Isuzu Rodeo long-term test vehicle. Many drivers of this truck have a horror story to relate, and some of our editors have actually been endangered by this vehicle's Old Faithful-like breakdown history. Last month, senior automotive editor Greg Anderson took the Rodeo on a trip from Denver to New York. The following are his comments from the trip.

    Day One:

    After six minutes behind the wheel, the first person flashed their brights at me. This would continue, in approximately 10-minute increments, every time I drove at night. Apparently, the Rodeo's lights are aimed too high and everyone assumes I'm driving like a jerk. When I flash my BRIGHT brights on them, they are probably stunned.

    One-and-a-half hours into the drive, a horrible gut-wrenching NNNGGNNNNGGNGNGN noise -- not unlike the scene in "Men in Black" when Will Smith drags that metal table across the floor -- intrudes upon the cabin. I am scared wide-awake, and it takes me approximately one hour to locate the source of the noise. The noise was so loud that it was difficult to trace, and I was sure that the roof was being somehow torn from the Rodeo. However, it was the sunroof. At speeds over 75 mph, the sunroof would scream bloody murder, and the only way to eliminate the grating sound was to open the sunroof while on the highway. Therefore, for the remainder of the drive, an entire 30 hours, I had to drive with the sunroof open.

    Other than that, the Rodeo seemed barely livable. I hated the driving position, and in fact, the time I drove a Miata from Seattle to Denver was more comfortable. The instrument panel chirped the entire drive, and I found that if I pushed on the black plastic IP face just in front of the steering wheel, the chirping would stop. But that made it REALLY uncomfortable to drive, so I dealt with the chirping dash and the wailing wind of the open sunroof (which was much less scary than the NNNGGGHNNGH noise).

    Day Two:

    I began appreciating the Rodeo's engine, which gathered strength with the lowering elevation. Otherwise, the day was uneventful and thankfully sunny, as I had to keep the sunroof open.

    Day Three:

    The CD player came in handy. I bought some books-on-CD; a John Grisham novel called "The Partner" was one of them, and that kept me occupied until the eastern part of Ohio. I had just driven through Canton, home of the NFL Hall of Fame, and was on my way north to Akron when the Rodeo decided to purge itself of coolant. It was 11:00 PM local time, and I was in the middle of listening to "The Partner" when I heard a tapping noise from the engine. Within five seconds, the temperature reading pegged the red and steam and liquid came pouring out from the right front of the hood. I stopped immediately and called the cops. The cops came out and called a tow truck. The overflow cap was off (that was the tapping noise I heard), and the coolant was on the ground instead of where it should have been. This forced me to stay in Canton for the night. The next day the dealership picked me up and gave me the car back by noon. There was no service charge, and they'd worry about the $75 towing fee.

    Day Four:

    When crossing Pennsylvania, I came to a construction zone that used not orange rubber cones, but orange and white flat slabs of metal. Many of these slabs were knocked over, making me wonder what that would do to a car. Thirty minutes later, in another construction area, I found out when the F-250 in front of me swerved to the right, and I found myself headed straight for one of these metal sheets that was about a foot into my lane. WHAM. Bug guard was broken, left side turn lens was broken, and orange paint now decorated the Rodeo's bumper. A close-by officer of the law told me that since there was no damage to any other vehicles, this was not reportable and to move on. Then he asked me if I had been drinking, and I said, "No, but whoever placed that marker in my lane probably had!"

    Summary:

    My four days in the Rodeo really sucked, and I don't care to ever drive that vehicle again. It was uncomfortable as hell to drive or sleep in, it was scary because of a freaky moonroof and poorly designed coolant overflow cap (which should be a screw-on instead of a snap-on), and it felt a lot cheaper than its $30,000 price tag. For that dough, give me a Chrysler 300M to drive across country.

    Best Fuel Economy: 20.4 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 15.9 mpg
    Maintenance Costs: $0
    Problems: Screeching moonroof, poorly fitting coolant overflow cap, broken bug guard, smashed left front turn indicator, and damaged bumper.

    Road Test

    November 1998

    With a new front bumper cover (our third since buying the car), grille, fender and turn indicator, our long-term Rodeo is back in one piece, giving drivers in Edmund's New York office commanding views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge and the tops of millions of yellow cabs. Yep, the Rodeo has gone city slicker on us, swimming with the big fish of Wall Street and muscling in on the action in Little Italy.

    So far, the Rodeo has been well received by our New York staff. Everyone is impressed by the forward views afforded them by the high-riding Rodeo, and no one has complained about trying to park this medium-sized truck in the cramped quarters of Manhattan. Nevertheless, complaints have arisen about the Rodeo's mediocre rearward visibility. The clogged streets of the Big Apple require plenty of attention, so the blind spots that were no big deal in Denver have been the cause for some narrow escapes during the daily commute. We're certain that our New York drivers will get the hang of this truck, but there is no mistaking its ungainliness in a city that is more suited to compact cars than medium sport-utility vehicles.

    Shortly after the Rodeo's arrival in the city, a couple of our staffers got a hankering to see the leaves change. The Rodeo proved to be the perfect truck for a road trip to New Hampshire to witness the annual denuding of century-old trees. During the trip, the usual complaints about front seat comfort reared their head; however, no one in New York really hates the driving position yet. One of our staffers indicated that the rear seat was more comfortable than expected, and was surprised to find that she didn't have a backache after spending several hours in the vehicle.

    A final note: Although it is not Isuzu's fault that we tangled with a roadside barrier while driving the truck to New York, it is frustrating to have to wait for nearly a month to get the parts for its repair. We first attempted to have the Rodeo fixed on October 1, but were unable to get it scheduled for repair until the end of the month. Zumbach Sports Cars in Manhattan performed the service and blamed the delay on Isuzu for poor parts availability. This is the second time we have been stuck waiting for parts on the Rodeo, and the New York staff was even more frustrated than the Denver staff was when it happened to them. All told, the cost of the repair equaled $1,224.02. One of our drivers also picked up a nail; the cost of getting the tire repaired was $24.95.

    Best Fuel Economy: 16.9 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 15.5 mpg
    Maintenance Costs: $0
    Problems: None

    Road Test

    December 1998

    Our difficulties with the Rodeo are making us feel like Bill Murray's character in the movie Groundhog Day. It's as if we keep revisiting the same problems, with minor variations in the outcome. To make a long story short, our Rodeo has stranded yet another driver.

    One of our drivers was notified by the attendant at her Manhattan parking garage that the Rodeo was leaking antifreeze. The helpful attendant suggested that she take the car to a service station to have it looked at before heading to work. Heeding his warnings, our driver dutifully stopped at a gas station on the New Jersey Turnpike on her way to work. The gas station attendants took one look at the Rodeo and advised her not to drive any further. Figuring that the mechanics knew what they were talking about, our driver called Isuzu's customer care number and arranged for a tow truck.

    Our Rodeo was towed to Stillman Isuzu in New Jersey, and was diagnosed with having a faulty water pump. The repair was covered by the warranty, but took several days to perform because the car was brought in right before Thanksgiving. While not a huge repair, this type of problem does little to bolster our already-shaky confidence in the Rodeo.

    Other comments from the Rodeo's log book center on the truck's bumpy ride and tendency to follow grooves in the pavement. It seems that our Manhattan drivers are tiring of the Rodeo's truckish characteristics, and look forward to having a car to drive for the next quarter. One of our drivers will be sad to see the Rodeo go before the first New York snowfall, though; she had really looked forward to seeing how well the Rodeo coped with the worst of winter's muck. The Rodeo's next stop will be Detroit, Mich. We're certain that there will be plenty of opportunities to examine the Rodeo's snow handling capabilities once we get there.

    Best Fuel Economy: 18.0
    Worst Fuel Economy: 15.3
    Problems: Leaking water pump.
    Maintenance Cost: $0

    Road Test

    January 1999

    The Rodeo is well into its second winter, this time enduring the cold, snowy blast that swept across the Midwest and Eastern states early this month. The Rodeo has not yet made its scheduled trip to Detroit, because our car shuffling process was dramatically interrupted when several of our staff members found themselves unable to dig a path out of their front doors, much less out of their driveways.

    The Rodeo did get a good winter workout in New York, though, sliding across the slippery streets of Manhattan like a hog on ice. One of our drivers, a recent transplant to the Big Apple by way of Los Angeles, was disappointed to find out that the "Winter" driving mode did nothing to keep her from careening around Manhattan like a drunken sailor. After one particularly harrowing day in which one of New York's finest cab drivers brushed the side of our Rodeo on an icy throughway, our driver was so shaken that she decided to forsake the luxury of driving herself and traveled by bus until the streets were cleared.

    This raises an interesting issue; one that begs to be examined by the multitudes of individuals rushing out to buy a sport-utility vehicle because they think it will help them drive in inclement weather. Sport-utes can't teach a driver to drive in bad weather; an SUV can only help a driver who already knows what he or she is doing. Our Manhattan driver was given a certain amount of confidence because she thought that our rough-'n-ready Rodeo would help her negotiate the snow-strewn streets of New York without a care in the world. Unfortunately, she was not informed that the Rodeo's four-wheel-drive system needs to be engaged to help drivers maintain control on icy roads. One of our editors should have made sure that our driver knew the difference between four-wheel drive and the winter driving mode (a feature that forces the truck to start in second gear, minimizing wheelspin). The confusion can't be blamed on Isuzu; they print explanations of four-wheel drive and the winter driving mode in their owner's manual. The fault lies with Edmund's for not training its drivers how to deal with the technology of this particular vehicle. Nevertheless, we feel that if this system was confusing to one of our drivers, a bright woman with a good grasp on life, it is probably very confusing to large segments of the general population.

    The moral of the story is this. Understand what you are buying before you make a decision. A four-wheel-drive truck like the Rodeo is useful only to the person who understands how to use its features.

    Best Fuel Economy: 18.5
    Worst Fuel Economy: 14.3
    Maintenance Cost: $0
    Problems: Remote key fob is unresponsive.

    Road Test

    February 1999

    Ah, life in the Big Apple has not been kind to our Rodeo. Vandals and careless garage attendants have had a field day tearing up our attractive truck's sheetmetal this month. In the past thirty days, our truck has been keyed on the front right fender, dinged on the right rear fender flare, and bashed in the rear bumper in such a manner that there appears to be a hole in the Rodeo's bumper cover. The garage has 'fessed up to some of the damage and has offered to pay for it, but we are still going to have to cover some of the costs ourselves.

    Despite the Rodeo's scarred appearance, we are still getting compliments on it nearly two years after the truck's introduction. We've noticed that previous-generation Rodeo drivers are the most likely to stop and stare; though, the truck continues to get admiring glance and comments from all sorts of people.

    The shrieking moonroof deflector has reared its head again. On a particularly windy day, it began squealing like a stuck pig while one of our drivers was piloting the truck down the Jersey turnpike. When the driver slowed, she noticed that the sound abated. This is the first time the problem has struck since Greg Anderson, senior features editor, drove the Rodeo to New York last year, but we plan on having it looked at on the Rodeo's next trip to the shop.

    We intend on getting the Rodeo repaired quickly, but did not have estimates available at the time of this update because the dealership that has fixed our Rodeo in the past no longer does body work. Hmmm, that instills us with a great deal of confidence about the work that they've done for us in the past. It's nice to know that automotive writers have the same headaches as regular folks, isn't it?

    Total Odometer Reading: 29,863
    Best Fuel Economy: 13.8
    Worst Fuel Economy: 20.5
    Maintenance Cost: $0
    Body Repair Cost: $0
    Problems: Moonroof howls when it's windy.

    Road Test

    March 1999

    The scratches, dents and dings of last month are going to cost $660 to fix, according to the estimate we received in New York. We are not planning to have the work done in Gotham, however, since the Rodeo is scheduled to rotate to Detroit before we can get it scheduled for repairs.

    This month, our drivers raved about the Rodeo's ample cargo space, noting, however, that accessing the cargo space can be a pain in the butt because it is difficult to open and close the two-piece hatchgate quickly. We've said before that we would prefer a traditional liftgate to the awkward hatchgate; in New York it has proven to be especially bothersome. On numerous occasions impatient cabbies have expressed their displeasure with us as we fumble with the hatchgate while loading the Rodeo on busy streets.

    Other drivers have noted that the Rodeo has a dearth of usable storage spaces. We've found that there isn't a convenient place to put our cell phones, CD cases or chewing gum. The center storage compartment sits too far back in the console to be accessed easily while driving, the map pockets are too narrow to accept a cell phone, and the glove box is too far away to reach from behind the wheel. As an alternative, we have been placing things on the passenger seat or in the cupholders, but they invariably slide onto the floor the first time we hit the brakes.

    As mentioned before, the Rodeo is leaving New York this month to spend a few months in Detroit. Our New York staff members are sorry to see it go, despite the trouble they've had during its short tenure there. The commanding view of the road, cavernous cargo area, and rugged good looks are a few of the things they will miss the most. We don't blame them; those are three of the main reasons that people buy SUVs in the first place.

    Total Odometer Reading: 30,636
    Best Fuel Economy: 16.5
    Worst Fuel Economy: 16.2
    Body Repair Cost: $0
    Maintenance Cost: $0
    Problems: None.

    Road Test

    April 1999

    Our long-term Rodeo has escaped from New York with more scratches and bruises than Kurt Russell's stunt-double from the movie of the same name. Our Detroit-based news editor John Clor is now in possession of the Rodeo and has made preparations to restore the Rodeo to its former beauty.

    Clor's initial impressions of the Rodeo are favorable. This is the first Rodeo he has driven since the truck was redesigned in 1998, and he decided that the newer model is much more powerful and less "buzzy" than the one it replaced. He cited our long-term Rodeo's ability to pass quickly and effortlessly on uphill sections of freeway as particularly impressive.

    The Rodeo's tall ride height won accolades from Clor's sons, who are impressed by the outward visibility afforded them from the rear seat. His wife, however, finds climbing in and out of the truck difficult due to the Rodeo's high step-in height. Such is the price of that king-of-the-road feeling.

    Clor found a solution for the screeching moonroof wind-deflector that had spooked and annoyed many of our drivers. He removed it. Why this hadn't occurred to anyone before is beyond us, but it took an industry veteran with two decades of experience to determine that some pieces of equipment are better removed than fixed.

    The Rodeo is scheduled for a cornucopia of service and repair at the beginning of next month. Hopefully this will heal the scars the truck incurred while in the Big Apple. We'll let you know how much the reconstructive surgery costs, but initial estimates indicate that it will be more than $1,000.

    Total Odometer: 31,649
    Best Mileage: 19.1 mpg
    Worst Mileage: 18.1 mpg
    Maintenance Costs: Service pending
    Body Damage Costs: Estimates pending
    Problems: Noisy sunroof air deflector.

    Road Test

    May 1999

    Once the Rodeo made its way to Detroit, our first order of business was to find an Isuzu dealership to schedule our 30,000-mile service interval and to get a bump shop estimate for repair of the body damage it suffered in New York. Our news editor John Clor was somewhat surprised to see that he had only a few choices listed in the Yellow Pages, the closest to his home being Key Olds/Nissan/Isuzu in Warren, Mich., (a Detroit suburb just northeast of the city limits). One call landed us Clayton Burnett, a young and personable service advisor who gave us an appointment for the morning of the day we requested, Friday, April 23. He explained over the phone what work would be included in the 30,000-mile service, and estimated the cost to be $317.95.

    Upon arrival at the Key Motor Mall that rainy Friday morning, we were greeted promptly and courteously by none other than Clay himself, who not only remembered our name but also the reason for our appointment. During our write-up he checked under the hood and said that, because our vehicle had the V6 with the coil-pack over each spark plug, it would take somewhat more labor (about $16) than he had estimated on the phone to perform service. Thanks for being up-front about it, we said. We also told him we noticed the rear wiper wasn't working on the drive over, and he checked it out, saying the wiper arm nut appeared loose and the repair would be covered under warranty. We showed him the body damage and asked if, after the service was done, he would take it over to his body shop and get an estimate. He said the car would be done late that same afternoon, and that he'd get the estimate for us before the close of business. Clor asked if he could have it faxed to his home office, and he said no problem.

    We were in and out of there in only 10 minutes. As promised, service was completed by 4:30 that afternoon. The body shop estimate was faxed to Clor, the repairs were approved and - after a quick discussion with the bump-shop manager - the car was sent over to the adjacent building for bodywork. It would take $1,030.68 to shape and refinish the creased upper right-front fender and the scraped and dented right-rear wheel arch; the punctured left-rear bumper cover would be replaced. They told us it would be ready by Thursday or Friday of the following week, depending on if the parts arrived by late Monday or Tuesday. It was all handled over the phone in a matter of minutes.

    We got a call the following Friday, April 30, telling us that the car was done and ready to be picked up. No unpleasant surprises on the cost, as the service came to $334.54 and the bodywork exactly $1,030.68. We drove out to the dealership, paid the cashier for both invoices, and walked over to the body-shop where the now-flawless silver Rodeo sat gleaming in the sun. A walk-around revealed a nice job on the paint and bodywork. We showed the paid invoice to the manager in exchange for the keys, and headed out for the 30-minute drive home. The Rodeo looked and ran perfect. (The rear wiper even worked.)

    Our bill indicated that the 30,000-mile service included an oil and filter change, a chassis lube, plus: service to the automatic transmission, including replacing the fluid, pan gasket and filter; replacing the air cleaner; replacing a PCV valve and the spark plugs; checking the engine timing and idle; replacing the engine coolant; the inspection of all belts, hoses and connections, and pressure-testing the system. It also includes inspecting the fuel tank, cap and lines, and replacing the fuel filter. Parts were $137.72, the rest labor. The broken rear wiper was fixed under warranty, as promised.

    The body-shop bill showed repairs to the right-front fender and front door, right-rear quarter, and replacement of the right-rear bumper cover extension and right-rear wheel-arch chip protector. A total of 29 labor hours were charged, costing $754, and parts tallied $86.92. Paint materials cost another $174.09. The job was neat, well-matched and there was no noticeable overspray.

    We were happy to have the Rodeo back in service. Clor used it a few times for picking up his boys from school and on quick trips to the local hardware and drugstore, and it ran and rode well, with no rattles. Our only extended test drive this month came on a short jaunt to a birthday party in the countryside southwest of Detroit near Metropolitan Airport. It hauled the whole family in comfort and style, and performed without complaint. Next month, we'll take it for a short loop of I-94 - Detroit's torture test for performance over horrible pavement - and let you know how it survives. For now, we're trying to keep the miles low, as the Rodeo's now more than 2,000 miles over the lease's 30,000-mile limit. ... At least she runs and looks good again.

    Total Odometer Reading: 32,160
    Best Fuel Economy: 17.8 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 14.8 mpg
    Body Repair Costs: $1,030.68 (Fix/repaint dented fender, scraped quarter-panel and gouged bumper cover)
    Maintenance Costs: $334.54 (30,000-mile service)
    Problems: None

    Road Test

    June 1999

    The Rodeo has returned to Denver after a short stay in Detroit with news editor John Clor. Editor-in-chief Chris Wardlaw and family have been with the Rodeo for most of the month of June, and are surprised to see how much they are enjoying their time with the truck. Christy Wardlaw (Mrs. Editor-in-Chief) has been particularly impressed with the Rodeo. Within days of its arrival in Denver, Christy had moved her child's baby seat into the backseat, reset all of the radio stations, plopped her water bottle in the center console, and made herself at home. In fact, Christy has been so smitten by the attractive truck that she has suggested to her husband that they buy the Rodeo in November after the lease is up. There's something about driving a rugged V6-powered SUV around the streets of Denver that just feels right to Christy. The image, the visibility, the implied safety--they're all reasons that SUVs are so popular in the Mile High City.

    Chris Wardlaw has been using the Rodeo as Isuzu and God intended, namely for trips to Home Depot for house supplies. After one such trip where he acquired a screen door, Wardlaw found that the easy-to-fold rear seats aren't really that easy to fold because they require the headrests to be removed in order to get a flat load floor. This, in turn, means that the headrests have to be stowed somewhere so that they don't roll around the back of the truck. Wardlaw thinks that Isuzu should mimic the rearward-folding headrest design used by GM in their compact SUVs. Allowing the backseats to be stowed without taking off the rear headrests could add some utility to the Rodeo.

    Wardlaw has also found some new benefits to the rear hatchgate. The hatchgate allows owners to access the contents of the cargo area without having to open a heavy liftgate. After a trip to the grocery store, the Wardlaws found another positive attribute of the hatchgate: you can open it underneath a garage door without banging anything into the door. On most other SUVs and minivans, when you pull into the garage head-in, and then open the hatch, it rests on the garage door above. As items or people leave the vehicle, weight shifts, and the hatch rubs on the exposed metal of the garage door, leaving scratches. With our hatchgate-equipped Rodeo, you just open the glass, swing the tailgate sideways, and no damage occurs (but in small garages, you can't open the back with the garage door closed).

    Our Rodeo's optional 16-inch wheel package gained some unexpected praise this month as well. During a spring rainstorm, Wardlaw passed a Ford Explorer stopped in a construction zone with a flat tire. The owner was totally covered in mud because the spare was located on the underside of the Explorer. Owners of Rodeos with the 16-inch wheel package don't have to worry about things like this since the spare is located on the hatchgate and is easily accessible without having to climb under the truck. The downside to the spare tire's location is that it hinders rearward visibility somewhat.

    During their month with the Rodeo, the Wardlaws have been happy. Their main gripes concern the low quality of the cargo-area plastics (the hard plastic is scratched and gouged from countless loads of dogs and hardware), fuel economy, slow steering, driving position and ergonomics--all complaints we've made before. Still, Isuzu has pegged the Rodeo's engine and styling, things that count for a lot in the high altitude of Denver. Now that the Rodeo's gremlins may have been ironed out, it has become a pleasing ride.

    Total Odometer Reading: 34,418
    Best Fuel Economy: 19.7 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 16.8 mpg
    Body Repair Costs: None
    Maintenance Costs: None
    Problems: Left brake light not illuminating as brightly as right brake light. Odd clicking noise occurring under half-throttle acceleration.

    Road Test

    July 1999

    July marks the 21st month we've had our '98 Isuzu Rodeo in our long-term test fleet. We've enjoyed its SUV functionality, but the Rodeo has given us more than a few reasons to keep its glove box full of headache-killing Advil. If our Rodeo was a '50s-era British sports car, we could wax nostalgically about how its electrical system shorted out in the middle of a blizzard, or how it suddenly decided to relieve itself of coolant on a drive across the country. Too bad for the Rodeo; it's a modern vehicle that is supposed to have minimal problems.

    Ah, but our Rodeo has been on good behavior the last few months. Other than body repair in May, we had no mechanical problems. The Rodeo has sailed past our two-year lease's mileage limit, so July saw the addition of only 564 miles.

    Just like June, the Isuzu made its home in Colorado under the watchful eye of editor-in-chief Christian Wardlaw. In what seems to be one of the Rodeo's strongest attributes, Chris reports that the SUV continues to impress with its distinctive good looks. The bright silver paint and matching alloy wheels on our truck work quite well with the overall styling. In fact, when Chris took the Rodeo to be detailed, many patrons at the car-wash facility admired the vehicle as the attendants dried it off and applied tire dressing. Chris even admits that a bit of "pride of ownership" crept up on him as he walked toward the truck after the work was completed. But then he realized, of course, that he doesn't own it.

    It seems that the Wardlaw family's impressions of the Rodeo took a turn for the worse after a Fourth of July holiday vacation. Another mechanical gremlin? More lacerations and bruises to the body? No sir, the Rodeo suffered thanks to one Dodge Intrepid. Holy Chrysler, Batman!

    For the vacation, the Wardlaws loaded up the Rodeo with gear (luggage and such) and parked it in long-term at Denver International Airport. No problems there. The next 10 days were spent driving around Massachusetts in Edmunds.com's long-term Intrepid. After returning to Colorado, the Rodeo's deficiencies became much more glaring. As Chris points out:

    1. The Intrepid's trunk swallowed our vacation gear with room to spare. In the Rodeo, we had to stack stuff high enough that the cargo cover wouldn't work.

    2. The Intrepid has more room inside, and is far more comfortable to drive. Plus, it's more responsive, especially in the handling department.

    3. The Intrepid gets better gas mileage.

    4. The Rodeo literally crashes over pockmarked pavement. The Intrepid, in contrast, glides over bumps and holes.

    5. The Intrepid cost about $9,000 less than our Isuzu.

    Ouch! As Chris and his wife, Christy, bumped over potholes on the way home from the airport, they wondered how many times the Rodeo's 4WD system had actually been engaged since we've had it. And in a more cerebral moment, they questioned America's unquenched thirst for SUVs in general. In June, Christy was considering buying the Rodeo after the lease was up. The trip in the Dodge has eliminated that desire.

    Onto more mundane matters. In July, we were notified of a recall on the truck. Evidently, the accelerator pad can come loose and fall off. Chris made an appointment at Courtesy Isuzu in Littleton for repairs in August. We've also scheduled to have the missing left rear mudflap and LS nomenclature from the right C-pillar replaced. Also, the dim right rear brake light will be investigated, and we'll have the dealership check out a possible exhaust leak. As reported last month, we still get an odd ticking noise during part-throttle acceleration.

    Total Odometer Reading: 34,964
    Best Fuel Economy: 18.4 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 16.3 mpg
    Body Damage Repair Costs: $0
    Maintenance Costs: $0
    Problems: No new problems.

    Road Test

    August 1999

    After last month's commentary comparing and contrasting the Rodeo with our long-term Intrepid in terms of driveability and cargo capacity, a reader lodged a complaint with our staff:

    "I emailed Edmund's a few months ago with concerns and criticisms related to your review of the 1998 Isuzu Rodeo. I mentioned the subjective approach of the reviewers, their gripes about problems unrelated to the vehicle, and the constant comparisons to CARS. Your editor, Chris Wardlaw, seems to share the same problem with reviewing a truck. Glad he discovered that the Intrepid CAR drove and behaved like a CAR, and that the Rodeo was more like a truck. Ask him to take the Intrepid four-wheeling and write a review after that...if he gets back! Stick to the appropriate comparisons!"

    Our contention is that since the majority of SUV buyers don't use them off-road, many Rodeo buyers or people considering a Rodeo can benefit from such commentary as we published last month. In all likelihood, they are replacing a car because they think they "need" more cargo capacity, space for a growing family, and four-wheel drive when the blizzard of the decade hits. As such, it is perfectly natural to compare the Rodeo to the Intrepid, or any other large sedan that will perform 95 percent of the duties the Rodeo can. Even more important for the consumer to realize is that a car can often handle these tasks more competently, at a lower price and with more comfort to the driver and passengers. And, since we had the Intrepid in Detroit during the massive blizzard that shut the city down for nearly a week last January, we know that its snow-blasting ability, while less than optimal, exists. We didn't get it stuck, despite the unplowed downtown streets and the Dodge's all-season tires.

    Ah, but we digress. For those of you who agree with our disgruntled reader, we are going boulder bashing in September. But not in the Intrepid. That would be silly. Obviously, buyers who actually use four-wheel drive are better served by a Rodeo so equipped than by a front-drive Intrepid. Instead, we're running the Rodeo and our long-term Jeep Grand Cherokee on trails in the Rocky Mountains west of Denver, and will then be able to offer the appropriate comments for a proper long-term test--at least according to one reader. See, we take suggestions seriously.

    In the meantime, y'all will have to settle for what we've got on tap for August. Wardlaw, the guy the Rodeo stranded in Santa Fe when it had but a few thousand miles on the clock and who feels the truck's only redeeming features are its styling, roomy rear seat, and powerful 3.2-liter V6, was still in possession of the Rodeo during the early part of the month.

    He took our Isuzu into service to have a litany of minor items diagnosed and repaired. Our truck was recalled, which prompted the dealership visit. Evidently, the accelerator pad can fall off and cause big-time trouble. The notice we received from Isuzu warned us not to drive the truck until the repair could be made. We called the closest Isuzu dealer, Courtesy Isuzu, in Littleton, Colo., which was able to get us in four days after the call. Wardlaw filed this report on what was repaired and how well Courtesy served him.

    While the truck was in the shop, we had the following items looked at:

    1. Accelerator-pad recall
    2. Trailer-harness recall (didn't know about this recall, but it turned out to be the cause of our dim brake light)
    3. Missing mud flap
    4. Missing LS nomenclature
    5. Clicking noise heard under part-throttle acceleration

    The recalls were taken care of, and the mud flap was replaced under warranty. They ordered a new LS badge, and determined our muffler had a bad baffle that was causing the noise, so one of those was ordered as well. The badge and muffler will be replaced under warranty.

    So, a pleasant experience in terms of costs to the company--there were none. However, Courtesy needs to work harder to retain that name. When calling for an appointment, we spent 15 minutes on the telephone with a curt service advisor while he looked up the recall. When arriving for the appointment, we were written up by another curt service advisor. When calling later that afternoon, we spent 15 minutes waiting while the person who answered the phone tried to determine if our truck would be finished that day. The shop itself was clean, and they had this cool inflatable VehiCROSS on the front lawn attracting all kinds of attention, but the people manning the service department didn't have it together.

    A week later, the parts came in and we returned to Courtesy Isuzu after waiting four more days for another appointment. They told us on the phone they needed the truck for only three hours. They kept it for twice that amount of time. As usual, they had curt attitudes. Not the greatest of dealers in terms of customer treatment.

    After the dealership repaired our Rodeo to its like-new state, Wardlaw hauled his bike to the gas station to air-up the tires. He griped in the logbook that to fold the back seats flat, the rear headrests must be removed, which is time-consuming when you're trying to squeeze a personal errand in on a lunch hour. He prefers the auto-flipping rear headrests on compact GM SUVs (Blazer, Jimmy, Envoy and Bravada) and the manual folding ones on the Ford Explorer/Mercury Mountaineer twins. (See, we compared the Rodeo to other trucks--hey, at least we're trying.)

    Next, features editor Ingrid Palmer got a turn behind the wheel. Surprisingly, she'd never driven our long-term Rodeo before, so we've got a fresh perspective to report nearly two years into the test.

    Palmer, known affectionately in our offices as Spork, is rather short and slight of frame. She loves the Rodeo's seats, which larger staffers have referred to as beach chairs. Says Palmer: "The seats are not squishy or soft; they are firm, but it feels great on your back. There is so much support." Palmer, who suffers lower-back problems, lauded the lumbar support and its positioning. Also, she found the truck to be nimble around town, offering good visibility and maneuverability in parking lots. She disparaged the styling, however, saying the Rodeo looks just like any other SUV on the road.

    So not only does she disagree with other staffers on several key points, but she also had this say, "The ride is trucklike, but my take is that it IS a truck, so that's OK." She cited harshness over large bumps, and conceded that the Rodeo didn't drive as smoothly as some other SUVs on the market.

    Her major gripe, one that Wardlaw's wife has voiced as well, is that when tooling around corners while accelerating, the Rodeo squeals like a stuck pig. As Palmer wrote in our logbook: "You don't even have to be turning; the tires will scream just by hitting the gas pedal. You can't turn a corner--even at a snail's pace--without hearing that familiar SCREEEEE!"

    Palmer also doesn't like the hatchgate cargo access at the back of truck, which comes standard with the 16-inch wheels and tires we ordered. "You first have to push in the button that opens the window, and then open the actual cargo door sideways. It's nice that you can get into the back through the window only, but the rear-mounted spare tire blocks access. Once the door is swung open, it locks into place, which is frustrating because then you have to reach into the hinged corner and pull on the little tab to unlock it, then get your fingers out before you close the door further, and then get out of the way before the door slams shut. Aaargh!" A note to would-be Rodeo buyers--stick with the standard 15-inch wheels, and you get a rear hatch and no hassles in this department.

    Just when our Rodeo is finally back into tip-top shape, the passenger-side window has begun acting up. It makes a clunking sound when rolling down, like it's rubbing on something and then flopping into place. We'll keep an eye on this new development. And stay tuned for the results of our four-wheeling flog into the wilds of Colorado.

    Total Odometer Reading: 35,821
    Best Fuel Economy: 19.4 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 14.2 mpg
    Body Damage Repair: $0
    Maintenance Costs: $0
    Problems: Clunking passenger-side window when rolling it down.

    Road Test

    September 1999

    We've racked up miles on our Rodeo like an anteater sucks up ants! With two more months on our Rodeo lease, we're trying to be frugal and not accrue too many excess mileage charges, so excursions in the truck have been scarce as of late.

    While driving to and from Denver International Airport, our editor-in-chief Chris Wardlaw noticed the steering wheel shimmying at speeds above 65 mph. We set up an appointment at Joe Tynan's Isuzu in Aurora, Colo., to get the rubber balanced. Wardlaw initially felt that the dealership seemed disorganized, and also had difficulty finding the service entrance due to the fact that several new VWs were parked in the service drive and signage was not immediately apparent. Wardlaw further mentioned that the service personnel were courteous, but some seemed to want to be anywhere except work. Oh, the plight of the service guys at Joe Tynan's Isuzu!

    Later the same day, we received a call from a service tech who informed us the vehicle was ready to roll sans vibration. We arrived the next morning to pick up our Rodeo, but it took some time for them to locate the paperwork, which hadn't been processed yet. After 15 minutes of waiting and then doling out $35.95 to rotate and balance the tires, we went outside to where the cashier said the Rodeo would be delivered. We saw our vehicle, locked up, no keys, sitting idle outside the service entrance. We walked back inside to get our keys, irked by the inconvenience. Wardlaw said of his experience at Joe Tynan's Isuzu, "Overall, the people at Tynan Isuzu were generally nice and apologetic for their disorganization, but I wasn't impressed. The place seemed understaffed and generally chaotic." Note to dealers: apologies alone do not win over Edmunds.com's staffers!

    We noticed a couple signs of age on our Rodeo. As reported last month, the passenger-side window is still making strange noises, but operates just fine, allowing in fresh air while down and keeping out Mother Nature's worst when rolled up. (Hey, windows'll do that nowadays!) We also observed that with all the body work performed on our truck, the paint on the hood no longer matches the front fenders or the bumper. In all fairness, Chris Wardlaw's got a pretty critical eye, but we don't hold it against him.

    With both the Rodeo and our new Nissan Xterra long-term vehicle sitting in Wardlaw's driveway, the Rodeo got the nod as his hauler of choice. He explained, "I used the Rodeo instead of the Xterra to run errands for a singular reason -- 81.1 cubic feet of cargo space and a flip-up rear window. The Rodeo allowed me to carry a sliding door screen to Eagle hardware for repair. With the Xterra's fixed back glass and substantially smaller cargo area, this couldn't be done. Chalk up a point for the Rodeo." OK, we admit it, our operator-unfriendly hatchgate does have its advantages.


    Total Odometer Reading: 36,182
    Best Fuel Economy: 17.6 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 16.5 mpg
    Body Damage Repair: $0
    Maintenance Costs: $35.95
    Problems: Steering wheel shimmy at high speeds due to unbalanced wheels.

    Road Test

    October 1999

    We've got one more short month before our Rodeo goes back to the dealer to find another home. As mentioned last month, we're way over our mileage allowance, so the Rodeo took few jaunts with our Colorado staffer, sitting patiently until the jingling of keys awakened the sleeping sport-ute. Our word is gold, and as such, our Rodeo went four-wheelin' on wild Colorado trails so we could report on its off-road prowess.

    Forests are to SUVs what racetracks are to sports cars. It's where contenders are discovered and nolo contendres cannot hide. Let's start with the good. We found that 4-Hi is easy to engage and disengage, brake feel is exceptional, and the slow and sloppy steering is a boon off-road, where lots of play is necessary to stay straight. But the praise ends there. The rear end wanders easily in two-wheel drive, the Rodeo rams over obstacles abruptly, and it is not suspended for serious off-road work. We discovered the ABS is intrusive in the dirt and the rear-mounted spare tire blocks visibility. We also scraped the bottom on three separate occasions during this session with the Rodeo; however, over the same route with our long-term Jeep Grand Cherokee, we didn't scrape the bottom once.

    Compared to our JGC, the Rodeo's no match when it comes to climbing hills, whacking weeds, and traversing ravines. Yes, the Jeep's gonna cost you more, but if your driving regimen consists of a healthy diet of off-roading, a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo with a six cylinder and the basic four-wheel-drive system is going to fulfill your craving far better than the Rodeo. We cite ground clearance, visibility, four-wheel-drive system, and suspension as just some of the areas where the Jeep is superior to the Rodeo.

    Our Colorado staffer summed up his impressions of the Rodeo since the truck is going back to the dealer next month. He began with the bad. Stranding us on two separate occasions due to electrical and mechanical failures does not leave us with a warm fuzzy feeling. Failing running lights and dumping coolant all over the interstate are not endearing qualities.

    In Denver we found the bumpers to be ineffective at absorbing damage, with one small tap costing us over $1,000. The Rodeo's platform-mate, the Amigo, scored wretchedly in offset crash testing. Perhaps the people over at Isuzu should rethink an emphasis, or lack thereof, placed on occupant protection.

    Other gripes from our staff member included: uncomfortable front seats, miserly front storage space, and a lack of rear cupholders. He was also displeased with an incessant rear tire squeal in 2WD while accelerating around corners, and found the hatchgate difficult to operate. He further remarked, "Steering is slow, the ride is rubbery, and there is lots of cheapo plastic covering the interior."

    Our Colorado guy did detail some pleasant qualities of the Isuzu. He loves the powerful V6 engine, which accelerates the Rodeo much quicker than one would expect and with a great deal of smoothness to boot. He believes that the silver paint, muscular flanks, spoked alloys, and dark tinted windows make our truck possibly the best-looking SUV on the market. Well, some of us will say that the thin Denver air is getting to his head, but, to be sure, the Rodeo isn't hard on the eyes.

    Other strong points centered around the roominess of the backseat, cargo space, and the flip-up rear glass which has come in handy on more than a few occasions. Isuzu just needs to address reliability, comfort, and structural integrity, all of which are big issues. Then maybe they'd have a great recipe. But alas, word has reached Denver that Isuzu is collaborating with GM on the next Rodeo. To our staffer's ears, that's not promising, now is it?

    That's our report for this month. In fact, that's our last monthly report on the Rodeo. Now it's your turn to tell us about your experiences. If you own a 1998 or 1999 Isuzu Rodeo or Honda Passport, we'd like to hear from you. Simply email commentary, your VIN, your name, and the city and state where you live to djg@edmunds.com, with the understanding that we may quote you in our long-term wrap-up on the Rodeo next month. We look forward to hearing from you!

    Total Odometer Reading: 36,472
    Best Fuel Economy: 17.7 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 13.5 mpg
    Body Damage Repair: $0
    Maintenance Costs: $0
    Problems: Still has steering wheel vibration on highway at 70 mph. Still has "tea kettle about to boil" sound during part-throttle low-speed acceleration.

    Road Test

    Wrap-Up: November 1999

    Two years ago we got our hands on this silver 1998 Isuzu Rodeo LS. We chose it because we wanted to see if this newly redesigned SUV could muster enough evidence to prove that it could regain the top-selling import SUV crown it held briefly in 1992. The truck certainly has an appealing outer shell, with sheetmetal that gets plenty of attention. What of the innards though? And what of living with it for 24 months? Indeed we were impressed with the Rodeo we drove briefly before acquiring our long-termer, but sometimes things change when impressions are continuously logged over an extended period of time.

    And, to sum it all up, our staff (for the most part) has changed their tune. The final verdict is that a silky, powerful V6, an attractive exterior, and tons of cargo space simply cannot make up for the host of bugaboos that plagued our Rodeo. Stranding drivers in the modern automotive world is a real no-no, and the Isuzu turned out to be Old Faithful in this department.

    The Rodeo's certainly got the key ingredients that make for a successful entry in this market niche. Over and over again, drivers gushed about the V6 motor, which applies power quite smoothly to the wheels and has plenty of torque. It certainly rivals or surpasses other manufacturers' powerplants in these departments. Most SUV buyers don't buy their trucks for speed, but it's always nice to have that power when you need it. And besides, who wants to drive something that a Geo Metro can outdrag?

    It's also got the looks, and we know all too well that styling can make or break a new entry in the marketplace. And with the SUV craze, an attractive skin is even more crucial with so many current offerings and more cropping up every day. A Lincoln and a BMW truck? Who'd have heard of such a thing just five short years ago? People, and most notably previous-generation Rodeo owners, simply stared, unable to remove their gaze from the bulges in all the right places. Attractive wheels and dark tinted glass made it even more aesthetically pleasing.

    Another big plus for the Rodeo is its 81 cubic feet of cargo space. It bests just about everything else in its class here, adding that important "utility" aspect to the "sport" part of the equation. Add the rear glass that flips up, and you can transport long objects that wouldn't fit in an SUV with a standard liftgate. Let's face it, these are the station wagons of modern times. People are buying them to fill the same needs that the Ford Country Squire did years ago.

    The rest of the fixins that make up the Rodeo recipe will not be savored by many (we'll leave room here for the masochists). It truly is painful to be unable to depend on one's automobile to get from point A to point B. Perhaps years ago, in an MG or an Austin Healy, a breakdown would be categorized affectionately as "character," but today it's simply unacceptable.

    Well that's just what our Rodeo managed to do...THRICE! It dumped coolant all over the interstate when the radiator cap blew off. Later, it leaked its green blood while parked due to a faulty water pump. In both instances it stranded our drivers. And that's not to mention the time the dash and the taillights failed to illuminate as dusk fell, which forced our staffer to spend a night in New Mexico and left him battling a snowstorm the next day.

    Electrical gremlins reared their unwelcome heads left and right, inside and outside the truck. Some were fixed and then reappeared months later. Fuses blew, shorts occurred, and wiring harnesses either broke or were faulty from the get-go. This certainly doesn't sound like a vehicle hatched by the Japanese. Which brings up another relevant point. Honda rebadges the Rodeo and sells it as the Passport. Honda's got a rock-solid reliability reputation. If we were them, we'd be more than a little hesitant to put our reputation on the line knowing what we now know about this Isuzu.

    During the time we spent with the Rodeo, we were made aware of three recalls. The first pertained to the trailering harness, the second to the ABS dash light, and the third to the accelerator pad. In addition to these, we've caught wind of others that range from a tendency toward unintended acceleration (that sounds like fun) to an engine wiring harness that may cause an engine stall. Several major recalls? C'mon Isuzu, you can do better than that.

    We needed bodywork on three separate occasions. Two of them were due to small accidents, or so we thought. Indeed, the baby in the Rodeo didn't even wake when we tapped a GMC Safari, but the Rodeo had other plans for the adults. We were wide awake when we saw the amount of damage and later the estimate to repair the front end. There really was an incongruous amount of damage when you consider the severity, or lack thereof, of the impact. After all, the Safari was unscathed save for a scratch or two. Isuzu needs to rethink those bumper designs, allowing them to actually absorb crash energy.

    Our service experiences were less than pleasant, with the exception of one or two occasions. Parts were often not in stock, and took far too long to acquire. Most of the time we didn't get our truck back when promised. One dealer that performed bodywork for us previously told us that they no longer did that sort of repair when we needed another estimate months later. This certainly made us less than confident about the work that they had previously performed.

    Fuel mileage was pretty dismal, and we never did get that fuel sensor issue resolved. The truck would register empty, and we would go to fill it up only to find that it wouldn't take more than 10 gallons of gas. The tank holds 21.1 gallons. Lame! Yeah, we know SUVs are thirsty beasts, but at least tell us what we've really got left.

    The commanding view over the hood pleased all of our drivers, but this is praise that can only be taken in a general sense. All SUVs, to one extent or another, provide this kind of visibility. Accommodations once inside were pretty decent, and some commented that the Rodeo has a less plasticky look than some of the competition. The seats were another story though, with only one driver calling them comfortable. Most likened the low seating position to that of a beach chair, and a lack of back support sealed the deal of distaste. But the rear seats were comfortable to all that came along for the ride -- excellent in terms of comfort and support.

    Engaging the four-wheel-drive system was easy enough, just push a button on the dash. However, attention must be paid to keep from pushing the identically shaped cruise control or fog light buttons which are located next to it. Moving the transfer-lever from 4-Lo to 4-Hi was simple enough as well.

    Once in four-wheel drive, the Rodeo was eager to carve up trails. Brake feel is excellent, and the slow and sloppy steering pays big dividends off-road, where lots of play is required to stay straight. However, the rear end wanders easily on dirt roads in two-wheel drive, the truck rams over obstacles abruptly, and it is not suspended for serious off-roading. Also, the rear-mounted spare tire blocks visibility.

    Rearward visibility is equally a problem on the pavement due to the tire on the hatchgate. And while drivers praised the flip-up glass, which allowed them to carry long materials they couldn't otherwise have done with a fixed rear window, in general, the hatchgate was a nuisance. To open the gate the glass must be flipped up, and then the door swung wide. And a three-step process was required to close it: first a hinge must be released, then the door closed shut, and then the glass secured again. Certainly not the best of designs, but in '98 this arrangement was standard with 16-inch wheels that wouldn't fit in the under-body well.

    While not much of an issue off-road, the Rodeo rodeoed like a truck when on pavement. Those used to their sedans didn't appreciate this quality, and wished for a more serene ride. They also found themselves wishing for tires that would better hold the road in turns. Finally, powering around corners resulted in quite a bit of tire squeal.

    A sunroof air deflector that was poorly designed, a squeak here and there in the dash, headlights aimed too high despite what Isuzu claims, an unresponsive remote key fob, and a host of other maladies ranging from a steering wheel shimmy to a broken center console latch further tarnished the few pleasant attributes of the Rodeo.

    Ah, and then there was the lease return experience. Poor paint quality and unacceptable body work and repainting by the dealers resulted in hefty excess charges come lease end. We were slapped with a bill for $1,051.52! It should be noted, however, that we leased our vehicle through G.E. Capital. Still, there is no denying that the workmanship we received was less than par.

    So when all was said and done, or almost done, drivers chagrined having to drive the Rodeo for fear that they would be stranded, or at the very least, be inconvenienced by a malfunction that forced them to make a trip to the repair shop. This lack of dependability positively kills most of the strong points that this Isuzu has to offer. Rodeo's got muscles to flex and a body to die for, but none of us would want to deal with its incessant whining and needy disposition. It simply exacts too great a toll.

    What Edmunds.com says about the Rodeo:
    Pros: Powerful V6 engine, roomy interior and copious cargo space, attractive styling, useful flip-up rear glass, commanding view of the road, easy-to-use 4WD system.

    Cons: Unreliable (it stranded us three times), poor build quality, difficult hatchgate operation, poor rearward visibility, uncomfortable front seats and driving position, dismal impact-absorbing bumpers, paltry gas mileage.

    Best Logbook Quotes:
    "I used the Rodeo instead of the Xterra to run errands for a singular reason -- 81.1 cubic feet of cargo space and a flip-up rear window. The Rodeo allowed me to carry a sliding door screen to Eagle hardware for repair. With the Xterra's fixed back glass and substantially smaller cargo area, this couldn't be done. Chalk up a point for the Rodeo." - Christian Wardlaw

    "You don't even have to be turning; the tires will scream just by hitting the gas pedal. You can't turn a corner--even at a snail's pace--without hearing that familiar SCREEEEE!" - Ingrid Palmer

    "After six minutes behind the wheel, the first person flashed their brights at me. This would continue, in approximately 10-minute increments, every time I drove at night. Apparently, the Rodeo's lights are aimed too high and everyone assumes I'm driving like a jerk. When I flash my BRIGHT brights on them, they are probably stunned." - Greg Anderson

    "Once the rear door is swung open, it locks into place, which is frustrating because then you have to reach into the hinged corner and pull on the little tab to unlock it, then get your fingers out before you close the door further, and then get out of the way before the door slams shut. Aaargh!" - Ingrid Palmer

    "I heard a tapping noise from the engine. Within five seconds, the temperature reading pegged the red and steam and liquid came pouring out from the right front of the hood." - Greg Anderson

    "I think our silver Rodeo LS, especially when washed and Armor-All-ed, is one of the most attractive SUVs on the market today, bar none." - Christian Wardlaw

    "One-and-a-half hours into the drive, a horrible gut-wrenching NNNGGNNNNGGNGNGN noise -- not unlike the scene in "Men in Black" when Will Smith drags that metal table across the floor -- intrudes upon the cabin. I am scared wide awake, and it takes me approximately one hour to locate the source of the noise. It's the sunroof!" - Greg Anderson
    What Owners say about the Rodeo

    E-mail Commentary:
    "I love the roominess and haven't found the driver's seat to be uncomfortable at all. The only repair done on it was the recall for the gas pedal, which I was told some people actually had fall off. I'm leasing the truck and probably won't keep it when the lease runs out in 2002." - K. Chaney, Cottonwood, AZ

    "Overall I'm pleased with the truck. Would I buy a new one? Probably not. It's a perfectly serviceable SUV. It's just a little boring to me and doesn't have any real distinguishing features that make me love it. I'd give it a 'C,' and if there had not been such a good lease deal, I probably would not have bought it." - A. Iacobone, Turnersville, NJ

    "The Rodeo is slightly underdamped, making it jittery over bumps and occasionally bottom out over large holes. This can easily be corrected with aftermarket shocks, which completely remedy the problem. This is not an inferior design flaw. 2000 year models have received an active damping system to correct the problem." - Anonymous, Marlborough, MA

    "The floor mat recall/problem is in addition to numerous other complaints made to the NHTSA involving intermittent sudden acceleration of the '98 Isuzu Rodeo, including a number of similar incidents which resulted in accidents where the vehicle accelerated when the brakes were applied, as in my case. To date, Isuzu and the Fort Buick Pontiac dealership have disavowed any responsibility for the problem and refuse to even acknowledge the numerous similar complaints involving the intermittent sudden acceleration problem." - G. Papola, Jr., Churchville, PA
    Town Hall Commentary:
    Recently purchased a 1999 Rodeo that has been giving me problems. Basically, my engine light keeps coming on, and every time I take it to my local Isuzu dealer they keep telling me that there could be 22 reasons why it's coming on. Yesterday makes my seventh time that I had to take my Rodeo to the shop. I recently did some research on my lemon law rights in my state (GA), and I just began to start a claim. - smith69

    Like a few people on here, I have been having problems, especially within the first six months of buying my new '98 Rodeo. I think the reason that '99 Rodeo owners are having fewer problems is because we '98 owners bitched and moaned enough about it that Isuzu fixed most problems by the time the '99 models rolled around. Like another user posted, I also have quite a few service receipts in my file (not counting the recalls) and the service is also terrible. They fixed one thing and messed up another. - fritzlam

    Words cannot describe how disappointed I am with my Rodeo. I have a laundry list of service tickets in my glove box not to mention the six recalls. The body rattle that is mentioned a few times has been inflicted on me too. Dealer has no idea what to do. They have replaced the gas shocks on the glass hatch, siliconed the weather stripping around the same and made numerous adjustments to the glass. None have worked. - whiterhinostud

    Buyer beware with the '98 Rodeo. I have a '98, and though I'm satisfied with it overall, I really wish I'd given the Nissan Pathfinder more thought. I think the quality of the Pathfinder is significantly higher than the Isuzu. Lots of small, annoying things in the Rodeo just bug me sometimes: high oil consumption (1 qt/1500 mi), annoying squeaks/rattles, steering wheel shimmy/vibration at 60 mph, many recalls/service bulletins, construction quality, long-term reliability. - PeterUbers
    Summing Up:
    Current Market Value*: $20,225
    Depreciation: $12,432 or 38% of original MSRP

    Final Odometer Reading: 36,472
    Best Fuel Economy: 20.8 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 10.5 mpg
    Average Fuel Economy: 16.2 mpg
    Total Body Repair Costs: $2,504.70

    Total Routine Maintenance Costs: $614.44
    Additional Maintenance Costs: $60.90

    Warranty Repairs: 4
    Non-Warranty Repairs: 2
    Scheduled Dealer Visits: 4
    Unscheduled Dealer Visits: 10
    Days Out of Service: 37
    Breakdowns Stranding Driver: 3
    Recalls:
    1- Accelerator pad recall due to the fact that it may work its way loose and fall off.
    2- Trailer harness recall to fix dim brake lights.
    3- Recall on the ABS monitoring systems. (never performed)
    Problem History:
    Driver's side exterior mirror cracked due to frigid weather.

    An electrical short cuts our dash lights and taillights, which forces a driver to be stranded. Fuses installed at dealership failed to curb the problem. Another dealer located the source of the short, a faulty passenger-side vanity mirror. The short was repaired.

    Grip tape on running boards began to peel. Dealer replaced. Grip tape came undone again.

    The ABS light haphazardly flickered on and off. Dealer found nothing amiss, but reset the computer to clear the codes. A couple months later the ABS light came on again. Dealer informed us of a recall, but did not have the parts. In lieu of the parts being available, the dealer reset the computer for the second time.

    Trailer harness malfunctioned. Dealer replaced fuse. Later, another dealer performed a recall to remedy the situation.

    The fuel level sensor never worked correctly. The fuel gauge showed that we were almost out of gas when there was consistently several gallons left in the tank. This condition was never remedied.

    Driver and passenger vanity mirrors quit lighting up.

    The panic button on our remote keyless entry fob quit working.

    Our left taillight went out, was fixed, and then began to appear dimmer than the right one.

    Steering wheel began to shimmy. It was fixed, but then reappeared toward the end of our lease. We paid $35.95 to have the tires rotated and balanced, but the shimmy remained.

    Center console quit latching properly.

    The remote keyless entry system's range became severely impaired.

    Our bug guard came loose. Eventually, we removed it from the truck.

    Driver's door began to squeak when opened and closed.

    Our headlamps were aimed too high. A dealer looked at it and said they were up to spec.

    Moonroof began to screech at high speeds. It was detected twice more, and one staffer cleverly removed the wind deflector which solved the problem.

    Radiator cap popped off while driving, spewing coolant all over the road and stranding our driver. Dealer installed a new cap.

    Anti-freeze began to leak from the truck. This stranded a driver while the dealer fixed a faulty water pump.

    Rear wiper quit wiping. Dealer tightened the wiper arm nut.

    A ticking noise was found during part throttle acceleration. An exhaust leak was detected, and the dealer replaced our muffler, which did not remedy the problem.

    The passenger-side window began making a clunking sound when it was rolled down.

    A mudflap and some LS nomenclature fell off. Both were replaced by the dealer.
    Dealer Service Commentary:
    Joe Tynan's Isuzu, Aurora, Colo.
    "Overall, the people at Tynan Isuzu were generally nice and apologetic for their disorganization, but I wasn't impressed. The place seemed understaffed and generally chaotic."
    Courtesy Isuzu, Littleton, Colo.
    "So, a pleasant experience in terms of costs to the company-there were none. However, Courtesy needs to work harder to retain that name. When calling for an appointment, we spent 15 minutes on the telephone with a curt service advisor while he looked up the recall."
    Key Isuzu, Warren, Mich.
    "Upon arrival at the Key Motor Mall that rainy Friday morning, we were greeted promptly and courteously by the same service advisor we had spoken with on the phone. He not only remembered our name, but also the reason for our appointment."
    Denver Isuzu, Denver, Colo.
    "The trailering harness and antilock brakes were serviced under warranty. To our surprise, we picked up the Rodeo at the end of the day and found that the good folks at Denver Isuzu had washed our truck inside and out. Nice job, guys."
    Rocky Mountain Motors, Santa Fe, N.M.
    "Finally, the [service technician] got the lights operational, and the folks at Rocky Mountain Motors assured us that the lights would stay on as long as we didn't fiddle with the interior dimmer switch, which they suspected was causing the short. The lights shut down before we reached the I-25 on-ramp."
    Changes to Rodeo since 1998
    1999 --
    Along with shuffling standard and optional equipment across the trim levels, a new luxury version of the Rodeo debuts. Called the LSE, the new top dog features a moonroof and leather interior as standard features.

    2000 -
    A mild restyling of the front and rear fascias highlight the visual changes. Sixteen-inch wheels, standard last year on the LSE, are now standard on all Rodeos. Adjustable shock damping, called Intelligent Suspension Control, is a new feature that is standard on the LSE and optional on the LS. ISC allows a driver to choose between Sport and Normal settings for the shock damping. Also newly available is an "Ironman" package for the LS that includes special graphics, black or white paint (with gray on the lower bodyside), and an upgraded roof rack.
    Similar Vehicles:
    Honda Passport
    * based on Spring 2000 edition of "Edmund's Used Cars & Trucks," and expressed in U.S. dollars.

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