Head-to-head reliability
Isuzu Rodeo vs FORD F 150
How the Isuzu Rodeo and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Isuzu Rodeo vs FORD F 150: The Rodeo has 888 complaints over 5 years (178/year) and 15 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131/year) and 145 recalls. Rodeo issues often involve structure and suspension; F-150 issues often involve power train and electrical. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Isuzu Rodeo or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Isuzu Rodeo
The Isuzu Rodeo is a compact SUV with a pattern of structural and suspension complaints, including instability over uneven roads and rust-related failures. Owners also report engine oil consumption and repeated intake manifold gasket failures. With 888 complaints over 5 years (about 178 per year) and 15 recalls, it demands careful inspection, especially in rust-prone areas.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a high volume of complaints, particularly regarding power train and electrical issues. Owners describe hard or delayed transmission shifts, loss of power, and electrical glitches like camera malfunctions. With 11,311 complaints over 10 years (about 1,131 per year) and 145 recalls, it has more frequent reported problems but also a larger owner base.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Isuzu Rodeo | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 888 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 58 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 177.6 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 45 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Isuzu Rodeo
- 01STRUCTURE350
- 02SUSPENSION224
- 03ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING90
- 04SERVICE BRAKES89
- 05FUEL SYSTEM78
Owners report the vehicle becoming unstable over uneven roads, sometimes leading to crashes. Rust is a major issue, with slabs of metal falling from the undercarriage, compromising safety.
Complaints include the vehicle sitting unevenly, leaning to one side, and rusted suspension components. This affects handling and can lead to premature tire wear.
Excessive oil consumption (e.g., a quart every 250 miles) and repeated intake manifold gasket failures are common. These can lead to engine damage if not addressed.
Owners report brake issues such as uneven braking and premature wear. Recalls include a brake fluid low warning lamp, indicating potential hydraulic problems.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ISUZU RODEO. THE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A GUARD RAIL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FO…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Transmission problems are frequent, including hard shifts, delayed engagement, and sudden loss of power. Some owners report jerking and clunking, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Complaints include warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available.' These electronic glitches can distract drivers and affect safety features.
Headlight issues are common, with recalls for headlights. Poor visibility at night increases crash risk.
Engine-related complaints and recalls exist, though less frequent than transmission issues. Problems can include stalling or reduced power.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Isuzu Rodeo — 15 recalls
The defect: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS." THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE IN THE EVENT OF DECREASED BRAKE FLUID VOLUME.
The fix: THE DIODES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. ALL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED.
The defect: Isuzu Manufacturing Services of America, Inc (Isuzu) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Rodeo and Axiom, and 2003 Rodeo Sport vehicles that were originally sold in, or are currently registered in, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey,…
The risk: The corrosion may allow the bracket to detach from the frame, impacting vehicle handling and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Isuzu will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear suspension lower link bracket area. For vehicles in which little or no corrosion is found, the area will be treated with an anti-corrosive compound. For vehicles in which corrosio…
The defect: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO FUEL CONTAMINATED WITH SILICON MAY DEVELOP SMALL PIN HOLES IN THE FUEL PUMP FEED PORT. SILICON HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE FUEL SYSTEMS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES AND IN CERTAIN FUEL AVAILABLE IN THE REGION OF TYLER, TEXAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNC…
The risk: A FUEL LEAK COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.
The fix: FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE STATES IDENTIFIED ABOVE, DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A NEW COVER OVER THE EXISTING FEED PORT ON THE FUEL PUMP OR, IF THE EXISTING FEED PORT HAS ALREADY BEEN DAMAGED, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL PUMP THAT IS EQUI…
The defect: Isuzu Manufacturing Services of America, Inc (Isuzu) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Rodeo and Axiom, and 2003 Rodeo Sport vehicles that were originally sold in, or are currently registered in, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey,…
The risk: The corrosion may allow the bracket to detach from the frame, impacting vehicle handling and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Isuzu will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear suspension lower link bracket area. For vehicles in which little or no corrosion is found, the area will be treated with an anti-corrosive compound. For vehicles in which corrosio…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Isuzu Rodeo or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Isuzu Rodeo has far fewer complaints per year (about 178) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,131). However, the Rodeo's issues often involve structural rust and suspension, which can be severe. The F-150's higher complaint rate reflects its larger sales volume and complex electronics.
Key differences
- The Isuzu Rodeo has 888 complaints over 5 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 over 10 years, but the F-150 sells in much higher volumes.
- Rodeo complaints often involve structural rust and suspension failures, while F-150 complaints frequently cite transmission and electrical problems.
- The Rodeo has 15 recalls; the F-150 has 145 recalls, covering a wider range of components.
- Both have crash-related complaints, but the F-150 has more injuries (287 vs. 45) and one death, though these numbers must be considered in context of fleet size.
- Check the undercarriage and frame for rust, especially in areas with road salt, as owners report metal slabs falling off.
- Test drive over uneven roads to detect instability or suspension noise, and inspect for uneven tire wear.
- Test the transmission for hard shifts, delays, or jerking, especially between gears like 4-5 and 5-6.
- Check all electrical features, including cameras and driver-assist systems, for warning messages or malfunctions.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for recalls and accident damage.
- Have a mechanic inspect the frame and suspension for rust (Rodeo) or transmission and electrical systems (F-150).
- Test drive at various speeds and on different road surfaces to replicate reported issues.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been addressed by the manufacturer.
- Check for oil consumption (Rodeo) by monitoring oil levels and looking for leaks.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Isuzu Rodeo or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Isuzu Rodeo vs FORD F 150
- Isuzu Rodeo total complaints
- 888
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Isuzu Rodeo total recalls
- 15
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Isuzu Rodeo avg complaints/year
- 177.6
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Isuzu Rodeo
- Isuzu Rodeo top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN