Head-to-head reliability
Isuzu Rodeo vs Honda Accord
How the Isuzu Rodeo and Honda Accord 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 Honda Accord: The Rodeo averages 177.6 complaints per year with 15 recalls, while the Accord averages 443.8 complaints per year with 38 recalls. Rodeo owners report structure and suspension issues; Accord owners report engine and electrical problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Isuzu Rodeo or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Isuzu Rodeo
The Isuzu Rodeo is a body-on-frame SUV with a five-year complaint record averaging 177.6 complaints per year, 15 recalls, and 58 crash-related reports. Owners most often describe structural instability over uneven roads, suspension sag or rust, and engine oil consumption or gasket failures. With 45 injuries and 0 deaths reported, the pattern suggests a vehicle that can become unpredictable as it ages, especially in rust-prone areas.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream sedan or hybrid with a ten-year complaint record averaging 443.8 complaints per year, 38 recalls, and 160 crash-related reports. Owners frequently report engine noises or sudden power loss, electrical glitches such as TPMS and wiring damage, and forward collision avoidance warnings that appear intermittently. With 144 injuries and 3 deaths reported, the data shows a higher total volume of complaints, though spread across many more model years and advanced systems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Isuzu Rodeo | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 888 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 58 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 177.6 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 45 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 3 |
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 at speeds as low as 30 mph on uneven roads, and one owner said the Rodeo stalled without warning and hit a guard rail. These are serious because a sudden loss of stability or power can lead to a crash.
Complaints include the truck sitting or leaning to one side, and in salt-belt states, flat rust slabs falling from the underbody near the spare tire. A sagging or rusted suspension affects handling and can make the vehicle unsafe to drive.
Owners report excessive oil burning, such as one quart every 250 miles, and repeated intake manifold gasket failures. These issues can lead to engine damage, costly repairs, and possible stalling.
One owner described the truck leaning and feeling uneven, as if shocks or struts were off, while driving at night. Brake-related complaints also appear in the recall subjects for low brake fluid warning, so stopping performance may be compromised.
“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…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises that persist after purchase and sudden loss of speed with multiple dashboard alarms, including brake and ABS warnings. These symptoms can leave a driver unable to maintain highway speeds or stop confidently.
Complaints include a TPMS warning followed by a catastrophic tire failure hours later, and rodent damage to the camshaft position wiring harness on a nearly new car. Electrical faults can disable safety systems or leave a driver stranded.
Owners report intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation, and automatic high beams, sometimes with no obstruction present. If these systems fail or false-alert, the driver may not be able to rely on them for crash avoidance.
One owner reported the sunroof glass exploding at 40 mph with no vehicles nearby, and another described a tire failure after a TPMS repair. These unexpected failures can cause injury or loss of control even at moderate speeds.
“I purchased this vehicle at 0 miles in July 2025 from Honda Accord in Pensacola Florida. I reported in July 2025 that there was a noise and I was unhappy with the vehicle and would like to exchange the vehicle within the 30 days months later, the noise got lo…”
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
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…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an…
The risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Isuzu Rodeo or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Isuzu Rodeo has far fewer complaints per year (177.6) than the Honda Accord (443.8), but the Rodeo's complaints cluster around basic structure, suspension, and engine problems that can make the vehicle unstable or costly to keep running. The Accord's higher annual rate reflects more model years and complex electronics, with many complaints tied to advanced safety and electrical systems rather than basic mechanical breakdowns.
Key differences
- The Rodeo's top complaint area is structure (350 complaints), with owners reporting instability and stalling, while the Accord's top area is engine (985 complaints), with noises and sudden power loss.
- The Rodeo has 15 recalls and 58 crash-related reports over 5 years, while the Accord has 38 recalls and 160 crash-related reports over 10 years, showing a much larger total complaint volume for the Accord.
- Rodeo owners frequently mention rust and suspension sag, especially in salt-belt states, whereas Accord owners report electrical glitches like TPMS failures and rodent-damaged wiring.
- The Accord's forward collision avoidance system generated 821 complaints, a category that does not appear in the Rodeo's top five, highlighting the Accord's reliance on advanced driver-assist technology.
- Inspect the frame and underbody for rust, especially around the spare tire and suspension mounts, because owners report flat rust slabs falling from the underbody.
- Check for uneven stance or sagging rear suspension, and test drive over uneven roads at 30 mph to feel for instability or stalling, as reported by owners.
- Ask for a recent TPMS service history and inspect tires for uneven wear or damage, since one owner reported a catastrophic tire failure hours after a TPMS repair.
- Test all forward collision avoidance features, including adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist, and watch for intermittent warning messages that owners say appear and disappear.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls have been repaired, especially for the Rodeo's suspension and fuel pump recalls and the Accord's electrical and fuel pump recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Rodeo's frame, suspension, and engine for rust, oil consumption, and gasket leaks before purchase.
- For the Accord, scan for stored trouble codes and test the electrical system, including TPMS, ABS, and forward collision avoidance, during a test drive.
- Drive both vehicles on uneven roads and at highway speeds to check for the instability, stalling, or power loss that owners report.
- Budget for potential repairs by comparing the Rodeo's structural and suspension costs against the Accord's electronic and engine repair costs.
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 Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Isuzu Rodeo vs Honda Accord
- Isuzu Rodeo total complaints
- 888
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Isuzu Rodeo total recalls
- 15
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Isuzu Rodeo avg complaints/year
- 177.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Isuzu Rodeo
- Isuzu Rodeo top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE