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 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Rodeo's issues often involve structure and suspension, whereas the Accord's involve engine and electrical systems. 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 compact SUV that, based on owner complaints, demands close attention to its body and suspension as it ages. Over five years, NHTSA logged 888 complaints, with structure and suspension issues dominating the list. Owners frequently describe instability over uneven roads, rusted underbody components, and stalling that can lead to crashes. This is a vehicle where a thorough pre-purchase inspection is essential, especially in rust-prone areas.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mid-size sedan with a much higher annual complaint rate, averaging 452.4 complaints per year over ten years. The most common trouble spots are the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance features. Owners report issues ranging from loss of power and warning lights to unexpected automatic braking and electronic steering failures. While the Accord is a popular choice, these complaints suggest that some model years have significant electronic and powertrain problems.
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 | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 58 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 177.6 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 45 Better | 146 |
| 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 in one case, stalling without warning led to a crash into a guard rail. This suggests potential issues with the body or frame that could affect control and safety.
Complaints include the vehicle sitting unevenly, leaning to one side, and rust slabs falling from the undercarriage, particularly in salt-belt states. These problems can worsen handling and indicate advanced corrosion.
Owners describe excessive oil consumption, such as needing a quart every 250 miles, and repeated intake manifold gasket failures. These issues can lead to engine damage if not addressed and are costly to repair.
Reports mention the vehicle leaning and feeling unstable under braking, with some linking it to suspension problems. Brake performance may be compromised, increasing stopping distances.
“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
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden loss of power with multiple warning lights, rattling noises during acceleration, and rough transitions between electric and gas modes in hybrids. These symptoms can leave a driver stranded or cause unsafe driving conditions.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, as well as TPMS warnings followed by tire failure. Such failures can severely impact vehicle control and safety.
Owners describe unexpected automatic braking or acceleration under adaptive cruise control, sometimes occurring repeatedly on the same route. This can startle the driver and increase crash risk.
Reports include persistent rotten-egg odors and interior trim issues that can trap a driver's foot. These may seem minor but can distract or impair driving.
“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…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
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 (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
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) compared to the Honda Accord (452.4), but the Rodeo's issues often involve structural and suspension failures that can be severe. The Accord's higher complaint volume reflects more widespread electronic and engine problems across many model years. In practice, the Rodeo may need more intensive rust and suspension checks, while the Accord may require vigilance for electronic glitches.
Key differences
- The Isuzu Rodeo's top complaints are structure and suspension, with reports of instability and rust, while the Honda Accord's top complaints are engine and electrical, with reports of power loss and electronic failures.
- The Rodeo has 888 complaints over 5 years (177.6/year), whereas the Accord has 4524 over 10 years (452.4/year), indicating a higher annual complaint rate for the Accord.
- The Rodeo has 15 recalls, including fuel pump and suspension issues, while the Accord has 38 recalls, covering hybrid software, air bags, and fuel pumps.
- Crash-related complaints are 58 for the Rodeo and 162 for the Accord, with injuries 45 vs. 146 and deaths 0 vs. 3, showing a higher absolute number of severe outcomes for the Accord.
- Check the undercarriage and frame for rust, especially in areas where road salt is used, as owners report rust slabs falling and structural instability.
- Test drive over uneven roads and at various speeds to detect any stalling or unstable handling, which owners have linked to structure and suspension failures.
- Scan for any stored error codes related to the electrical system, forward collision avoidance, or engine, as owners report sudden warning lights and power loss.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems, and if possible, verify that any recalls for hybrid software or fuel pumps have been performed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, prioritizing the Rodeo's suspension and fuel pump recalls and the Accord's electrical and fuel pump recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Isuzu Rodeo's frame and suspension for rust and wear, and the Honda Accord's electrical system and engine for fault codes.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any unusual noises, warning lights, or handling issues, especially at highway speeds.
- Ask for maintenance records to see if known issues like oil consumption (Rodeo) or hybrid system repairs (Accord) have been addressed.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with the specific model to uncover hidden problems.
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
- 4,524
- Isuzu Rodeo total recalls
- 15
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Isuzu Rodeo avg complaints/year
- 177.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Isuzu Rodeo
- Isuzu Rodeo top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE