Overview & Reviews

For now, Isuzu SUVs and trucks are all that you'll see at your local Isuzu dealer; it's been quite a few years since there's been an Isuzu car. The company's specialized lineup is more a function of circumstance than choice. In recent years, Isuzu has seen its share of hard times; a lack of funding for both new product investment and marketing has forced the company to rely heavily on its partnership with GM. Both of the models in its line are derived from existing GM products.

Isuzu, which means "50 bells," is the name of a river that flows through a province dotted with ancient Shinto shrines in Japan. The company's roots date back to 1916, when Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Company first decided to broaden its business to include automobile manufacturing. The company forged a technical union with the U.K.-based Wolseley Motor Company in 1918. Its debut licensed offering, the A9 car, soon followed, as did its first truck, the CP. By 1949, the company's name had been changed to the more succinct Isuzu.

In the postwar years, production of Isuzu trucks boomed. The company's vehicles played a significant role in Japan's reconstruction effort, and were used to ferry clothes, food and other essentials. In 1953, Isuzu rolled out the Hillman Minx passenger car, the product of a technical union with Rootes, a U.K. outfit.

The 1960s saw the launch of passenger cars like the Florian, the Bellett and the 117 Coupe, as well as trucks like the WASP. In 1971, Isuzu entered into a partnership with General Motors. The Gemini, released a couple of years later, was the first Isuzu vehicle to be produced from the pairing.

By the 1980s, Isuzu had landed on American shores. The Pup was the first Isuzu sold in the U.S. market. The Trooper, an SUV available in two- or four-door form, was introduced in 1983 and quickly became popular in that new market segment. The company entered into a joint venture with Subaru in 1987, a union that spawned the Isuzu Rodeo and the Isuzu Pickup. Less popular than the trucks were the cars, such as the dated I-Mark sedan and the handsome, Italian-designed Impulse sport coupe.

The company's sales were relatively strong in the 1990s, thanks in part to the increasing success of the Trooper, which by that time had grown in size and luxury. The Trooper was one of the models responsible for the massive popularity of the SUV vehicle category during that decade. In 1999, GM upped its stake in Isuzu to assume the role of majority shareholder.

The new millennium brought bad news, however. Previous bestsellers like the Rodeo and the Trooper were outclassed by newer, fresher competition, and sales plummeted. The Rodeo and the Axiom (a crossover SUV) were dropped from the lineup in 2004. Currently, Isuzu's lineup comprises just two vehicles — a truck and an SUV, both of which are based on GM products.

User Reviews:

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  STAY AWAY! - 1999 Isuzu Trooper
  By Jeff - November 10 - 9:16 am

  I bought a 1999 Trooper expecting the same performance as I had with my 1992. Boy was I wrong! I ran my 92 Trooper to about 150,000 with very few problems. The engine died at 68,000 on my 99 Trooper costing me over $4,000 to repair. How ironic that my warranty ended at 60,000 miles. Isuzu has known for a while about the inherent engine problems with the 1998 and 1999 Troopers. However, they refuse to do a recall.

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  lemon - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By gregthe fool - August 6 - 10:00 am

  Two AC compressors. Isuzu will not budge an inch on anything out of warranty. Numerous problems related to AC, Instruments, switch between AC and Power train. Ill never buy another

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  Get Rid Of It - 2004 Isuzu Rodeo
  By PEddie - July 29 - 5:56 am

  Mushy ride, feels unsafe; REDUCED POWER light randomly comes on, effectively disabling the car, dangerous if youre not in your driveway when it happens; essentially you cannot count on it when you need it.

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  BAD ENGINE! BEWARE! - 1998 Isuzu Rodeo
  By John - April 13 - 4:50 pm

  My Rodeo drove ok. Power not bad for a V6. But LOOKOUT when you get some mileage on it. At about 93,000 miles the engine started losing coolant. I could not see it leaking anywhere. I took it to the shop assuming the head gasket was leaking into the cylinder and burning there. If that was the problem, it would have been a $3000.00 dollar fix. The repair shop called with bad news. A head bolt broke in the block and could not be repaired. A second hand engine with 70,000 miles would have been a $5000.00 repair. After paying $3000.00 for AC work I decided not to fix it. When just out of warranty, the Isuzu rep did not replace my rusted out fog lamps. I DO NOT RECOMMEND BUYING ISUZU!

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  rodeo please what a wast - 1998 Isuzu Rodeo
  By luke m. - April 10 - 2:00 am

  bought my rodeo in 98 so far. Oxygen sensor rep. twice. Everyone in nj charges me $34 for oil change. Trans change costs $260 to change. now has 76,000 Needs new motor mouse, rear bridge, oxygen sensor again, timing belt, water pump the list goes on. Get a pathfinder if u want an suv. DON`T BUY RODEO !!!!! PLEASE WHAT A PICE OF SSSSSSS. 25K FOR A S. PUT $2100. LOOKS GOOD BUT BREAKES

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  I HATE THIS SUV - 2002 Isuzu Trooper
  By JUNK - March 5 - 10:00 am

  I have had a reoccurring problem this thing keeps down shifting while driving on the highway at highway speeds on level ground. The dealership hasnt been able to fix it after six attemps and the isuzu reginal rep stated there was nothing they could do. My family is terrified to ride in this thing now. For your own saftey buy something else.

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  Poor quality/worse company to deal with - 1999 Isuzu Rodeo
  By RJY - January 17 - 10:00 am

  In a two month period I replaced 2 power window motors, stereo, (which quit working)1 front end part and a thermostat and radiator in hopes of resolving an overheating problem, which later was diagnosed as a blown head gasket. The truck only has 52,000 miles and still under the drive train warrenty-so I thought. I was denied the warranty for several reasons: 1) I didnt take the non warranty work to them. 2) They said I must have overheated it to the point of blowing the head gasket and would not confir with the shop I had the work done to verify that I was not negligent by driving while overheated. 3)They claim that Isuzus do not blow head gaskets. $1500

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  Another Sucker - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By DMS1011 - December 11 - 2:00 am

  Ok, I purchased a 2001 Iszuzu for my wife to drive. As others have mentioned the depreciation is AMAZING - Thankful I am in a lease. Now my issue, the lease is up in 30 days and I have not recieved a single call or notice from Iszuzu reguarding lease turn-in. Go to a dealer and they refuse the vehicle. Like many of the other comments listed here, cheap interior, lots of power with the V6 - simply said - its a box on wheels and you get less than what you pay for with other manufactures.

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  NEVER buy Isuzu. Worst make ever. - 1999 Isuzu Rodeo
  By NeverBuyIsuzu - May 27 - 6:16 pm

  I purchased this vehicle new. The paint was defective from day one; rust permeates throughout. Dealer also failed to take responsibility for what it called "paint swirls" which were really a bad paint job. Car shakes constantly, probably due to rotors which have been machined twice. Worst fit and finish of any car I have ever owned. The car strangely idles at a high RPM. Defrost function works terribly. Terrible mileage, even by SUV standards. Burns oil. Seats are uncomfortable. There are cars much cheaper than this which are much better in quality. If there were any justice in this world Isuzu would be bankrupt and out of business. I wish this manufacturer nothing but the worst.

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  engine misfires - 2004 Isuzu Axiom
  By betrayed - March 18 - 10:00 am

  the direct inject engine stated to misfire at 3500 miles. after 8 trips to the dealer, the repair person says " this engine was designed to misfire". nearly had a couple of accidents when entering traffic and the engine misfires. now have a data recorder because they are not able to duplicate the problem even though the codes show engine misfire. i expected more.