2002 Isuzu N SERIES: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
119,840 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 1 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Power Train:Axle Assembly: 1; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
2004: 2; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10072382 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
FAN BLADE FAILURE ON NPR ISUZU TK YR. 2000-2003 WE HAD 5 BLADES EXPLODE IN TKS. THE BLADE CRACKS THEN FLIES APART THIS IS VERY BAD SOMEBOBY WILL GET KILLED IF WORKING AROUND BLADE WHEN THEY COME APART.
Owner-reported narrative. 234,679 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078610 · 2004-06-22 (June 22, 2004)
WE HAVE 6 ISUZU NPR LIGHT TRUCKS IN OUR FLEET. WE HAVE HAD THE SPIDER AND RING GEAR FAIL ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS ON EACH VEHICLE. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE FAILURES COME COMPLETELY UNEXPECTEDLY ( NO WARNING) AND THE VEHICLE IS IMMEDIATELYU DISABLED WHEREEVER IT MIGHT BE-EVEN IN THE FAST LANE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LOOSES ALL POWER TO THE REAR AND CANNOT BE MOVED . THE COULD IMPEDE TRAFFIC ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND POTENTIALLY DISABLE THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. WE HAVE HAD OVER 8 FAILURES OF EXACTLY TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078610 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189961 · 2007-05-07 (May 7, 2007)
I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 ISUZU RODEO FROM FOX CHEVROLET ISUZU LOCATED AT 501 WASHINGTON BOULEVARD LAUREL, MARYLAND. IN 2004 THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THEIR BUSINESS AND NAME TO FOX OF LAUREL BECAUSE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THIS LOCATION I CONTINUED TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THEM FOR SERVICE. I QUESTIONED WHETHER THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE ,AND WAS ASSURED THAT THEY COULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO MY VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH THEY NO LONGER SOLD ISUZU CARS. ON JANUARY 23, 2007 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FOX OF LAUREL BECA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10189961 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 350.0%ODI 10047074 · 60,598 miWINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORKING. *LA | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 2100.0%ODI 10110072 · 66,000 miI HAVE A 2001 RODEO, I WORKED VERY HARD TO GET THAT CAR I WAS VERY PROUD OF IT. IT HAD ONLY 66 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. I TOOK GOOD CARE OF IT. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3 THOUSAND MILES. ONE TIME AFTER THE OIL WAS CHANGED I CHECKED IT AND THE DIP STICK READ NO OIL SO I PUT A GALLON OF OIL IN IT AND TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE. THE GUY WAS LIKE WHAT DID YOU DO I BET YOU ARE A GALLON OVER. SURE ENOUGH I WAS. HE SAID SOME TIMES IT WILL SAY THERE IS NO OIL IN IT WHEN THERE IS. MY SON CHECKED IT FOR ME A FEW TIMES AND THOUGHT I WAS OUT AND PUT A QUART IN.… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 116.7%ODI 10064401 · 44,200 mi1998 RODEO HAD 44,200 MILES AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR LOST OF HEAT AND BURNING SMELL AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED THERMOSTAT BUT PROBLEM WAS BACK WITHIN 2 WEEKS AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. *JB | 133.3%ODI 10130528 · 60,000 miSTARTING AT AROUND 55K MILES, MY ISUZU 99 TROOPER HAS STARTED BURNING AROUND 1QT OF OIL PER 600-700 MILES. THIS CAUSES EXCESS WEAR ON THE ENGINE AND MOST DRIVERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SEIZED ENGINES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.. ISUZU HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2000 AND REDESIGNED THE RINGS ON THE PISTONS BUT DID NOT NOTIFY CUSTOMERS OR HELP OWNERS WHEN REPAIRS ARE REQUIRED. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 116.7%ODI 10138189ROLL OVER CRASH DOWN EMBANKMENT 160 FEET INTO RIVER UPSIDE DOWN AND HIT THREE TREES BEFORE LANDING. BOTH AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND MY SON WAS INJURED WITH A BROKEN PELVIS AND HUGE HEMOTOMA? I BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE ALL THE PRESSURE WAS ON HIS PELVIS WITH JUST THE SEAT BELT. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10118461 · 5,000 miON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY 2004 ISUZU RODEO WILL NOT START. I WILL ATTEMPT TO START IT, AND IT WILL TURN OVER AND THEN WILL NOT START. I WILL THEN ATTEMPT TO START THE SUV AGAIN AND I GET NOTHING. I HAVE LEARNED THAT I HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE LOCK THE DOORS, UNLOCK THE DOORS GET BACK IN AND ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME SITTING IN TRAFFIC AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WILL JUST STALL OUT AND THEN WILL NOT START. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TROUBLE TO MY LOCAL ISUZU DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF… |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10118461 · 5,000 miON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY 2004 ISUZU RODEO WILL NOT START. I WILL ATTEMPT TO START IT, AND IT WILL TURN OVER AND THEN WILL NOT START. I WILL THEN ATTEMPT TO START THE SUV AGAIN AND I GET NOTHING. I HAVE LEARNED THAT I HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE LOCK THE DOORS, UNLOCK THE DOORS GET BACK IN AND ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME SITTING IN TRAFFIC AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WILL JUST STALL OUT AND THEN WILL NOT START. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TROUBLE TO MY LOCAL ISUZU DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF… |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10072382 · 234,679 miFAN BLADE FAILURE ON NPR ISUZU TK YR. 2000-2003 WE HAD 5 BLADES EXPLODE IN TKS. THE BLADE CRACKS THEN FLIES APART THIS IS VERY BAD SOMEBOBY WILL GET KILLED IF WORKING AROUND BLADE WHEN THEY COME APART. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10189961I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 ISUZU RODEO FROM FOX CHEVROLET ISUZU LOCATED AT 501 WASHINGTON BOULEVARD LAUREL, MARYLAND. IN 2004 THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THEIR BUSINESS AND NAME TO FOX OF LAUREL BECAUSE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THIS LOCATION I CONTINUED TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THEM FOR SERVICE. I QUESTIONED WHETHER THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE ,AND WAS ASSURED THAT THEY COULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO MY VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH THEY NO LONGER SOLD ISUZU CARS. ON JANUARY 23, 2007 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FOX OF LAUREL BECA… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | Too few reports for a range | 234,679 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10072382 · 234,679 miFAN BLADE FAILURE ON NPR ISUZU TK YR. 2000-2003 WE HAD 5 BLADES EXPLODE IN TKS. THE BLADE CRACKS THEN FLIES APART THIS IS VERY BAD SOMEBOBY WILL GET KILLED IF WORKING AROUND BLADE WHEN THEY COME APART. |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | Too few reports for a range | 5,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10078610 · 5,000 miWE HAVE 6 ISUZU NPR LIGHT TRUCKS IN OUR FLEET. WE HAVE HAD THE SPIDER AND RING GEAR FAIL ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS ON EACH VEHICLE. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE FAILURES COME COMPLETELY UNEXPECTEDLY ( NO WARNING) AND THE VEHICLE IS IMMEDIATELYU DISABLED WHEREEVER IT MIGHT BE-EVEN IN THE FAST LANE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LOOSES ALL POWER TO THE REAR AND CANNOT BE MOVED . THE COULD IMPEDE TRAFFIC ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND POTENTIALLY DISABLE THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. WE HAVE HAD OVER 8 FAILURES OF EXACTLY TH… |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | Too few reports for a range | 5,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10078610 · 5,000 miWE HAVE 6 ISUZU NPR LIGHT TRUCKS IN OUR FLEET. WE HAVE HAD THE SPIDER AND RING GEAR FAIL ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS ON EACH VEHICLE. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE FAILURES COME COMPLETELY UNEXPECTEDLY ( NO WARNING) AND THE VEHICLE IS IMMEDIATELYU DISABLED WHEREEVER IT MIGHT BE-EVEN IN THE FAST LANE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LOOSES ALL POWER TO THE REAR AND CANNOT BE MOVED . THE COULD IMPEDE TRAFFIC ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND POTENTIALLY DISABLE THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. WE HAVE HAD OVER 8 FAILURES OF EXACTLY TH… |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2002: 2 complaints · 2004: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2004 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | Power Train:Axle Assembly | Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 0 | 0 | — | 1ODI 10078610 · 5,000 miWE HAVE 6 ISUZU NPR LIGHT TRUCKS IN OUR FLEET. WE HAVE HAD THE SPIDER AND RING GEAR FAIL ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS ON EACH VEHICLE. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE FAILURES COME COMPLETELY UNEXPECTEDLY ( NO WARNING) AND THE VEHICLE IS IMMEDIATELYU DISABLED WHEREEVER IT MIGHT BE-EVEN IN THE FAST LANE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LOOSES ALL POWER TO THE REAR AND CANNOT BE MOVED . THE COULD IMPEDE TRAFFIC ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND POTENTIALLY DISABLE THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. WE HAVE HAD OVER 8 FAILURES OF EXACTLY TH… |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 10078610 · 5,000 miWE HAVE 6 ISUZU NPR LIGHT TRUCKS IN OUR FLEET. WE HAVE HAD THE SPIDER AND RING GEAR FAIL ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS ON EACH VEHICLE. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE FAILURES COME COMPLETELY UNEXPECTEDLY ( NO WARNING) AND THE VEHICLE IS IMMEDIATELYU DISABLED WHEREEVER IT MIGHT BE-EVEN IN THE FAST LANE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LOOSES ALL POWER TO THE REAR AND CANNOT BE MOVED . THE COULD IMPEDE TRAFFIC ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND POTENTIALLY DISABLE THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. WE HAVE HAD OVER 8 FAILURES OF EXACTLY TH… | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.