What are the most common problems with a 2003 Isuzu Rodeo?

The biggest MOT weak spot is wheel bearings: flagged on 23.3% of tests, 6.1× the rate for all 2003 cars.

What should I ask the seller before buying a used 2003 Isuzu Rodeo?

Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 6.1× as often on the 2003 Isuzu Rodeo as on other cars the same age.) Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Used car guide

2003 Isuzu Rodeo: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Isuzu Rodeo first registered in 2003: we looked at the 189 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 189 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

189MOTs of 2003 cars, done in 2023–2025

60%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 57%)

6,800typical miles a year

6.1×the usual rate for wheel bearings

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2003 Isuzu Rodeo?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2003 Isuzu Rodeo than on all cars registered in 2003.

Wheel bearings6.1× usual

Isuzu Rodeo
23.3% All 2003 cars
3.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 1.3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

Common 2003 Isuzu Rodeo MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2003 Isuzu Rodeo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Suspension

44% of testsRough price £120–£400

At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
Lights and electrics

39% of testsRough price £10–£80

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
Brakes

35% of testsRough price £150–£350

At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
Tyres

21% of testsRough price £70–£150

At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
Rust and bodywork

20% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.
Oil and fluid leaks

15% of testsRough price £80–£600

At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2003 Isuzu Rodeo

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 6.1× as often on the 2003 Isuzu Rodeo as on other cars the same age.)
Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at an Isuzu Rodeo?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Isuzu Rodeo compared

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2012	662	Lights and electrics 52%
2011	2,082	Lights and electrics 49%
2010	2,643	Lights and electrics 54%
2009	1,447	Lights and electrics 57%
2008	1,421	Lights and electrics 56%
2007	1,685	Suspension 52%
2006	1,714	Suspension 53%
2005	1,586	Suspension 50%
2004	1,141	Suspension 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Isuzu Rodeo cars first registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score