Isuzu Rodeo MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 31 model years and 35,630 tests, the Isuzu Rodeo passes its MOT 71.7% of the time. That is effectively the same as pick-up trucks of a similar age (27.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
Best and worst Rodeo years
Ranked across Rodeo years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
The strongest year on this record is 2011 (74.4% pass rate); the weakest is 2009 (70.3%). Older cars carry more of the difference than the average implies.
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.3% of all tests — 4.9 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint and rear fog lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 2,611 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.8% in the 0-30k band and 30.6% in the 150k+ band, a 9.9-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 43.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Rodeo model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 48 | 58.3% | 41.7% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2002 | 126 | 68.3% | 31.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 492 | 72.0% | 28.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 2,872 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 3,847 | 71.9% | 28.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 4,150 | 70.4% | 29.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 4,293 | 70.6% | 29.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 3,644 | 70.7% | 29.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 3,598 | 70.3% | 29.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 6,316 | 72.1% | 27.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 4,653 | 74.4% | 25.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 1,489 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.3% | 7,239 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.4% | 5,486 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.6% | 4,146 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 3,206 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.8% | 2,437 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.4% | 1,226 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 1,105 |
| 8 | Tyres | 3.1% | 1,106 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 2,611 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 2,497 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 2,394 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,071 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,014 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 1,788 |
| 7 | Shock absorbers | 1,762 |
| 8 | Chassis condition | 1,719 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 43.1% | 15,360 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.0% | 11,766 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.8% | 7,761 |
| 4 | Tyres | 20.2% | 7,204 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 6,225 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.4% | 3,712 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 313 | 20.8% |
| 30-60k | 2,027 | 18.6% |
| 60-90k | 6,067 | 25.5% |
| 90-120k | 9,383 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 8,880 | 29.9% |
| 150k+ | 8,917 | 30.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 35,570 | 28.3% |
| Petrol | 51 | 29.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,707 | 27.7% |
| 2022 | 7,927 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 7,226 | 28.7% |
| 2024 | 6,338 | 28.7% |
| 2025 | 5,432 | 29.0% |
What to check before buying a Isuzu Rodeo
- Lighting & signalling (20.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (11.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Isuzu Rodeo?
71.7% of the 35,630 Isuzu Rodeo MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 28.3% fail rate, across model years 1990–2020.
What does the Isuzu Rodeo most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.3% of tests, then suspension (15.4%).
Which Rodeo years are best and worst for MOT results?
2011 has the best pass rate at 74.4% and 2009 the weakest at 70.3%, from 4,653 and 3,598 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Rodeo MOT results?
Fail rates run at 20.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 30.6% for 150k+, a 9.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 35,630 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.