2005 Isuzu Rodeo 3.0L Diesel · FE55 CXG

A recurring pattern of front-end wear advisories defines the mechanical history of this Rodeo, with the most recent test on 13 June 2024 passing but flagging chassis corrosion, slight play in the offside front track rod end ball joint, slight play in the offside front wheel bearing, thinning nearside front brake pads, and a nearside front service brake that was binding but not excessively. This is consistent with a chronic issue rather than an isolated finding, as the offside front wheel bearing play has been flagged in three consecutive tests (2019, 2020, 2022 and again in 2024), and the front suspension cluster has produced advisories across multiple visits including nearside lower and upper suspension arm ball joint play in 2020, anti-roll bar linkage play in 2017, and imbalanced front brake performance in 2019. The chassis corrosion advisory is a particularly important data point for a 21 year old utility vehicle of this mileage, as structural surface corrosion on a ladder or box-section chassis can progress between tests and is the most common reason older commercial-derived 4x4s fail outright. The overall record shows no outright failures, but the trend is one of accumulating front-end wear items rather than a stable or improving roadworthiness picture. The recorded mileage of 138,746 miles over 21 years equates to an average of roughly 6,600 miles per year, which is a moderate and broadly typical annual figure for a vehicle of this age and type. There are no unusual gaps in the testing history, with annual MOTs recorded continuously back to 2017, and mileage accumulation appears to have been reasonably steady between tests, with no sudden jumps or extended periods off the road that would suggest prolonged lay-up. This consistent usage pattern reduces the likelihood of dry-joint or seized-component issues that often accompany long-standing vehicles, but it does mean that consumable and suspension components have been subjected to steady working loads for two decades. Mechanical attention should therefore be focused on wear-related items rather than deterioration from inactivity. For a prospective buyer, the priority areas on inspection are the front suspension and steering geometry, given the repeated ball joint and track rod end advisories. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front over bumps and speed humps, particularly from the nearside where both lower and upper arm ball joints were previously flagged, and feel for any vagueness or wander in the steering that could indicate worn track rod ends beyond the slight play already recorded. The offside front wheel bearing is another component to monitor closely; any increase in noise that varies with vehicle speed or a slight rumble when cornering would suggest the play has progressed beyond the advisory threshold. Brake feel should also be assessed carefully, as binding was flagged on the nearside front in 2024 and imbalanced braking was recorded in 2019; pull to one side under firm braking, a grabbing or dragging sensation, or judder through the pedal would indicate caliper or disc issues requiring rectification. Given the 2024 advisory on chassis corrosion, a thorough physical inspection underneath the vehicle is essential, ideally with the vehicle raised on a ramp, paying particular attention to box sections, outriggers, suspension mounting points, and the areas around the spring hangers where the leaf spring shackle wear was previously noted. Surface corrosion on a chassis of this age is common, but any perforation, flaking that exposes bare metal, or corrosion around load-bearing mounts would significantly affect structural integrity and warrant professional assessment. The leaf spring shackle and bush wear flagged in 2019 and 2020 should be rechecked visually for cracked or displaced bushes, and the rear brake hose ferrules noted as corroded in 2017 should be inspected for any further deterioration or cracking of the hose material itself. Finally, with the nearside front brake pads recorded as wearing thin in the latest test, a direct measurement of remaining pad material and disc condition would be prudent before purchase.