2005 Isuzu Rodeo 3.0L Diesel · GU05 EOC

The 2005 Isuzu Rodeo passed its most recent MOT on 3 July 2025 at 187,325 miles, but the record reveals a vehicle that has only been kept barely legal rather than properly maintained. The maintenance trend is one of chronic neglect followed by minimal remediation. In the July 2025 test the tester flagged a corroded rear brake pipe, worn front inner brake discs, an oil leak, and underside corrosion, all of which are recurring themes stretching back years. The car has failed four of its last five MOT attempts, with the only pass in that sequence occurring in June 2024 at 186,239 miles, itself carrying advisories for worn front brake discs, a corroded nearside rear brake pipe, and a defective headlamp lens. This is not a vehicle that has been systematically repaired. It has been patched just enough to scrape through annual testing. The mileage pattern is broadly consistent with light use for a vehicle of this age. Between the December 2023 failure at 186,232 miles and the July 2025 pass at 187,325 miles, the vehicle covered just 1,093 miles over approximately eighteen months. That is unusually low and suggests either very light use or periods of prolonged standing, both of which carry their own risks for seized brakes, perished rubber components, and moisture ingress into electrical systems. The annualised figure of roughly 8,920 miles across the vehicle's life is typical, but the recent drop-off is notable and does not align with the heavy mechanical wear documented in the failure records. A buyer inspecting this vehicle in person should focus on the structural integrity of the chassis and body mountings. The December 2023 failure recorded corrosion so severe that the tester noted a chassis leg split completely open on the nearside rear, with multiple holes on the offside rear and a corroded central cross member joining the chassis legs. The July 2025 test still flagged underside corrosion as an advisory, meaning the problem has not been arrested. Suspension components demand equal scrutiny. Track rod end ball joints have been flagged as worn to the risk of detachment in three separate tests, most recently in May 2024, and lower suspension arm ball joints and dust covers have been repeatedly cited as excessively worn or deteriorated. The nearside front shock absorber was recorded as having a serious fluid leak in May 2024, yet the July 2025 test made no mention of it, raising the question of whether it was replaced or simply not flagged. The braking system presents a persistent concern. Corroded rear brake pipes have appeared in four consecutive tests, with the July 2025 test still noting a corroded rear pipe covered in grease or other material. Front brake discs have been flagged as worn, pitted, or scored in three of the last five tests. Combined with the low recent mileage, there is a real possibility that surface corrosion has formed on discs and pads during periods of standing, reducing braking efficiency. The exhaust system has also been a recurring failure point, with a missing silencer cited in both December 2023 and July 2023, and a major exhaust leak noted in the May 2024 failure. A buyer should check whether the exhaust has been properly repaired or merely patched, and verify that emissions compliance can be achieved under load. This is a vehicle with a documented history of structural corrosion, worn steering components, and deteriorating brake lines that requires a thorough on-site inspection before any commitment is made.