2001 ISUZU RODEO Complaints

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO A PREVIOUS ODI COMPLAINT - 10336610 AND IN RESPONSE TO THE VERY POOR HANDLING OF RECALL 10V-436 IN REGARDS TO MY 2001 ISUZU RODEO. I HAVE TAKEN MY RODEO TO THE DEALER AND SPOKEN WITH ISUZU WHO HAVE STATED THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO INSTALL THEIR 'RECALL BRACKETS' ONTO MY SEVERELY ROTTEN FRAME, HOWEVER, THE TRUCK WILL THEN STILL NOT PASS NYS INSPECTION AND WILL NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE. I HONESTLY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD EVEN BE ABLE TO ATTACH SAID BRACKET TO MY FRAME AS I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY 3 SEPARATE MECHANICS AND WELDING PROFESSIONALS THAT THE FRAME IS ROTTEN BEYOND REPAIR , AND THERE IS NOTHING TO ATTACH ANYTHING TO OR WELD TO AS THE METAL IS TOO DETERIORATED. ISUZU IS REUSING TO COVER ANY OTHER FRAME DAMAGE OTHER THAN THEIR 'RECALLED SECTION' IN WHICH THEY WOULD INSTALL THE BRACKET. MY ENTIRE FRAME IS ROTTEN....THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TRAIL ARM IS ROTTED OFF, AS ISUZU HAS TOLD ME, BUT THEY ARE NOT COVERING THAT. HOW IS THIS HELPFUL TO THE CONSUMER AS THESE VEHICLES ARE STILL UNDRIVEABLE AND UNSAFE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NHTSA TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS ISSUE AND FORCE ISUZU TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND EITHER REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRAME OR GIVE CONSUMERS THE FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR THESE TRUCKS....AND NOT THE COST (1500) OF WHAT IT WOULD COST FOR THEM TO INSTALL A USELESS BRACKET....I AM OUT MY PERFECTLY FUNCTIONING VEHICLE IN MERELY 9 YEARS!!!....AND HAD TO BUY A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, THEY SHOULD HAVE TO REIMBURSE CONSUMERS FOR THE INCONVENIENCE AND THE LOSS OF THEIR ENTIRE VEHICLE. *TR

RELATED TO THE ISUZU RODEO REAR AXLE BRACKET RECALL, MY RODEO EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME CORROSION PROBLEM WITH THE REMAINDER OF MY 2001 RODEO'S FRAME. BOTH MY MECHANIC ([XXX], POTTERS MILLS, PA) AND MY ISUZU REPAIR SHOP ([XXX], STATE COLLEGE, PA) SAID THE CORROSION WILL NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO PASS INSPECTION, EVEN WITH THE REAR AXLE BRACKET REMEDY PROVIDED BY ISUZU. THEREFORE, THIS IS NOT AN "APPROPRIATE" REMEDY, AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA'S "RECALL SUMMARY" ON THIS SITE. THAT SUMMARY SAYS, "IN THE RARE EVENT THE CORROSION IS SO SEVERE THAT THE REINFORCEMENT BRACKET REMEDY WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE, ISUZU AND HONDA WILL DEVELOP AN APPROPRIATE REMEDY." APPLYING THE REAR BRACKET REPAIR IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, THE REPAIR CAN "BARELY" (ACCORDING TO [XXX]) BE MADE ON MY VEHICLE, AND; SECOND, THE REMAINDER OF THE FRAME (WITH THE SAME TYPE OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE SAME ISUZU ERROR) WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION ANYWAY. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THURSDAY MORNING BY AN ISUZU REP AT THE NUMBER LISTED IN THE SUMMARY THAT ISUZU WOULD PROVIDE "NO REMEDY" FOR ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THE REAR BRACKET AREA DETAILED IN THE SUMMARY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND CONTRARY TO NHTSA'S SUMMARY. I ASK THAT NHTSA CONTACT ISUZU AND FORCE THEM TO COMPLY WITH BOTH THE LETTER AND THE SPIRIT OF THE RECALL REMEDY AS DESCRIBED. IF NHTSA AND ISUZU FAIL TO ENFORCE THIS, THEN A LAWSUIT AGAINST ISUZU WILL FOLLOW. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY 2001 ISUZU RODEO WITH 90,000 HAS COMPLETELY CORRODED UNDERNEATH AND A STEERING BRACKET BECAME DETACHED FROM THE REAR WHEEL WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN IN TRAFFIC. THE ISUZU FACTORY DID RECALL THE CAR, BUT IT HAS BEEN SITTING DISABLED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR 2 MONTHS NOW AND I DON'T THINK IT CAN BE FIXED (THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE IS RUSTED OUT). THE COMPANY IS BOTCHING THIS RECALL: THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. THESE CARS NEED TO BE BOUGHT BACK BY THE COMPANY AND TAKEN OUT OF CIRCULATION. THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME "TOO BAD" WHEN I EXPLAINED THAT BEING UNABLE TO DRIVE THIS CAR IS UNACCEPTABLE: I NEED A CAR! THEY ALSO TOLD ME NOT TO TRY TO GET THE CAR FIXED ON MY OWN. I CAN'T TRADE IT IN, I CAN'T FIX IT, I CAN'T DRIVE IT...I'M BASICALLY SCREWED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF IT AS FAR AS MAINTENANCE, OIL CHANGES, ETC. THE CAR LOOKS GREAT, THE BODY AND ENGINE ARE FINE, BUT YET, IT IS A TOTAL LOSS, AT ONLY 90,000 MILES. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET THIS COMPANY TO MAKE THIS RIGHT FOR THE VICTIMS OF THIS FACTORY DEFECT, THOSE OF US WHO UNKNOWINGLY BOUGHT A CAR THAT WAS DESTINED TO SELF-DESTRUCT IN 9 YEARS. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE DIES IN A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT FROM THIS; IT ALMOST HAPPENED TO ME, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE BRACKET GAVE WAY, THE CAR BEGAN TO SWERVE UNCONTROLLABLY. *TR

I OWN A 2001 ISUZU RODEO SPORT WITH ABOUT 144,000 MILES ON IT WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN JULY 2001. THE REAR SECTION OF THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH ON BOTH SIDES IN SOME AREAS AND THE LOWER LINK SUPPORTS ARE ALSO RUSTING OFF. I CALLED ISUZU MOTORS AMERICA OWNERS RELATION DEPARTMENT (800) 255-6727 AND SPOKE TO KAREN WHO INDICATED THAT SHE IS THEIR 'NATIONAL OPERATIONS MANAGER' IN ANAHEIM CA. (KAREN WOULD NOT PROVIDE HER LAST NAME, STATING THAT SHE IS THE ONLY KAREN EMPLOYED BY ISUZU(?), NOR WOULD SHE ALLOW ME TO SPEAK TO ANYONE ELSE WHEN I ASKED). KAREN INFORMED ME THAT ISUZU ALONG WITH THE NHTSA HAVE DECIDED THAT THEIR RECALL CAMPAIGN # 10V436000 DOES NOT INCLUDE RODEO SPORTS, EVEN THOUGH THE SPORT IS LISTED ON THE ODI REPORT. (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE09030). SHE STATED THAT THE FRAMES ARE DIFFERENT ON THE RODEO SPORT VS. THE REGULAR RODEO (I ALSO OWN A 2003 RODEO LS). WHEN I ASKED HER WHAT THE DIFFERENCE WAS, SHE COULD NOT TELL ME. WHEN I ASKED HER WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IN MATERIALS USED WAS, SHE COULD NOT TELL ME. SHE PRETTY MUCH WAS NOT CARING OF MY COMPLAINT AND DID NOTHING MORE THAN TAKING MY NAME AND TELLING ME THAT SHE'LL OPEN A FILE AND TELLING ME NOT TO EXPECT ANYTHING ELSE TO HAPPEN. I SEE THAT THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON RODEO SPORTS AND WONDER WHY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS. WHY ARE THEY ONLY COVERING THE RODEO AND NOT THE RODEO SPORT?? THE WHOLE EXCUSE ABOUT DIFFERENT FRAMES IS A MOOT POINT SINCE THE RODEO SPORT FRAME IS ALSO RUSTING THROUGH. WHY DO WE, AS CONSUMERS HAVE TO LOSE THE USE OF OUR VEHICLES BECAUSE OF POOR QUALITY MATERIALS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY RODEO SPORT VERY WELL AND EXPECTED TO DRIVE IT AT LEAST 200,000 MILES OR MORE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE INTEREST OF US CONSUMERS BY ISUZU AND THE NHTSA. I HOPE TO HEAR BACK ABOUT A SUITABLE RESOLUTION SOON. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR SUSPENSION:REAR (10V436000). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS COVERED WITH AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF CORROSION. THE DEALER STATED THEY WOULD REPLACE THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET BUT NOT THE FRAME. THE CONTACT STATED IF THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET WAS REPLACED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERATIVE BECAUSE OF THE CORROSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACED THE FRAME SINCE THIS WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NO. 10V-436 FOR MY 2001 ISUZU RODEO. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 12/27/10. ON 12/29/10 I CALLED TO FIND OUT THE STATUS OF MY VEHICLE, I WAS TOLD THAT THE FRAME WAS TOTALLY RUSTED, THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT THEY WERE WAITING FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM ISUZU. ON 01/03/11, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD, ONCE AGAIN, THAT THE FRAME WAS TOTALLY RUSTED THROUGH AND EVEN IF THEY PROCEEDED WITH THE PRESCRIBED REMEDY THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS MASSACHUSETTS INSPECTION. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THEY HAD ALSO CONTACTED ISUZU AGAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THAT I TOO, SHOULD FOLLOW UP WITH ISUZU. ON 01/03/10 I EMAILED, LEFT MESSAGES, AND FINALLY WAS ABLE TO SPEAK TO A REPRESENTATIVE WHO TOOK MY NAME AND TELEPHONE NUMBER AND PROMISED A RETURN CALL FROM A MANAGER, AS OF 9 PM EST I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK. IN LIGHT OF THE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE RODEO A COMPLAINT THE NSTB IS WARRANTED. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN DECEMBER OF 2001, IT IS DEPLORABLE THAT THE FRAME OF A NINE YEAR OLD CAR IS TOTALLY RUSTED OUT AND BEYOND REPAIR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS MASSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME WHICH CAUSED THE TRAIL ARM BRACKET TO BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVEABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS WITH AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT DETECTED THAT THE FRAME HAD CRACKS AND COMPLETELY RUSTED DUE TO SUBSTANTIAL CORROSION. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V436000 (SUSPENSION: REAR). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME DEFECT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TAKING HIS VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

2001 ISUZU RODEO FRAME RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING NEAR BOSTON MA. THANK GOD SHE IS OK HOWEVER ALL PERSONS WHO HANDLED THE ACCIDENT COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW RUSTED OUT IT WAS. SHE WAS QUITE LUCKY SHE WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE OF 3 WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE FRAME BROKE THROUGH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN FRONT OF THE REAR WHEEL ABOUT 18 INCHES. AT THAT POINT THE CAR BECAME UNMANAGEABLE AND SWERVED IN ALL DIRECTIONS. THE CAR WAS DEEMED OF COURSE UNDRIVEABLE AND WAS TOWED TO A JUNKYARD. THE KICKER IS MY OTHER DAUGHTER HAS THE SAME CAR AND YEAR AND ALSO HAS A ROTTED FRAME. YOU NEVER WOULD GUESS LOOKING AT THE CAR (UNLESS) YOU LOOK BELOW. DARN SHAME SOMEONE NEEDS TO GET THESE CARS OFF THE ROAD AND HAVE ISUZU STEP UP. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR