1997 ISUZU RODEO Complaints

OUR PROBLEM IS WITH AMERICAN ISUZU MOTORS AND NOT WITH THE RUSS DARROW ORGANIZATION. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER OF 1999. IN FEBRUARY OF 2000, THE ENGINE MADE A NOTICEABLE TICKING SOUND. WE HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED AND THEY COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. IN MARCH OF 2000, ISUZU HAD SENT OUT A BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERSHIPS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. WE, AS THE CONSUMER, WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS BULLETIN UNTIL JULY OF 2000, WHEN OUR VEHICLE WAS AGAIN SERVICED FOR THE SAME TICKING SOUND. WE WERE THEN INFORMED THAT THE TICKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM ONE OR MORE OF THE LASH ADJUSTERS DO TO VARNISH BUILD UP. ISUZU CLAIMS THAT THE CONDITION RESULTS FROM EXCEEDING THE REQUIRED OIL CHANGE AND FILTER, WHICH IN THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES EVERY 7500 MILES OR 12 MONTHS WHICH EVER COMES FIRST. IT ALSO STATES THAT IT SHOULD BE CHANGED EVERY 3750 MILES UNDER "SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS". FIRST THEY RECOMMENDED A OIL CHANGE OF OW-30 SYNTHETIC OIL, WHICH IS SUPPOSE TO BASICALLY FLUSH OUT THE HYDRAULIC LASH ADJUSTERS AND REMOVE THE VARNISH THAT IS PREVENTING THE HYDRAULIC LASH ADJUSTER PISTON TRAVEL. THIS WAS DONE AT OUR EXPENSE. WE WERE INFORMED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, AND IF THE TICKING PERSISTED, RETURN THE VEHICLE FOR FURTHER SERVICING WHICH ALL WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN JULY OF 2000 FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC WORK. AT THIS TIME WE WERE INFORMED THAT I AND MY HUSBAND WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FINANCIALLY FOR ALL LABOR COSTS INVOLVED IN TEARING DOWN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT ISUZU WOULD ONLY COVER BROKEN PARTS AND WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANY OTHER SERVICES. AT THIS POINT, I WALKED OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP. OUR PROBLEM IS, ONLY SOME OF THE 1997 RODEOS ARE INVOLVED WITH THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, HOW COULD ISUZU ONLY MAKE A ENGINE THAT WOULD CARRY A REGULAR WEIGHT OIL AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE TO CHANGE TO A SYNTHETIC OIL?? $840.00 REPAIR. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ENGINE INDICATION LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

MY SON WAS TAKING ME TO O'HARE AIRPORT ON 12/21/00. RODEO SUDDENTLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE SUV WAS IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE AT THE TIME AND WE COULD NOT DISENGATE IT. FOR A HARROWING 6 MILES, HE PUMPED THE BRAKES UNTIL IT SLOWED BUT WE COULD NOT STOP IT. DUE TO IT BEING 6:30 AM AND A LOT OF GOOD LUCK WE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. FINALLY WHEN THE CAR HAD SLOWED WE PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND REGAINED CONTROL. THE SMELL FROM THE BRAKES BY THAT TIME WERE OVERWHELMING. THE CAR DEALER INFORMED US THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD COME UNDONE. THEY DEEMED IT AN "ADJUSTMENT AND CHARGED US TO REATTACH IT. THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBLITY FOR THE DAMAGE TO THE BRAKES SUSTAINED IN OUR ATTEMPT TO SAVE OUR LIVES. I WANT TO ALERT YOU TO THE MECHANICAL DEFECT IN THIS CAR AND HOPE THAT NO ONE HAS LOST LIFE OR LIMB YET. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AND LET ME KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER INCIDENTS. THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AT THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS BOARD FOR ISUZU. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THIS CAR ON A HIGHWAY DUE TO MY LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING, A VEHICLE CUT CONSUMER OFF LEAVING CONSUMER TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT INTO A SAND BARRIER ON THE EXIT RAMP, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES, CONSUMER CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY STATED THAT VEHICLE HAD TO BE HIT A CERTAIN WAY FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. *SLC

WHEN ROTATING TIRES, LUG NUTS STICK, BOLTS BROKE EASILY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE LUG NUTS-HUB DAMAGED-NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRIDGESTONE DUELER 684 TIRE P245/70R16 CAME OFF, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *SLC

THE BUMPER HAS BEEN REPALCED LESS THAN A YR AGO & IS RUSTED AGAIN, THEIR IS RUST AND CHIPS ALONG THE CARRIAGE DUE TO POOR PAINT APPLICATION

WHEN EVER THE LUGS: NUTS ARE REMOVED FOR NORMAL TIRE INSPECTIONS, ROTATIONS, THEY EITHER STRIP OR BREAK OFF.*AK

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT I HAVE ONLY HAD FOR 3 MONTHS. THE DEALER IS OF NO HELP AND I DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO!!NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

RPMS WENT DOWN AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, THAT WAS THE ONLY LIGHT THAT CAME ON, CONSUMER TRIED TO GIVE CAR A JUMP, BUT IT KEPT DYING. TOWED TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. *AK