NHTSA Complaint #10025652 — 1998 ISUZU RODEO

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED IN FRONT OF OWNER'S HOME - IN FIRST GEAR WITH PARKING BREAK ENGAGED AND WHEELS TURNED TOWARD THE ROAD. THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD AND, ALTHOUGH PARKING BREAK WAS APPLIED, VEHICLE'S WHEELS WERE ROTATING, AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS "DRIVING ITSELF". VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE PARKED 6+ FEET IN FRONT OF IT. WHEN IT HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE IT PUSHED AND HELD THE VEHICLE'S FRAME ABOUT 3 INCHES FORWARD. THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING AND CONTINUED CLICKING. FIRE AND POLICE WERE CALLED. WHEN FIRE AND POLICE ARRIVED, FIREMEN REMOVED BATTERY CABLES TO VEHICLE AND PUSHED VEHICLE BACK TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE'S BODY (VEHICLE THAT HAD BEEN HIT) SWUNG BACK OVER IT'S FRAME. THIS VERY DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE WAS WITNESSED BY THE WOMAN WHOSE VEHICLE HAD BEEN HIT. ALSO, ABS SYSTEM ON THE ISUZU NEVER WORKED AND THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE MOST TIMES DIDN'T ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE AS IT SHOULD HAVE. 0N 7/9/2003 THE DEALER STATED THE ANTI THEFT MODULE FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO START UP. *AK