NHTSA Complaint #10104322 — 1999 ISUZU TROOPER

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON A MI FREEWAY, OUR CAR ENGINE QUIT. FORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT IN TRAFFIC AND WE WERE ABLE TO COAST UP AN OFF RAMP. AAA TRAILERED THE 1999 TROOPER TO A FORMER ISUZU DEALERSHIP WHO, THREE DAYS LATER, ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE "FROZE UP" AND THAT WE WOULD NEED AN ENTIRELY NEW ENGINE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THERE WAS OIL IN THE CRANKCASE AND THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON UNTIL AFTER THE ENGINE DIED. WE ARE PAYING TO TRAILER THE CAR TO KS TO HAVE IT CHECKED BY THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND, PRESUMABLY, THE REGIONAL ISUZU REPRESENTATIVE. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY; UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD/MILEAGE. THERE IS NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE BUT, A CALL TO ISUZU OF AMERICA, ONLY HAD THEM SAY THEY'VE FULFILLED THEIR OBLIGATION. HAD THE CAR DIED IN TRAFFIC, THEIR BEEN NO EXIT RAMP OR SHOULDER, OR MY WIFE STRANDED ALONE IN A DESOLATE PLACE, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES OTHER THAN JUST THE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES WE NOW HAVE. FYI, THE INITIAL ESTIMATE IS $7,500 TO REPLACE WITH A USED ENGINE PROVIDED A GOOD USED ENGINE CAN EVEN BE LOCATED. *JB