NHTSA Complaint #10171147 — 2002 ISUZU AXIOM

ALSO HAVE LOUD CREAKING NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT SIDE OF VEHICLE WHEN TURNING LEFT, RIGHT, OR GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS. PROBLEM FIXED ONCE OUT OF 4 DEALERSHIPS THAT WERE TRIED. NOISE WENT AWAY AFTER SERVICE TECH TIGHTENED BOLTS CONNECTING THE CROSS BAR/BEAM TO THE 2 LONG TORQUE BARS THAT RUN DOWN THE LENGTH OF VEHICLE. AFTER 1 MONTH, PROBLEM CAME BACK, WAS FIXED AGAIN, AND THEN CAME BACK AGAIN. AFTER 4 REVOLUTIONS OF THIS, PROBLEM PERSISTS TODAY. VEHICLE'S FRAME FELT "TIGHTER" WHEN MAKING TURNS DURING THE PERIOD WHERE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AS COMPARED TO WHEN THE NOISE WAS PRESENT. THE LONGER THE NOISE EXISTS, THE "LOOSER" THE FRAME FEELS, AS WELL. ADDITIONALLY, A "TAR-LIKE SUBSTANCE" HAS BEEN SEEPING OUT OF ALL 4 DOORS SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2004. THE ISUZU DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM SAYS THAT THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM FROM MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS, THE SUBSTANCE IS USED TO SECURE A "VAPOR SEAL" INSIDE EACH DOOR PANEL, AND ISUZU WILL NOT WARRANTY THE CLEANING OR REPLACING OF IT. ESSENTIALLY EXACTLY LIKE TAR ITSELF, IT MELTS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED UNDER DIRECT SUN. DUE TO THE LARGE QUANTITY, IT BECOMES UNAVOIDABLE WHEN LOADING/UNLOADING PASSENGERS OR, IN OUR CASE, SMALL CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS. IT HAS RUINED THE CARPET, MANY OF OUR CLOTHES, AND GIVEN US GREAT HEARTBURN. WHY WON'T ISUZU WARRANTY THE CLEANING AND REPLACEMENT OF THIS FAULTY MATERIAL? MOST ALL MANUFACTURERS HAVE SOME TYPE OF VAPOR/WATER SEAL AND YOU WILL NOT FIND TAR LEAKING OUT OF THEIR VEHICLES. *NM