NHTSA Complaint #10213803 — 2002 ISUZU RODEO

VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION UNPREDICTABLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY, ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, SHIFTED OUT OF "DRIVE" AND INTO "PARK" ON THE CONTROL PANEL INDICATOR, WHILE THE STICK SHIFT WAS STILL ENGAGED IN "DRIVE." THIS RESULTED IN A VERY ALARMING JERKING FEELING AND LOSS OF FORWARD VELOCITY. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS SITUATION AND RETURN TO NORMAL WAS TO BRAKE, PULL OVER INTO THE HIGHWAY'S SHOULDER, PUT THE GEAR SHIFT INTO "PARK," TURN OFF THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION, WAIT A FEW SECONDS, AND THEN TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON. AFTER THIS OCCURRED TWO OR THREE TIMES, I BECAME CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND POTENTIAL ACCIDENT SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN ISUZU DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION MODE SWITCH AND CLEARED THE CODE FOR A TOTAL COST OF $350. THE SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT THE SAME PROBLEM HAD BEEN FOUND WITH OTHER ISUZU RODEO VEHICLES AND KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BASED ON MY INITIAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM. IF THIS PROBLEM IS BEING FOUND WITH OTHER ISUSU RODEOS BUILT IN 2002, THERE COULD BE A MORE WIDESPREAD SAFETY PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *CN