NHTSA Complaint #10214740 — 2000 ISUZU RODEO SPORT

MY MOTHER AND STEPFATHER GAVE ME THEIR 2000 ISUZU RODEO THIS SUMMER. ABOUT 6 OR 7 MONTHS PRIOR TO THEM GIVING ME THE VEHICLE ITS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ONCE THE VEHICLE WOULD GET TO A TANK OF GAS THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD START TO WAVE BACK AND FORTH FROM FULL TO EMPTY WITH THE GAS LIGHT FLASHING. THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGINS TO SPUTTER AND LOSE POWER SPORADICALLY. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM/TRAIT ON A 2000-2001 ISUZU RODEO. IT APPEARS TO BE A FAULTY FUEL SENDING UNIT WHICH IS MOUNTED INSIDE THE GAS TANK WITH THE FUEL PUMP. I THINK LOSS OF A CARS POWER CAN BE A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK AS THE CAR CAN BEGIN TO STALL WHILE PULLING OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE FUEL GAUGE IS ALSO A SAFETY RISK WHEN IT STARTS TO FLUCTUATE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW HOW MUCH GAS REMAINS. THIS COULD RESULT IN RUNNING OUT OF GAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY OR ANY OTHER HEAVILY TRAVELED ROAD. I FIND IT SHOCKING THAT THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED AND POSES A HUGE SAFETY RISK FOR THE OWNERS AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. NOT TO MENTION I WAS TOLD THE PART IS SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS WITH ANOTHER FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS IN LABOR TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *TR