NHTSA Complaint #10352675 — 2001 ISUZU RODEO

MY CAR IS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO. I AM ITS 2ND OWNER AND I PURCHASED IT FROM THE ESTATE OF A DECEASED WOMAN. IT HAD VERY LOW MILEAGE. A FEW DAYS AGO I NOTICED A JARRING SOUND COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR SIDE OF METAL MAKING CONTACT. I PLANNED TO TAKE IT TO MY MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION EARLY THIS WEEK AS I WAS INTENDING TO GO ON A LONG TRIP. ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, MY CAR SWERVED AND I COULD TELL THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND SAW THAT A LARGE FLANGE ATTACHED TO A REAR AXLE STABILIZER HAD COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME. AS I WAS NOT AT ALL FAR FROM HOME I RETURNED MY CAR TO MY DRIVEWAY. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION I SAW THAT THE METAL OF THE LEFT SIDE FRAME OF MY CAR WAS LIKE PAPER - COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATING. MY CAR IS IN GREAT MECHANICAL CONDITION. I HAD MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT LAST YEAR. I USE IT IN MY WORK AS A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN TO TRANSPORT MY INSTRUMENTS. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN WIDESPREAD INCIDENTS OF 1998-2002 ISUZU RODEOS HAVING THIS METALLURGICAL DEFECT. IT APPEARS TO BE UNREPAIRABLE. IT SEEMS THAT THE ENGINEERS AND METALLURGISTS AT ISUZU CREATED A DEFECT IN THEIR FORMULATION OF THE STEEL FOR THE FRAME. THIS CAR SHOULD AND MUST BE RECALLED, NOT ONLY FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE WHO SUFFER MONETARY LOSS DUE TO THE DESIGN FLAW AND THE INABILITY TO USE THEIR VEHICLE, BUT ALSO DUE TO THE SAFETY CONCERNS OF THOSE WHO ARE UNAWARE OF THIS DEFECT AND THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL ON A HIGHWAY. *TR