NHTSA Complaint #10363439 — 2001 ISUZU RODEO

I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2001, ISUZU RODEO FROM A PRIVATE SELLER, AND AT THE TIME OF PURCHASED THE VEHICLE SEEMED LIKE IT WAS IN A MINT CONDITION. THE ENGINE LOOKED WONDERFUL AND THE OUTSIDE LOOKED LIKE IT WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. A MONTH AFTER THE PURCHASE I HAVE DECIDED TO PUT IN NEW SHOCKS ALL THE WAY AROUND. ONCE I STARTED TO LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE AND REMOVE THE SHOCKS I HAVE COME TO DISCOVER THAT THE FRAME OF THE CAR WAS IN A TERRIBLE SHAPE. THE GUY THAT SOLD THE VEHICLE TO ME TRIED TO HIDE THE DAMAGE BY UNDERCOATING AND PUTTING (BONDO) ON THE "FRAME" TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. POKING THE FRAME WITH A SCREWDRIVER, I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE HUGE HOLES IN IT AND CHUNKS OF THE FRAME ARE COMPLETELY MISSING. I WAS IN A SUCH UNBELIEVABLE SHOCK BECAUSE I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS STILL FUNCTIONAL AND WASN'T SURE WHAT WAS EXACTLY HOLDING IT UP. I CAN SAY THAT THE PERSON THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE HAS OBVIOUSLY TRICKED ME BUT THE DAMAGE THAT WAS ON THE CAR WAS UNBELIEVABLE. EVERYTHING ELSE INCLUDING THE UNDERBODY OF THE CAR LOOKED LIKE IT WAS IN A PRETTY GOOD SHAPE BUT THE FRAME AND EVERYTHING ATTACHED TO IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS FALLING OFF. I AM SCARED TO FURTHER POKE AND TOUCH THE FRAME BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE WHOLE CAR WILL FALL APART ON ME AND THERE IS NO WAY I WILL LET MY SELF OR ANYONE IN MY FAMILY DRIVE THIS CAR IN THIS CONDITION BECAUSE IT IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. AFTER SWEEPING AWAY SEVERAL POUNDS OF RUST THAT JUST CAME OFF OF THE FRAME OF MY CAR, I AM NOT SURE IF THIS PROBLEM IS EVEN REPAIRABLE, BUT I JUST HOPE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING I CAN DO IN ORDER TO PUT THIS CAR BACK ON THE ROAD. *TR