NHTSA Complaint #10398917 — 2001 ISUZU RODEO

ORIGINAL OWNER OF 2001 RODEO. RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET. DRIVERS SIDE REQUIRED INSTALLATION OF A BRACKET, PASSENGER SIDE WAS SPRAYED WITH WAX. RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED CIRCA 01/2011. TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR BRAKES LAST WEEK AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED THAT IT IS NOT WORTH DOING THE BRAKES. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS ITS INSPECTION AS THE FRAME IS SOFTENED DUE TO RUSTING AND IS UNSAFE (DON'T GO ON ANY LONG DRIVES AND THINK ABOUT A NEW CAR IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS). CONTACTED ISUZU AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NO FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY AS THEY DID EVERYTHING THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO UNDER THE RECALL AGREEMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR RUSTED FRAMES CAN BE LIMITED TO SUCH A SMALL AREA OF THE FRAME COMPONENT WHEN IT APPEARS FROM THE HIGH NUMBER OF FILED COMPLAINTS THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC FRAME RUST ISSUE AND NOT SIMPLY A LOCALIZED ISSUE DEALING WITH THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION LINK. THIS REAR SUSPENSION LINK IS ONLY THE SYMPTOM OF THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. ISUZU IS TAKING THE POSITION THAT IF THE RUST IS NOT IN THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION, THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY BEYOND THAT. IS THE NHTSA PURSUING THIS ISSUE FARTHER? VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION OTHER THAN THE FRAME. NO RUST ON THE BODY PANELS/SHEET METAL WHATSOEVER. PLEASE ADVISE,