NHTSA Complaint #10471523 — 1999 ISUZU AMIGO

HELLO, I TOOK MY 1999 ISUZU AMIGO ON AUGUST 18, 2012 TO MY MECHANIC THAT HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED BY ISUZU TO DIAGNOSE THE SAFETY RECALL ISSUED UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE IN JULY (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V306000). THE INSPECTION OF THE AREA SPECIFIED UNDER THE RECALL DISCLOSED VERY LITTLE RUST AND THAT THE MINIMUM SERVICE (CLASSIFIED BY ISUZU AS CONDITION 1) WILL APPLY. I WAS RELIEVED AND HAPPY ABOUT THE NEWS. HOWEVER, DURING THE INSPECTION, MY MECHANIC NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT RUST ISSUE WITH THE REAR INTERIOR BUMPER REINFORCEMENT (HIDDEN UNDERNEATH THE EXTERIOR RUBBER REAR BUMPER AND ONLY IS VISIBLE WHEN ON A CAR LIFT). IT WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED THROUGH AND PROVIDED NO PROTECTION TO THE AMIGO IN THE EVENT OF A REAR COLLISION. I INSTRUCTED THE MECHANIC TO LOCATE A REPLACEMENT PART AND THE REPLACEMENT REPAIR SHOULD BE PERFORMED IN A WEEK. IN TALKING TO MY MECHANIC, HE HAS SEEN THIS FREQUENTLY WITH ISUZU AMIGOS/RODEO SPORTS, GEO/CHEVY TRACKERS, AND SUZUKI VITARAS (NOT THE GRAND VITARAS). IT IS THE RESULT OF THE SALTING OF THE ROADS (AGAIN, SIMILAR TO THE CURRENT ISUZU AMIGO RECALL), AND WATER ACCESSING THE AREA DURING THE RAIN. I PLAN TO HAVE THE NEW PART RUST PROOFED BEFORE HAVING IT INSTALLED TO AVOID THIS ISSUE IN THE FUTURE. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO GIVEN IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT AFFECTS THE REAR BUMPER. I HOPE I PROVIDED ENOUGH INFORMATION FOR YOU. *TR