NHTSA Complaint #10474492 — 2001 ISUZU RODEO

I BOUGHT MY 2001 ISUZU RODEO NEW. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN 2010 ABOUT THE SUSPENSION BRACKETS IN THE REAR HAVING A RUST PROBLEM. I HAD THE RECALL INSPECTION DONE AND THE ISUZU SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE AND THEY APPLIED SOME RUST INHIBITOR. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP IN AUG 2012 FOR BRAKE WORK AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT AND BEHIND THE REAR WHEELS WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED WITH NUMEROUS RUST HOLES IN THE FRAME. THE FRAME WAS SO RUSTED IN NUMEROUS SPOTS THAT YOU COULD PUSH YOUR FINGER THROUGH THE FRAME AND IT WOULD CRUMBLE UNDER THE PRESSURE. I CALLED ISUZU AND THEY ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER THEY DIRECTED ME TO. AT THIS CENTER I WAS TOLD THAT MY RUST WAS CONSIDERED A LEVEL 3 INCIDENT. ISUZU TOLD THE REPAIR SHOP TO DO A LEVEL 3 FIX. THAT INCLUDED PUTTING LARGER SUSPENSION BRACKETS ON AND COATING THE RUST WITH A RUST INHIBITOR. THEY STATED THAT THE FRAME RUST WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, ONLY THE BRACKETS. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WERE FRAME ISSUES FOR THESE MODELS BUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY WAS ONLY FOR THE SUSPENSION BRACKETS. THIS VEHICLE IS UNDRIVABLE IN IT'S PRESENT CONDITION WITH ALMOST NO STRENGTH LEFT IN THE REAR FRAME. I WILL HAVE TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE METAL WELDED TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO STRENGTHEN IT AND TO MAKE IT SAFE ENOUGH TO DRIVE. A VEHICLE PRODUCED IN 2001 SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MUCH RUST DAMAGE TO THE FRAME. THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT ISUZU EVEN ACKNOWLEDGES BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO ACCEPT MONETARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECT. THESE CARS NEED TO BE BOUGHT BACK FROM THE CUSTOMER FOR MARKET VALUE OF A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND TYPE. PLEASE HELP THE THOUSANDS OF ISUZU RODEO OWNERS OUT THERE LIKE ME WHO HAVE LOST THE USE OF THEIR VEHICLE THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR