NHTSA Complaint #708569 — 1998 ISUZU RODEO

THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED AT 65 MPH UNDER CRUISE CONTROL FOR A CONTINUOUS PERIOD OF THREE HOURS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. A RAINSTORM WAS ENCOUNTERED AND THE VEHICLE'S EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ENGAGED. AFTER APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES OF SUCH OPERATION, THE ENGINE AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUDDENLY CEASED. THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY (JULY 10, 1999). A SIMILAR COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OCCURRED IN DECEMBER, 1998 AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INSPECTED BY THE DEALER ON JULY 13, 1999. IN EACH OF THESE INSPECTIONS, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE INITIAL INCIDENT IN DECEMBER, 1998 OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT DURING A SEVERE SNOWSTORM AT 35 MPH AND RESULTED IN BEING FORCED ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY LIGHTS/POWER. THE LATEST TWO INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN DAYLIGHT BUT AT HIGH SPEED ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. ONE OF THE TWO RECENT INCIDENTS WAS A VERY NEAR MISS AS A 16 WHEEL TRACTOR TRAILER WAS FOLLOWING ABOUT 200 FEET BEHIND WHEN ALL POWER WAS UNEXPECTEDLY LOST. *AK