NHTSA Complaint #714416 — 1986 ISUZU TROOPER II

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS VERY SEROIUS MATTER. I PURCHASED A USED TROOPER THREE YEARS AGO, AND HAVE EXPERIENCED NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. I PURCHASED THE TROOPER FROM MY NEIGHBOR THREE YEARS AGO.HE PURCHASED IT FROM A DEALER HERE IN MAINE. THE TROOPER WAS ALWAYS VERY WELL MAINTAINED,USUALLY GARAGED, AND ONLY DRIVEN BY MY NEIGHBOR TO HIS PALCE OFF BUSINESS 3 MILES AWAY. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED FROM AREA GARAGES THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. MY PROBLEMS ARE CENTERED AROUND THE POOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE FRAME. THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE IS JUST BARELY HELD ON TO THE CHASSIS, BY WHAT MEANS, I'M NOT SURE. EVERYTHING IS ROTTING OFF THE VEHICLE. EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE, REAR FRAME AND FLOOR PAN HAS HOLES....LOOKS LIKE A FLINSTONE MOBILE.YOU CAN ALMOST LITERALLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH YOUR FEET IN CERTAIN AREAS. THE FRONT SHOCKS ARE RUSTED THROUGH, AND THE BODY HAS HAD TO BE REPAIRED FOR RUST. THIS VEHICLE HAS CANCER, AND IT'S TERMINAL. I LIVE IN THE STATE OF MAINE WHERE YEARLY VEHICLE INSPECTION IS MANDATORY....THE TROOPER BARELY PASSED LAST YEAR. I HAVE PAID MONEY TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE RE-REGISTERED, AND INSURED (WHICH HERE IN MAINE PRECEEDS INSPECTION) AND NOW IT WON'T PASS INSPECTION. THIS IS AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE WORK TO IT....EVERY GARAGE TELLS ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS POORLY CONSTRUCTED/UNSAFE EVEN AFTER COSTLY REPAIRS/AND DON'T EVEN RECOMMEND THAT I SELL IT FOR FEAR THAT SOMEONE MAY HAVE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FRAME DETERIORIZATION. THOUGH THIS VEHICLE IS ALMOST 14 YEARS OLD, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WHICH AFFECTS EVERY TROOPER THAT I HAVE SEEN. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF WHAT TO DO WITH THIS VEHICLE AS IT IS A HAZARD, AND FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL GARAGES, CANNOT BE FIXED. PLEASE HELP ME WITH MY DILEMA, I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONCERN IN THIS MATTER. SINCERELY YOURS, LORI BRIDGES