NHTSA Complaint #745905 — 1997 ISUZU RODEO

OUR PROBLEM IS WITH AMERICAN ISUZU MOTORS AND NOT WITH THE RUSS DARROW ORGANIZATION. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER OF 1999. IN FEBRUARY OF 2000, THE ENGINE MADE A NOTICEABLE TICKING SOUND. WE HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED AND THEY COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. IN MARCH OF 2000, ISUZU HAD SENT OUT A BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERSHIPS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. WE, AS THE CONSUMER, WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS BULLETIN UNTIL JULY OF 2000, WHEN OUR VEHICLE WAS AGAIN SERVICED FOR THE SAME TICKING SOUND. WE WERE THEN INFORMED THAT THE TICKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM ONE OR MORE OF THE LASH ADJUSTERS DO TO VARNISH BUILD UP. ISUZU CLAIMS THAT THE CONDITION RESULTS FROM EXCEEDING THE REQUIRED OIL CHANGE AND FILTER, WHICH IN THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES EVERY 7500 MILES OR 12 MONTHS WHICH EVER COMES FIRST. IT ALSO STATES THAT IT SHOULD BE CHANGED EVERY 3750 MILES UNDER "SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS". FIRST THEY RECOMMENDED A OIL CHANGE OF OW-30 SYNTHETIC OIL, WHICH IS SUPPOSE TO BASICALLY FLUSH OUT THE HYDRAULIC LASH ADJUSTERS AND REMOVE THE VARNISH THAT IS PREVENTING THE HYDRAULIC LASH ADJUSTER PISTON TRAVEL. THIS WAS DONE AT OUR EXPENSE. WE WERE INFORMED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, AND IF THE TICKING PERSISTED, RETURN THE VEHICLE FOR FURTHER SERVICING WHICH ALL WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN JULY OF 2000 FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC WORK. AT THIS TIME WE WERE INFORMED THAT I AND MY HUSBAND WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FINANCIALLY FOR ALL LABOR COSTS INVOLVED IN TEARING DOWN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT ISUZU WOULD ONLY COVER BROKEN PARTS AND WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANY OTHER SERVICES. AT THIS POINT, I WALKED OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP. OUR PROBLEM IS, ONLY SOME OF THE 1997 RODEOS ARE INVOLVED WITH THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, HOW COULD ISUZU ONLY MAKE A ENGINE THAT WOULD CARRY A REGULAR WEIGHT OIL AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE TO CHANGE TO A SYNTHETIC OIL?? $840.00 REPAIR. *AK