1999 ISUZU AMIGO Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ISUZU AMIGO. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THE SUSPENSION ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE HAD RUSTED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000.

Mileage: 172,000

FOUND OUT MY VEHICLE HAS REAR FRAME CORROSION AND TRACK BAR MOUNT ALMOST GONE FROM RUST. WAS NOTICED WHEN HAVING TIRES CHANGED. SAW RECALL AND READ CUSTOMER LETTER ONLINE (NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF RECALL). CALLED ISUZU CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD RECALL NO LONGER APPLIES DUE TO TIME. THE LETTER SAYS WITHIN ONE YEAR OF NOTIFICATION. IF I WASN'T NOTIFIED SHOULDN'T I STILL HAVE A YEAR TO GET THIS RECALL DONE?. NOW I HAVE A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR FOR FAULTY MANUFACTURING. HOW ARE WE AS CONSUMERS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A RECALL DONE WITHIN THEIR TIME LIMIT WITHOUT BEING NOTIFIED? WHAT CAN WE DO AND WHO DO WE NEED TO CONTACT TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE? THIS ISN'T THE FIRST COMPLAINT OF LACK OF SERVICE FOR THIS RECALL. *TR

WHILE ON THE INTERNET I WAS SEARCHING FOR A DEALER FOR MY ABOVE LISTED CAR AND DISCOVERED A RECALL DATED LAST YEAR FOR STATES WITH USE OF CORROSIVE MATERIAL IN WINTER WHICH INCLUDES NEBRASKA BUT NOT LISTED ON RECALL (WHICH MAY BE BECAUSE VERY FEW ISUZU CARS WERE SOLD IN THIS STATE IN FACT THE DEALER TOLD ME AT TIME OF SALE I HAD ONE OF TWO OF 1999 AMIGOS IN STATE ROD RODDEN DEALERSHIP 84 & F NOW A KIA DEALERSHIP I CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE WITH A LADY THAT TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE I MISSED THE DEADLINE (EVEN THOUGHT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BECAUSE I DID NOT LIVE IN THE LISTED STATES WHICH INCLUDED IOWA AND MISSOURI BUT NOT NEBRASKA ALTHOUGH WE USE SAME MATERIALS FOR SAFETY) SHE TOLD ME MY VEHICLE WAS PERFECTLY SAFE AND WHEN I ASKED IF I COULD RECORD THAT FOR FUTURE IN IF I AM INJURED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM SHE HUNG UP ON ME I THEN CALLED BACK AND THE MAN ASKED MY NAME WHEN I TOLD HIM HE TOLD ME HE COULD NOT TALK TO ME BECAUSE I MAY RECORD THE CONVERSATION AND THEN HE HUNG UP ON ME. GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE! SO NOW I AM VERY CONCERNED AND HAVE NO PLACE TO TURN BUT YOU. CLOSER DEALERSHIP NOW 10 MILES AWAY. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

1999 ISUZU AMIGO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET CORROSION RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT RECALL # 12V306000 BE INVESTIGATED AND EXTENDED. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE DID NOT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE AS CONFIRMED BY PHONE WITH CUSTOMER SUPPORT 08/13/13 ACKNOWLEDGING THE NOTICE WAS RETURNED AS UNDELIVERABLE SEPTEMBER 2012. CUSTOMER SUPPORT FIRST CLAIMED TO HER HUSBAND, VIA PHONE ON 08/13/13 THAT TWO NOTICES WERE SENT, BUT UPON HER CALLING THAT SAME DAY, CUSTOMER SUPPORT SAID ONLY ONE NOTICE WAS SENT TO OWNERS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, HER VEHICLE WAS NINE DAYS PAST THE JULY 31ST DEADLINE FOR THE SUSPENSION CHECK-UP.

GENERAL MAINTENANCE UPDATE. THE ISUZU DEALER HAS APPLIED AN ANTI-RUST SOLVENT TO LOWER STABILIZER ARM BRACKETS ACCORDING TO DIRECTIONS IN THE RECALL REMEMEDY REQUIREMENT. HOWEVER, THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE CAR FRAME IS POTTED WITH LARGE RUST HOLES. I HAVE HAD SOME OF THE REACHABLE HOLES WELDED. I HAVE HAD ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BRACKETS WELDED INTO THE FRAME TO STRENGTHEN THE BADLY ROTTED AXLE AND SHOCK MOUNT POINTS. I HAVE APPLIED A RUST ENCAPSULATION PRODUCT TO THE INTERIOR OF THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE FRAME, AND RUST CONVERTER PRODUCTS TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE FRAME. THIS IS MY DAILY DRIVER. A CATASTROPHIC FRAME FAILURE IS INEVITABLE. BUT, IT CAN BE PREVENTED. THE AUTO MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO HAVE NEW FRAMES AVAILABLE TO AMIGO OWNERS WHO WISH TO PURCHASE THEM. PLEASE KEEP ME UPDATED ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 155,500

HELLO I AM THE OWNER OF A ISUZU AMIGO I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE UNTIL AFTER I BOUGHT IT. 10-7-2012 I BROUGHT IT TO MY PERSONAL MECHANIC WHEN I FOUND THE DAMAGE ON 10-24-12. AFTER THAT, I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL, AND SENT THE CAR TO A DEALER, ISUZU CLAIMS THE RECALL HAS ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER, AND THE EXCESSIVE RUST AND DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP AND MY PRIVATE MECHANIC SAY THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, AND THE GAS TANK MAY FALL OUT AS A RESULT OF THE RUST DAMAGE, THE TRANSMISSION SUPPORT IS RUSTED BADLY AND THE BRAKE LINES ARE IN BAD SHAPE AS WELL. I WAS HOPING THEY WERE GOING TO JUST BUY THE CAR BACK FROM ME AS STATED IN THE RECALL LETTER, I CANT BELIEVE THEY SAY THIS DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED. I KNOW THE CAR ISN'T NEW, BUT THIS RUST IS UNBELIEVABLE. BEFORE I KNEW ABOUT THE RECALL, I HAD IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD, THAT EVEN IF THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, THERE ISN'T ENOUGH GOOD METAL TO WELD THE NEW PARTS IN. AND WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE IT. I AM HOPING YOU MAY HAVE SOME ADVICE AND GUIDANCE FOR ME. I AM STUCK NOW WITH AN UNSAFE CAR. THAT I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO SELL TO SOMEONE ELSE. ISUZU DID ADMIT TO PART OF THIS EXCESSIVE RUST BY HONORING THE FIRST AND SECOND RECALLS, THEY HAVE TO REALIZE THERE IS MORE. I'M SURE THE DEALER WAS INSTRUCTED TO ONLY VERIFY THE PARTS LISTED IN THE RECALL AND IGNORE THE REST, AS IT IS NOT COVERED , BUT OUT OF CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY THEY STRONGLY SUGGESTED I HAVE THIS CAR TOWED OUT OF THE LOT. I GUESS THE ONLY WAY FOR ISUZU TO NOTICE IS IF I DRIVE THIS CAR UNTIL SOMETHING BREAKS OFF, AND I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. I CANT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR RIGHT NOW. AND I CAN'T SELL THIS ONE. PLEASE HELP! *TR

Mileage: 135,000

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 30 MPH, WITH THREE CHILDREN AGES 2, 8, AND 11, IN THE VEHICLE THE REAR SUSPENSION GAVE OUT N BROKE THUMPING ALONG THE ROAD, AS MY STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE RIGHT, YET MY VEHICLE REMAINED GOING STRAIGHT WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO BE CONTROLLED. MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR THE ONE MILE TO MY HOME GOING AT A SPEED OF 5MP OR LESS AS THERE WAS NO WHEEL CONTROL. AFTER CONTACTING ISUZU REGARDING THE REAR SUSPENSION RECALL, EVEN THOUGH I WAS THE REGISTERED OWNER AT TIME OF RECALL I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED, ISUZU HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO CLOSEST DEALER WHERE IT WAS DEEMED IRREPARABLE, ISUZU THEN TOOK OVER A WEEK TO CONTACT ME REGARDING BUYING BACK MY TRUCK AS A REMEDY TO THE PROBLEM, THEN REQUESTED A COPY OF MY TITLE, WHICH I SENT, THEN WANTED A COPY OF MY REGISTRATION, WHICH I SENT, AND NOW ARE ASKING FOR MY BILL OF SALE, WHICH I GAVE THE ONLY COPY OF TO THE NYSDMV, INITIALLY I WAS ONLY TOLD I NEEDED MY TITLE, NOW NEEDING EXTRA DOCUMENTS, THAT I CANNOT FURNISH WITHOUT EXTREME HASSLE, AND ALSO ARE VERY IRRESPONSIBLE, AS THEY ONLY HAVE ONE CONTACT NUMBER FOR ALL OF NORTH AMERICA, AND ONLY ONE REPRESENTATIVE ANSWERING THE PHONE, THE SITUATION IS VERY DISHEARTENING KNOWING ME AND MY CHILDREN COULD HAVE DIED HAD THE SUSPENSION LET GO 5 MINUTES PRIOR WHEN WE WERE TRAVELING AT 60MPH ON THE THRUWAY, I NEED ANSWERS AS THEY HAVE RECALLED THIS PART FOR FAULTY MANUFACTURING YET ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO JUSTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 144,586

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

Mileage: 154,000

CONTACT WAS DRIVING DOWN A SIDE ROAD AT 20MPH WHEN THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND IMMEDIATELY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND ONTO A CURB WHERE ONCE STOPPED THEY WERE ABLE TO DRIVE IT INTO A PARKING LOT BUT ONLY IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. ONCE INSPECTED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR PART OF THE FRAME WAS SO BADLY RUSTED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TRAILING ARM AND MOUNT BROKE OFF THE FRAME CAUSING THE REAR AXLE TO SHIFT BACK IN FORTH UNCONTROLLABLY. WHEN TAKEN TO A FRAME REPAIR SHOP AND STATE CERTIFIED WELDER THE FRAME AND MOUNTS WERE DEEMED BEYOND REPAIRABLE AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE REAR FRAME WAS RUSTING OUT SO BAD THAT IT WAS THAT IT WAS NO LONGER STRUCTURALLY SOUND. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT ISUZU RECALLED THE 98-2002 RODEOS IN WHICH WERE STATIONED IN THE NATIONS SALT BELT. MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE ALSO HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE AMIGO'S. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS THESE VEHICLES IN THE SALT BELT ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

Mileage: 175,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ISUZU AMIGO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE TRACTION BAR FRACTURED FROM THE FRAME AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT CORROSION AND RUST CAUSED THE TRACTION BAR TO FRACTURE FROM THE FRAME. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TRACTION BAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

Mileage: 146,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ISUZU AMIGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TRAILING ARM LINK WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

Mileage: 144,000

LEFT SIDE OF FRAME ROTTED OUT CAUSING CONTROL ARM TO FALL OFF AND DIFFERENTIAL TO SWAY WHICH PUT THE VEHICLE IN DITCH. *KB

Mileage: 147,443

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ISUZU AMIGO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND WELDED THE FRAME BACK TOGETHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,000 UPDATED 01/10/12*LJ * UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED. HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDED HIS MODEL. RECALL#10V436000. UPDATED 02/13/12

Mileage: 134,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ISUZU AMIGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THE BRACKET THAT SUSTAINED THE SUSPENSION FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE FRAME WAS ALSO CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. UPDATED 2/22/12*CN

Mileage: 145,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ISUZU AMIGO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HE SUDDENLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE REAR CONTROL ARM BRACKETS RIPPED APART FROM THE FRAME. HE HEARD A NOISE AND BEGAN LOSING CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS HOME AND AFTER INSPECTING IT HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE IS NOW UN-REPAIRABLE AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID RECALL 00V058000, SUSPENSION REAR AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 ISUZU AMIGO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT SPUN AROUND. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE CONTROL ARM AND BRACKETS WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE CONTROL ARM AND BRACKETS WERE DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED HE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V058000 (SUSPENSION:REAR). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

Mileage: 78,000

DEALER IS REFUSING TO REPAIR A RECALL CONCERNING REAR AXLE FAILURE. *AK RECALL NUMBER 00V058. *SLC