2001 ISUZU RODEO SPORT Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO SPORT. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED CORROSION ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

I GOT A LETTER FROM ISUZU ASKING ME TO COME IN FOR A RECALL DUE TO PRE-MATURE FRAME RUSTING I WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO LIFT THE BODY OFF THE FRAME TO INSPECT IT AND I WAS HAVING THE GAS-LEVEL SENDER REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT BOLTS HOLDING THE CASSIS TO THE FRAME HAD A TENDENCY TO FAIL SO THEY WERE BEING REPLACED WITH STAINLESS STEEL HARDWARE. WHEN I GOT THE TRUCK BACK THE NEW SHINY BOLTS AND NUTS WERE VISIBLE EXTERNALLY AND I WAS ASSURED THAT MY TRUCK WAS NOT THAT BAD AND IT WAS JUST A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE. I WAS TOLD THE FRAME WAS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE AND THAT THEY APPLIED SOME ANTI-RUST TREATMENT TO THE AREAS AND FOR ADDED STRENGTH, 2 REINFORCEMENT BARS WERE BOLTED TO THE SIDES OF THE FRAME ( THIS WAS DOME AND VERIFIED VISUALLY BY ME ). ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER, WHILE HAVING MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE ROT, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY FRAME WAS NOT SAFE BECAUSE IT WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY ROTTEN IN NUMEROUS AREAS AND TOLD THAT WHOEVER TRIED TO FIX IT KNEW THAT IT WAS IN TERRIBLE SHAPE AND SIMPLY PUT A BAND=AID ON IT AND HIT IT WITH SOME ANTI-RUST PAINT TO MAKE IT LOOK BETTER. JUST THE FRAME WAS ROTTING, NOT THE BODY OR OTHER PARTS. THE OFFICIAL TSB APPARENTLY TO SHORE UP THE FRAME BY BOLTING TWO STEEL BARS ALONG THE SIDES, UNLESS THE FRAME IS SO ROTTED OUT THAT IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. SO IF I HAD NOT GARAGED MY TRUCK AND BEEN EXTRA CAREFUL ABOUT WASHING THE UNDERCARRIAGE, I COULD HAVE GOTTEN A BRAND-NEW FRAME, (OR A TRIP TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM IF THE FRAME BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT ALMOST ANY SPEED NEVER MIND HIGHWAY SPEED). I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS TRUCK AND HAVE FOLLOWED ALL TSB/RECALLS AND RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES. I LOVE THE TRUCK, BUT I NEED IT TO BE SAFE AND VERY SOON IT MAY NOT PASS SAFETY INSPECTION IN MY STATE. I HAVE READ ABOUT MANY PEOPLE TRYING PUSH FOR SOME SORT OF LEGAL ACTION ON THIS. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

WHILE DRIVING IN VEHICLE, APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, NORMAL DRY CONDITIONS, DRIVER-SIDE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM BRACKET BROKE FREE FROM FRAME. VEHICLE VEERED RIGHT SLIGHTLY AND GENERATED A GROANING SOUND. PULLED VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION UNDERNEATH VEHICLE REALIZED FRAME SECTION CORRODED COMPLETELY THROUGH ALLOWING TRAILING ARM BUSHING MOUNTING BRACKET TO COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM FRAME. LOW MILEAGE (CONSIDERING YEAR) WELL CARED FOR VEHICLE IN OTHERWISE GOOD CONDITION. HAVE SENSE LEARNED THIS TO BE AN ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM KNOWN BY OEM BUT NOT BY SECONDARY BUYERS, THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT BE ON ROAD. LESS THAN A YEARS USE FROM THIS VEHICLE AFTER LOAN/PURCHASE. *TR

Mileage: 99,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. 10V436000 (SUSPENSION:REAR), THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RUST ON THE FRAME WAS TOO EXCESSIVE AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,123.

Mileage: 53,123

I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT MY TRUCK BECAUSE OF AN EXHAUST LEAK, WHILE INSPECTING, HE FOUND A BREAK/SEPARATION OF THE RIGHT FRAME WHERE THE FORWARD MOUNTING REAR SUSPENSION BRACKET ATTACHES. THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRAME IS ALSO ROTTED BUT NOT YET BROKEN. I TOOK IT TO AN ISUZU DEALER IN MASSACHUSETTS, & THEY TOOK PICTURES OF THE PROBLEM, THEN REPORTED IT TO ISUZU. I CALLED ISUZU'S (800) HELP LINE TO ASK WHAT THEY COULD DO TO REPAIR MY TRUCK, THEY SAID NOTHING, THEY WERE NOT RECALLING THAT PARTICULAR TRUCK MODEL BUT TOOK MY INFORMATION. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

2001 ISUZU RODEO SPORT. CONSUMER STATES CORROSION FRAME CRACKS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE 4-DOOR MODELS, BUT NOT THE 2-DOOR MODELS. *JB UPDATED 07/03/12 THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW WHY THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALLOWED TO LIMIT ITS FIX OF VEHICLE'S REGARDING THE RECALL. UPDATED CONSUMER LETTER 06/29/12*JB UPDATED 05/25/12

Mileage: 116,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO SPORT. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR WHEELS BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED AND THE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V436000 (SUSPENSION:REAR) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE ISUZU SPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

Mileage: 119,000

WHILE DRIVING ON THE TOLL ROAD @ APPROX. 55 MPH, THE REAR SUSPENSION SNAPPED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO PROCEED AT APPROX 20 MPH AND EXIT THE TOLL ROAD. UPON PARKING, I WAS ABLE TO EXAMINE THE REAR AND SAW THAT THE COMPLETE REAR SUSPENSION WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND THE DRIVERS SIDE SNAPPED OFF. AFTER HAVING TWO MECHANICS LOOK OVER THE VEHICLE, WE ARE BEING TOLD IT IS NOT REPAIRABLE. WE ALSO JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED APPROX 3 MONTHS AGO AND ARE NOT SURE WHAT THE NEXT STEP SHOULD BE. AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATION ONLINE, I FOUND THAT THIS WAS A RECALL AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNERS AND NOW THE RECALL TIME PERIOD HAS LAPSED. *TR

Mileage: 133,000

REAR SUSPENSION MOUNT FELL OFF DUE TO RUSTED FRAME. ISUZU OWNER SUPPORT: USING MISDIRECTION AND STRONG ARM TACTICS TO DELAY AND AVOID RESOLUTION OF NHTSA SAFETY RECALL. UNETHICAL PRACTICE. FILING SMALL CLAIMS SUIT. *TR

Mileage: 124,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SWAY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND A NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A BRACKET HANGING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. UPDATED 11/03/11*LJ UDDATED 03/08/12

Mileage: 139,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SWAY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND A NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A BRACKET HANGING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. UPDATED 11/03/11*LJ UDDATED 03/08/12

Mileage: 139,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AN UNKNOWN NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. WHILE PULLING THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STABILIZER BAR WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF OF THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,414.

Mileage: 113,414

I OWN A 2001 ISUZU RODEO SPORT WITH ABOUT 144,000 MILES ON IT WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN JULY 2001. THE REAR SECTION OF THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH ON BOTH SIDES IN SOME AREAS AND THE LOWER LINK SUPPORTS ARE ALSO RUSTING OFF. I CALLED ISUZU MOTORS AMERICA OWNERS RELATION DEPARTMENT (800) 255-6727 AND SPOKE TO KAREN WHO INDICATED THAT SHE IS THEIR 'NATIONAL OPERATIONS MANAGER' IN ANAHEIM CA. (KAREN WOULD NOT PROVIDE HER LAST NAME, STATING THAT SHE IS THE ONLY KAREN EMPLOYED BY ISUZU(?), NOR WOULD SHE ALLOW ME TO SPEAK TO ANYONE ELSE WHEN I ASKED). KAREN INFORMED ME THAT ISUZU ALONG WITH THE NHTSA HAVE DECIDED THAT THEIR RECALL CAMPAIGN # 10V436000 DOES NOT INCLUDE RODEO SPORTS, EVEN THOUGH THE SPORT IS LISTED ON THE ODI REPORT. (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE09030). SHE STATED THAT THE FRAMES ARE DIFFERENT ON THE RODEO SPORT VS. THE REGULAR RODEO (I ALSO OWN A 2003 RODEO LS). WHEN I ASKED HER WHAT THE DIFFERENCE WAS, SHE COULD NOT TELL ME. WHEN I ASKED HER WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IN MATERIALS USED WAS, SHE COULD NOT TELL ME. SHE PRETTY MUCH WAS NOT CARING OF MY COMPLAINT AND DID NOTHING MORE THAN TAKING MY NAME AND TELLING ME THAT SHE'LL OPEN A FILE AND TELLING ME NOT TO EXPECT ANYTHING ELSE TO HAPPEN. I SEE THAT THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON RODEO SPORTS AND WONDER WHY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS. WHY ARE THEY ONLY COVERING THE RODEO AND NOT THE RODEO SPORT?? THE WHOLE EXCUSE ABOUT DIFFERENT FRAMES IS A MOOT POINT SINCE THE RODEO SPORT FRAME IS ALSO RUSTING THROUGH. WHY DO WE, AS CONSUMERS HAVE TO LOSE THE USE OF OUR VEHICLES BECAUSE OF POOR QUALITY MATERIALS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY RODEO SPORT VERY WELL AND EXPECTED TO DRIVE IT AT LEAST 200,000 MILES OR MORE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE INTEREST OF US CONSUMERS BY ISUZU AND THE NHTSA. I HOPE TO HEAR BACK ABOUT A SUITABLE RESOLUTION SOON. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ISUZU RODEO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY UNCONTROLLABLY WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. A MECHANIC INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE TORQUE WAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,000.

Mileage: 52,000