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Isuzu Rodeo Frame Rust

435 messages,  Last post on Apr 30, 2013 at 7:02 PM

You are in the Isuzu Rodeo Forum.

What is this discussion about? Isuzu Rodeo, Isuzu Rodeo Sport

Messages Page 7 of 45

#53 of 435 Rodeo rust virgin by hogtied2rodeo

Oct 28, 2009 (2:04 pm)

I'm in Worcester, MA and unfortunately inherited an Isuzu Rodeo (from a brother that died recently). The Rodeo has the rust problem. It is a 2000 with 90K miles. So I guess I'm just posting this to commiserate with the rest of the posters and just to recap as to the actions I and others have to take:
 
1) File a complaint with NHSTA
 
2) Try to find a contact number for someone named Derek Reinhardt who is and Isuzu rep of some sort?
 
3) Badger my insurance company to try to get the car "totalled"?
 
Any other thoughts would be great as it seems I'm added to the list of folks with a 4,000lb. paper weight in the driveway.

#54 of 435 rodeo junk by bbrown55

Oct 28, 2009 (2:51 pm)

I did speak with mr. Reinhardt...he was SUPPOSED to call me back......that was a while aho - I have called again, again, again.....you get the picture - waiting on the LONG re call process - write to isuzu - take pictures - get a quote on repairs (we had to repair - we owed $$ on the car) send them to Reinhardt and ISUZU - they have to be detailed information and if EVERYone does it - we stand a chance at a recall....BUT IT MUST BE DONE - Reinhardt said that people give up and don't do the process and in order for a recall all steps need to be done by the throngs who are uspet.
 
bbrown

#55 of 435 Insurance luck? by hogtied2rodeo

Oct 28, 2009 (3:47 pm)

Replying to: bbrown55 (Oct 28, 2009 2:51 pm)
Has anyone had any luck filing a claim and getting reimbursed with their insurance company? Are some insurance companies more likely to pay than others?

#56 of 435 Honda Passport Isuzu Rodeo Rust Problem How many of us are there? by marinaky

Oct 28, 2009 (6:04 pm)

The recall will take time. The part on my vehicle and all the others that has rusted is the frame which holds the control arm to the rear driver's side. The more people who send the info to Derek Reinhardt, the better off we all will be. Unless you file a questionable claim, the insurance company will not pay for rust damage. I am getting e mails from car complaint and auto beef web sites of others who have the same issue as we do. Everyone has had the same component rust. There have been accidents. There have been a lot of near accidents, as in my case and so many others. The California BBB responded to me with Honda's response a few weeks ago, they are no help either. Honda still denies responsibility. Ford just issued a recall for vehicles as old as 1993. Honda is still maintaining that these are out of warranty. Well, the warranty is not the issue. The safety factor is the issue. The fact that these vehicles are failing after 6+ years is the issue. The biggest issue is that the same component on all the vehicles is rusting off of them. The frames are swiss cheese. This is a safety hazard, which goes beyond warranty. Honda. Isuzu are responsible for this. The American vehicle companies are stepping up to the plate and taking responsibility for their issues, but the Japanese companies are not. Toyota did a few years back with the Tacoma, and they were well out of warranty. Why won't Honda and Isuzu do the right thing? Everyone, send your info to Derek Reinhardt. This is not an instant fix but we will be heard. We have a legitimate problem and we will not go away. The fact that bbrown spoke to Mr. Reinhardt is encouraging. I hae sent him several e mails but have had no response. And I am the one who posted the letter he sent me on this forum for all of the other affected owners to refer to, but that is not important. What is important is that ultimately Honda and Isuzu will end up having to issue a recall. And we can all rejoice and know we did the right thing by pursuing this and not giving up. Thanks to all of you who have written to Derek and sent your photos, it really does help everyone.

#57 of 435 Re: Rodeo rust virgin [hogtied2rodeo] by hbriggs

Nov 04, 2009 (8:54 am)

Replying to: hogtied2rodeo (Oct 28, 2009 2:04 pm)
I am local to Worcester as well. My rodeo is a 2001 w/ 50k!! Total rot underneath, I lost control of my vehicle to find the torque bar rotted off the vehicle. I filed a complaint about a year ago w/ the NHTSA and sent pics as well. I know there is an open investigation but from what I was told, it can take up to 2 yrs for the investigation to be finalized.....until then I have the vehicle just sitting in my driveway rotting away...so frustrating!!

#58 of 435 Re: rotted frame [marinaky] by suzanne10

Nov 10, 2009 (8:23 am)

Replying to: marinaky (Jul 26, 2009 1:57 pm)
Thank you so much for posting this information. I just submitted my claim to the NHTSA and will be emailing Mr. Rinehardt my survey and photos. After speaking with Mr. Rinehardt, he urged me to also file complaints with Honda and Isuzu directly. The more data that is out there, the stronger our case becomes since Isuzu is required by law to submit their record of complaints on this vehicle to the NHTSA.
Like all of you my 2001 Honda Passport frame is completely rusted. My mechanic indicated that the trailing arm on the drivers side is weak right at the stress point. A pot hole or stopping too hard could cause it to break. (and I am hauling 3 children in this car!!!!)
I am thinking about contacting the media. I need to get the word out to more owners about the dangers of this car. Any lawyers out there with any advice?

#59 of 435 Re: rotted frame [suzanne10] by hbriggs

Nov 10, 2009 (10:50 am)

Replying to: suzanne10 (Nov 10, 2009 8:23 am)
Here is Derek's info people. PLEASE call/email/fax Derek your info, complaints and pictures!!!! Someone is going to die before they recall these vehicles!!!!!
 
Derek L. Rinehardt
Safety Defects Engineer / Federal Investigator
U.S Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Office of Defects Investigation, Vehicle Controls Division
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
W48-219, NVS-213
Washington, DC 20590
Office: (202) 366-3642, (877) 536-8368 x63642
Fax: (202) 366-1767
Email-Derek.Rinehardtdot.gov

#60 of 435 ??? by lboyd

Nov 11, 2009 (4:23 pm)

Mr. Rinehardt told me that I did not need to keep my Isuzu, that as long as I had the paperwork and pictures of the vehicle I can ditch it.... Is this not the case???

#61 of 435 Re: rotted frame [suzanne10] by marinaky

Nov 11, 2009 (6:22 pm)

Replying to: suzanne10 (Nov 10, 2009 8:23 am)
I tried contacting the media, we have a trouble shooter here in Louisville on one of the local stations. She e mailed me back once, but I never heard from her again. Actually I contacted her twice, but she didn't get back to my second e mail. The recall can take up to 2 years, but the more people who complain and submit supporting and detailed information, the better off we will be. The guys I spoke to at Honda America in California were Tony Lopez, then a Brian Philbin, both of whom told me that I was the first Passport owner with this complaint. This was in February, after my near accident. I called back numerous times, and never got anywhere with them, they were not helpful and I even e mailed my pictures to them, but they did not care a bit. I have all this posted on AutoBeef and also carcomplaints, but Edmunds has proved to be the best as far as contact with other Rodeo and Passport owners being able to interact. As for the following post with the question about whether we need to keep the vehicles, that I do not know. Since so many of you have actually spoke to Mr. Rinehardt, and I was the one who posted the letter on this site, I guess I should try that also and see what I can find out, keep posting updates for us all. Insurance questions should go to your insurance company, and if anyone finds anything out about that, let us know. Unfortunately, since my Passport has been parked since March or April, we dropped the insurance on it, since it is just sitting in the driveway, gathering dust.

#62 of 435 media attention by suzanne10

Nov 17, 2009 (2:52 pm)

Has anyone considered blasting this information all over Facebook and Twitter? How can we get the word out to other unsuspecting Passport and Isuzu owners? (I am already trying to flag people down as they drive by) I found out completely by accident that my car was unsafe. And to think I was planning on keeping this car another 2 years atleast. One autobody shop advised me that the car probably won't make it through the winter. How can we get the word out to other owners while bringing negative attention to Honda/Isuzu? I have contacted my local automotive reporter, but I haven't heard yet whether he will run a story or not. I am afraid there aren't enough of these vehicles on the road to make this a big story. (their opinion, not mine!) Any ideas?

Messages Page 7 of 45

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