Isuzu Rusted Frame Recall, Time Running Out
Isuzu Corporation has announced the recall on 1998-2002 Rodeo and certain 2002 Axiom. This safety recall is so late that it’s a joke!… Why? Not one of our customers have received notice!
The problem is not new to us. We’ve been seeing this for some time and a number of great running high-mileage Isuzus have gone to the bone yard because of this problem. Why is that?
The problem is the frame rusting right at a bracket that holds the rear end of the vehicle in place. If failure should occur the rear end of the vehicle can twist right out. This creates a very dangerous driving condition.
Until Isuzu came out with their patch kit the only way to repair the vehicle required welding metal patches on the frame. This was a problem in itself. If the bad section of frame was on the driver’s side the gas tank had to be removed before any welding could be done. Due to our region’s corrosion problems, removing the gas tank can create even more problems. Rusted fuel lines, fasteners and/or a tender gas tanks could drive the cost of repairs over the value of a great running 190,000 mile Isuzu.
The rusted frame and/or brackets are now warrantied for just a short time. Below you’ll find a copy of the letter being sent to the owners of the affected vehicles. If you’ve had repairs performed already, give Isuzu a call, see if you can get some of your money back. Their phone number is listed below..
Dear Customer,
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Isuzu Motors Limited has decided that defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain model year (MY) 1998-2002 Rodeo vehicle and certain MY 2002 Axiom vehicles originally or currently registered in the following states ( the “Salt Belt”): Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri. According to our records, your vehicle has not yet received the remedy for this defect. Therefore, we urge you to bring your vehicle to one of our service facilities for an inspection and an appropriate repair.
WHAT IS THE CONDITION?
Certain Isuzu vehicles that have experienced sustained exposure to highly corrosive materials used in some jurisdictions for road deicing purposes may experience excessive corrosion in the vicinity of the forward mounting point bracket for the left or right rear suspension lower link prior to the time that such corrosion would normally be expected. In certain extreme cases, excessive corrosion in this vicinity may result in a lower bracket becoming detached from the frame, which can affect vehicle handling and potentially cause a crash.
WHAT WE WILL DO
An Isuzu service facility will inspect the left and right forward mounting point bracket areas of the rear suspension lower link of your vehicle to determine if corrosion is present in those areas. For vehicles in which little or no corrosion is observed in those areas. The service facility will treat the areas with an anti-corrosive compound to reduce the likelihood of additional corrosion in those areas in the future. In the relatively rare case in which corrosion has damaged the area around either or both of the forward mounting point brackets of the rear suspension lower link and affected their connection of the vehicle’s frame, one of two different types of reinforcement brackets will be installed, depending upon the extent of the corrosion. In the unlikely event that the reinforcement bracket remedy would not be effected, Isuzu will provide an alternate remedy. This service will be performed for you at no charge, subject to the limitations set out in the following paragraph.
Please note that because your vehicle was originally purchased more than ten (10) years before September 22,2010, which is the date on which Isuzu advised the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of recall, Isuzu is not required to provide a remedy at no charge. However, as a courtesy, if you present your vehicle to an Isuzu service facility no later than twelve (12) months from the date of the first owner notification letter, which was mailed on December 13th, 2010, Isuzu will voluntarily provide this remedy at no charge. If you wish to obtain the remedy after the expiration of this one-year period, you will need to pay for necessary parts and labor. The current Manufacturer’s Suggested Retain Price (“MSRP”) of the anti-corrosion compound is between approximately $27.00 and approximately $54.00, depending on how many cans of the compound are required. However, if your vehicle requires reinforcement brackets, the MSRP of the bracket kits plus the required anti-corrosion compound is currently approximately $210.00 or approximately $407.00, depending on which type of bracket is required. Labor charges will be in addition to the cost of the required parts.
For the majority of vehicles, the inspection and the application of the anti-corrosion compound will be all that is necessary, and that work will take approximately ninety minutes. If, however, the corrosion in the area(s) specified above is so extensive that it is necessary to install new reinforcement brackets, the repairs will take approximately three (3) hours to ten (10) hours, depending on which type of bracket is used. Of course, depending upon the service facilities’ work schedule and/or the need to have the necessary parts delivered to the service facility, it may be necessary for you to make your vehicle available for a longer period of time.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Please call the Isuzu Special Assistance Center at 1-877-460-0706 or visit our website at www.isuzu.com to identify the Isuzu service facility that is closest to you. Then, you should contact the service facility to arrange an appointment to bring your vehicle in to have the inspection and the remedy work performed. Please present this letter to Safety Recall # 10V-436. If your vehicle is not drivable due to the conditions noted in this letter, please call the Isuzu Special Assistance Center at 1-877-460-0706 so we can arrange to have the vehicle transported to an Isuzu service facility to be inspected and to receive appropriate remedy. That transportation will be provided at no charge.
REIMBURSEMENT
If have already paid for repairs to address the condition covered by this recall, you may be eligible to have those costs reimbursed. The enclosed form explains the terms under which reimbursement may be available and how to request reimbursement. Among other things, you will need to provide the original paid receipt or invoice verifying the repair and the costs of the repair.
If you have any questions regarding this matter you can visit our website at www.iszuz.com or contact our Special Assistance Center at 1-877-460-0706.
If you have any problems obtaining the needed repair or believe that this repair has not been made within a reasonable time, you may contact:
National Owner Relations Department
Isuzu Motors America, LLC
1400 South Douglass Road
Suite 100 Anaheim, CA 92806
If you still are not satisfied, you may submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20590, or call the toll-free Vehicle safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
If you are a vehicle lessor, Federal law requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten (10) days.
We regret any inconvenience that this action may cause you.
Sincerely, ISUZU MOTORS AMERICA,LLC
Finally, Isuzu Motors has taken initiative to recall in order to fix the frame rusting problem with its 1998 to 2002 models. I hope all owners of those vehicles would be happy now.
1998 thru 2002 ar not the only ones with this problem i have a 1996 that has all these problems
I agree I own a 2004 and I was drivin down the road with my son and I lost control after a tow bill I found out it was the torsion bar mount rusted right off of the frame and they most likely can’t fix it. Totally disapointed
how do i get info on recall for my 98 rodeo? is it too late? my rodeo is rusted and undriveable
keithycpaint@yahoo.com how do i get my rodeo situation fixed??
I have a1994 rodeo that has the rust problem with the frame. What are my options. It has a strong engine, transmissions and rear end. A great running vehicle with no body rust and no dents. I hate to get rid of it. Is there a frame shop that can help me out?
I live in Fort Washington, Maryland.
Thanks,
I have a 1998 Isuzu Rodeo and only have 90000 Original Mile. Sure it is worn out and this Isuzu Rodeo have given me a whole lot of fun. I was currently searching for another Isuzu Rodeo and now not sure if this will work out due to the rusting of the frames. I would like to get another one any comments and concern, feel free to reply
classaction.org only giving pennys on the dollar, anybody know were to get a frame repair kit for an axiom
I bought a 1999 rodeo 4×4 and found out later it was rusted and broke, from trader mikes auto sales. he wont take the rodeo 4×4 back , I bought it for one price and he put a cheaper price on the title and kept part of the money and tax money in his pocket, here in Washington court house 0hio. the frame is junk , im out $ 2,843.75. what a shame got any ideas about fixing cause its junk.
Isuzu told me they would not help me in any way.I bought a used Isuzu rodeo in april of 2014 off a guy
And later came to find out about the rust issue.I feel like Isuzu doesn’t care if I live or die and there’s no respect in dealing with a vehicle that they built.I’m disabled and I don’t have a lot of money.this is my transportation to and from the hospital, I just hope I’m not killed going to my docters visit.I’ve had 75 operations and have more to come and am lucky to be alive,this does scare me.I feel like I’m playing Russian roulette and no one from isuzu cares or gives a darn.
It is not my first time to visit this website, i am visiting this site dailly and take good facts from here all the time.
I have a 2001 Isuzu Rodeo. The left shock/strut separated from the badly rusted frame. Thank God I was driving slowly and close to home. I live in Vernon, CT Cell 860-659-7774. I too am disabled with a disabled/blind wife. We cannot afford another vehicle. If I’d hit a chuckhole on the highway, I might not have been able to even write this letter. What do I do now? Other than that, the car is fine. I bought it used in 2014. God help us! Do I need an attorney? Mark C.
I was in the barber shop today and my Rodeo came up in a conversation and I told the about the rust and that I am having it fixed because I bought it from a third party but not see the extended rust till I had to get it inspected, I am having it fixed because other then the rust the car is like new. But the Indian who sold it to me said the person had not driven the car for years and the husband
I feel like this man that sold us our Rodeo (2002) duped us. He explained that his company does not inspect cars and that he was selling it for someone else because they bought a new car and let the Rodeo set for a couple of years. I don’t want to say that I am stupid, but my wife and I had just had two accidents and we had to have a car and we jumped on this one. I am a 78 year old Senior Citizen and I think I was taken advantage of, the seller did not once mention the reason it was not inspected was because of rust. We should have had it checked before we bought it but we needed a car yesterday if you know what I mean. So we bought it and when we went to get it inspected they would not because of the rust. We are now having it repaired and the bill is already $1700 and rising. The guy who sold it to us is a car dealer. Its been a long time, do we have a leg to stand on now? Should I go to the dealer (as he knows the owner) and ask if they got a recall letter? They owned it from new. Thank you so much.
Grant Morrill, 893 Bullfrog Valley Rd, Hummelstown, Pennsylvania 17036. 717 533 2701
I purchased a 2002 Isuzu Axiom at a cost of over $15,000. I did not have good credit but the car is paid off now. The frame
finally rusted and can not be repaired. They have offered me 2415 for it with no negotiation. Just last year I paid $1400 for the transmission to be rebuilt and replaced the tires at a cost of over $700.
I am currently subject to undue stress as a result and have to catch the bus and ride Taxi’s that I can’t reqlly afford. I feel the disregard of Isuzu to offer me a settlement that would restore me to where I should be after paying off this vehicle is extremely unfair.
I have a 2001 isuze r the frame is completely rust out . Was driving it back up from a store put in drive to go forward to leave the store and the car jerked while i was going forward . Stop the car did a walk around to see if maybe a tire or fluids was the problem . Didnt see the problem , re enter the car pulled up to the main highway enter the traffic going around 30 or 40 miles it jerked with me again an placed me into the next lane of traffic im a very lucky that i didnt hit a car in that lane . Got the car under control drop down to a crawl exited the main highway and drove the shoulder road for around 17 to 20 miiles while driving on the shoulder the car would still jerk me made it to a auto machine shop car was check and was informed frame was broke from all the rust , he explained to me that i was 1 very luck lady that i didnt get killed or extremely hurt and that some1 could have be hurt as well while i was in traffic, had car toed to my home is not repairable at all the frame is rusted so bad there is nothing left to attach to i had 3 difficult repair men to look at it . Call isuzu and there answer to me was yes it had a recall and that the car had been repair but couldn’t tell me when or where that repair was done explained to me they would pick up the car send to north Carolina to have it check to see if can be fix stated to me that all they could do is place a bracket where it broke that is what the recall is for and i would have to have the car returned to me at my cost , there nothing to put a bracket to the frame is so bad it looks like swiss cheese i live in the state of ky that is like hours from me for them to see there no frame left that is rust to place a bracket to the i would have to get it back at my cost . So i called and filled a complaint . For anyone that has a isuzu please check you frame , and be safe driving it if you see rust
I too did not receive a recall notice for my 2001 Isuzu Rodeo, from the rusting frame recall! I almost got into a bad car accident, no i am immoble, how do i go about getting my truck fixed?
As I said in the article this recall came out way too late!! I’ve had customers send their Isuzu off to the bone-yard because of this rust problem..I wish there was something that I could tell you to help. Just seems to be an Isuzu raw deal. Myself I’ve often thought about the back-room deals that are made. After all, Isuzu and GM are in bed with each other. Look how hard it was to get GM to admit to their ignition switch problem that was killing people… ? Back-room deals,, makes you wonder..
About all you can do is to start making phone calls..
Isuzu Special Assistance Center at 1-877-460-0706
National Owner Relations Department
Isuzu Motors America, LLC
1400 South Douglass Road
Suite 100 Anaheim, CA 92806
If you still are not satisfied, you may submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20590, or call the toll-free Vehicle safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
Well gee, here it is, 2016…and I JUST found out about the frame corrosion recall. I bought my 2001 Rodeo LS at a Carmax (it had been a dealer demo…it has a manual transmission so no one wanted it, the fools!) when it was less than a year old and had 700 miles on it. It’s been garage-kept, treated well and god how I loved it. I never received a recall letter from Isuzu and only found out about this recall this morning….AFTER I had taken it to my mechanic for new shocks. He told me the frame was shot and the car should not be driven long distances. Why the heck should I have to PAY for repairs as outlined in the letter above?? This was no fault of ours! I’m taking it in for an inspection later this month, and there had better be some sort of compensation as I’m out my main driving car and cant afford a replacement vehicle!
Wow…my head was shoved in the sand. Here it is 2017 and I am just finding out why these vehicles vanished from existence around here. I live in Taxachusetts where they dump salt and some kind of chemical salt all over the roads in the winter. Regular cars rust out around here fast never mind one that has a known issue. I picked up a 1997 Isuzu Rodeo a year ago for a thousand bucks. It’s a 20 year old 4×4 so I got under it and looked at the frame first because in Massachusetts that’s the first thing you check with a hammer or wrench and give it a good hit no matter what car it is. It’s rusty as hell like all cars up here so I just said “yeah, it’s a good winter beater for a couple years” and handed him the cash. I later took it to a mechanic to check the frame and he said “I’ve seen worse” and I was on my way. Still runs like a top but the check engine light is on for the egr valve and sometimes the brake light and abs light come on but I ignore it. Maybe some day I’ll go out in a blaze of glory while driving 70 mph on 495 during rush hour traffic. Me and a few other people can become statistics and not have to bother going to work ever again. It’s for sure no used car salesman or dealership will shed a tear. they will just say “F**K em, we got paid”
I have a 2002 Isuzu Rodeo and its rusty as hell I need to know what to do please let me know ok
Thanks
I have a 02 Isu Rod 4/4 and the frame is Rusted bad and I would like to know What to do about it If it has a recall on it or not… Thanks Carla
Carla, unfortunately any rust related warranties have pasted on your Isuzu. It almost seems it was a secret warranty. I didn’t know about this recall until about 1/2 a dozen or more of my customers went to the bone yard, #isuzurust
I also just found out that the recall is no longer valid, as the recall notification was made on Dec 2010, and had an expiration of 12 moths. Isuzu said there is nothing they can do, no inspection available, no nothing.
Bad part is that I do not really know if the original owner ever received the letter.
do you think is worthy to make a complaint to National Owner Relations Department?
Or should I just sell it a junk? Very sad and disappointed.
I’ve have corresponded with several people on this matter. Each of them tried hard to get Isuzu to step up and address this problem with on luck.
The problem is the whole back is rusting out Not just the arms
The promise the whole back frame rusted out of the stupid thing
I got suckered to.the add said hard to find second owner bought with 13,000 miles grow an Iowa car dealer.sell for $1800 .with 130,00 miles on it.Funny thing, I run the vin number and no recall .So I call isuzu and the guy says no recall cause it was sold in kansas.Funny thing the 2004 window sticker with the vin number and 13,000 miles on 2002 rodeo sport is from a Iowa car dealership which is in the recall.And the owner that sold it to me says he never revived a letter from them and he bought it in 2004 from them.And Isuzu won’t back it up
I live in Canada and I do not share the rust problems that these unfortunate posters have, but I must thank Mr. Jim Grant for the work he has put into this forum and for the regular assistance that he has replied with.
I am an Isuzu enthusiast, specifically Isuzu Troopers and Rodeos. I started buying Troopers in 2000, (its 2018 now) and I have had 11 of them. I took mechanical training and opened up a shop to work on them and help other owners. Canada is a barren land for Isuzu, but the following for older models is strong.
The point is that, admittedly, I am over the top about learning everything I can about Isuzu. Researching everyday about consumer and commercial/industrial Isuzu vehicles. I inspect every frame that comes to me with a thorough eye and a chipping hammer, because thats the thing to do when advising a client on repairs and restoration work in an older import vehicle. Nothing worse than putting $4000 into a 4×4 project and then finding a finger sized cancer hole in the top of the frame, hidden from view. and…. This, after all my work, purchases, servicing and research is the FIRST time that I have ever heard of this. I hate rust, I hate it, I hate really bad.
Rust will destroy a perfect vehicle, it will ruin my hard work even if the vehicle is well protected. Road salt and Calcium-Cloride ice melter is like steroids for rust and it will burn your dogs paws.
Wash the underside of your vehicle or at least the parts that you want to keep. Have your mechanic treat the underbody with corrosion inhibitor and rock guard, don’t buy a car with rust on the underbody from a dealership, inspect, inspect, inspect.
Paul,
Island Trooper 4×4 itm4x4@gmail.com 1 250 732-0210
Is there any way or place to buy the frame repair kit now that the dealerships are no longer fixing the vehicles?
tsnapcracklepop@yahoo.com
Sadly I do not know of any repair kits in the aftermarket world for Isuzu’s with rusted frame problems.