2004 Isuzu Axiom

On April 10, 2018, NHTSA received a petition from Mr. Kevin Byrne (the Petitioner) requesting that the Agency ?undertake a defects investigation? of ?rust-related detachment of Isuzu Rodeo fuel tanks? (NHTSA ID 11091788). The Petitioner experienced a partial fuel tank detachment in his model year (MY) 2004 Isuzu Rodeo in July 2017. On May 23, 2018, ODI opened DP18-001 to evaluate the Petitioner?s request for a defect investigation. ODI sent information request letters to Isuzu and Honda requesting production, design history and field data related to fuel tank retention failures in MY 2001-2004 Isuzu Rodeo, MY 2002-2004 Isuzu Axiom and MY 2001-2002 Honda Passport vehicles equipped with the same fuel tank shield part number as the Petitioner?s vehicle (the ?subject vehicles?). ODI notes that Isuzu manufactured the subject Passport vehicles for Honda. Isuzu implemented a change to the tank shield corrosion protection system as a running change in early MY 2002 production. Isuzu and Honda sold approximately 172,000 subject vehicles in the United States. Fifty-eight (58) percent of the subject vehicles were produced prior to the shield change (99,000) and 42 percent after the change (73,000).ODI?s analysis of field data identified 19 incidents of partial fuel tank detachments in the subject vehicles. The incidents all occurred in states with high road salt usage in winter months (Salt States) and involved older vehicles beyond 10-years in service. On average, the failures occurred in the vehicle?s 13th year-in-service. Evidence of severe general corrosion in multiple undercarriage components was also noted in 13 of the 19 vehicles that experienced partial fuel tank detachments. None of the incidents resulted in fuel leakage or fire. Aside from the petitioner?s vehicle, ODI has not identified any other incidents of complete or partial fuel tank detachment in the MY 2002-2004 subject vehicles equipped with the modified retention shield.In addition, ODI reviewed 24 NHTSA complaints alleging corrosion concerns with the fuel tank retention system in the subject vehicles that did not result in fuel tank detachment. Twenty-three (23) of these complaints involve subject vehicles built prior to the shield change. Like the vehicles reporting fuel tank detachments, these vehicles are also all from Salt States and, in most cases (20 of the 24 complaints), the vehicles also experienced severe corrosion concerns in other undercarriage components. Half (12 of the 24 complaints) of the vehicles show prior accident damage in their service histories.Based on these analyses, ODI has not identified evidence of a defect trend for premature corrosion-related fuel tank detachments in the MY 2004 Isuzu Rodeo or similarly equipped vehicles. The damage that may result in tank retention concerns appears to occur progressively over many years with ample opportunity for detection and repair. Furthermore, ODI has not identified any crashes, fires, injuries, or fuel leaks associated with fuel tank retention failures in a population of vehicles that currently range from 16 to 19 years old.Accordingly, the Agency is denying the petition.A summary of ODI?s analysis of this petition will be published in the Federal Register and is also available in the investigative file for this action.The NHTSA consumer complaints counted in the closing resume for DP18-001 can be reviewed at www.nhtsa.gov under the following ODI identification numbers (VOQs in parentheses denote duplicate records): Allegations of fuel tank retention failure: 11084098 (11091788), 10532845, 10486109. Allegations of fuel tank retention component corrosion: 11138931, 10992150, 10845523,

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP BLOCKING TRAFFIC. SHOP ULTIMATELY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE BOLT HOLDING THE CRANKSHAFT SHEARED OFF, DESTROYING AN ENGINE HEAD IN THE PROCESS. THIS SHOP SPECIALIZES IN WORKING WITH JAPANESE ENGINES AND SAID "THERE ARE REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY" WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR. SHOP SAID THE BOLT ISN'T OF HIGH ENOUGH QUALITY TO SUPPORT LONG-TERM USE AND NOW RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE BOLT EVERY 80,000 MILES. TOTAL REPAIR COST MORE THAN $2000.

NHTSA ID

10821287

Incident

Oct 23, 2013

Mileage

86,000 mi

I OWN 2004 ISUZU AXIOM 3.5L WITH 94,000 PLUS MILES. ON 6/01/15 I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND I NOTICED THAT THE CAR SEEMED LIKE IT HAD TO HEAVY. THE VEHICLE STARTS AND RUNS BUT VERY LOW POWER. THERE IS A 'REDUCED POWER" WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD . I CHECKED IT OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE GASOLINE TANK IS WET WITH FUEL COMING OUT FROM THE TOP OF TANK IN THE FUEL PUMP AREA. NOW I AM SURE THAT I HAVE FUEL PUMP LEAKING I FOUND OUT THIS 2004 ISUZU AXIOM RECALL: SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 05V466000 REPORT DATE: OCT 07, 2005COMPONENT: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE POTENTIAL UNITS AFFECTED: 15515 MANUFACTURER: ISUZU MANUFACTURING SERVICES OF AMERICA SUMMARY: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO FUEL CONTAMINATED WITH SILICON MAY DEVELOP SMALL PIN HOLES IN THE FUEL PUMP FEED PORT. SILICON HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE FUEL SYSTEMS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES AND IN FUEL SYSTEM. CONSEQUENCE: A FUEL LEAK COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE I REALLY WANT TO AVOID POSSIBLE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES AND GET MY CAR FIXED. PLEASE ADVISE

NHTSA ID

10726979

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

Mileage

94,248 mi

CAR WAS DIAGNOSED CODE P0602 ECM PROGRAMMING ERROR. VEHICLE DIED IN HWY IN MINUTES, ALL LIGHTS SUDDENLY CAME "ON" CHECK ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, REDUCED POWER AND CAR IS DEAD. THANKS GOD NO CARS AROUND ME ON BUSY HWY. PAID $$$$ FOR TOWING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10703438

Incident

Mar 16, 2015

Mileage

106,000 mi

THE CAR WAS BEING PULLED INTO THE GARAGE AND THE BRAKE HAD BEEN APPLIED. THE ENGINE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AND THE CAR SPED UP HITTING THE MAIN SUPPORT FOR THE HOUSE AND DAMAGING THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10678425

Incident

Jan 22, 2015

Mileage

78,000 mi

PCM OR POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE ERROR. OBD2 CODE P0602. AS A RESULT WAS SHUT OFF VEHICLE'S ALL POWER, ALL DASH LIGHT ICONS WERE ON SUDDENLY. FIRST ABS AND THEN AIR BAG, BRAKE, BATTERY, CHECK ENGINE ETC. VEHICLE WAS DIED IN SECONDS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY HIGHWAY I-80!! IT WAS HORRIBLE. NO PROBLEM WAS OCCURRED BEFORE. ISUZU COMPANY HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. FULL MAINTENANCE FOR THIS CAR WAS PERFORMED ON TIME AS REQUIRED VIA ISUZU AXIOM MANUAL. I HAVE ALL RECORDS. SEVERAL MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT ALL ISUZUS HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10554576

Incident

Nov 26, 2013

Mileage

97,300 mi

ABOUT 1 1/2 YRS AGO THE CHECK ENGINE CAME ON IN MY 04 AXIOM. I TOOK TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID IT WAS MISFIRING. I HAD THE SPARK PLUGS REPLACED, AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. WE THEN REPLACED 2 OF THE COILS, THEN THE SPARK PLUGS AGAIN, WITH NO LUCK. I HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN, RESULTING IN SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS FOR ACCIDENTS. THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS I HAVE ALSO FOUND OIL SPOTS BEHIND MY EXHAUST WHEN THE VEHICLE IDLES, AND I GO THROUGH ALMOST 3 QTS OF OIL A WEEK! THE ENGINE HAS BEEN KNOCKING FOR WELL OVER A YEAR, AND WHILE I'VE HAD 4 MECHANICS LOOK AT IT , NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TO LET THE VEHICLE RUN FOR 10 MINUTES BEFORE DRIVING TO TRY AND AVOID THE ENGINE STALLING, AND I STILL HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT STALLING. THIS HAS BECOME A VERY EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH NO APPARENT END IN SIGHT. IF I WASN'T UPSIDE DOWN ON THE LOAN I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN RID OF IT BY NOW. I HAVE FOUND MANY ARTICLES ONLINE REGARDING THE OIL CONSUMPTION AND ENGINE STALLING PROBLEMS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10384424

Incident

Sep 1, 2009

WHY WERE THE LAST TWO YEARS OF PRODUCTION(2003-2004) OF THESE VEHICLES NOT RECALLED TO BE TREATED TO SLOW RUSTING COMPONENTS IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE/FRAME ON ALL ISUZU RODEOS, HONDA PASSPORTS AND ISUZU AXIOMS. ALTHOUGH A LIMITED PRODUCTION, THE FINAL TWO YEARS ARE STILL GOING TO FAIL FROM SALT/CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION. I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2004. IT WAS ADVERTISED AS BEING FROM NORTH CAROLINA. I LATER DISCOVERED THE OWNER ALSO LIVED AND USED THE VEHICLE FOR MOST OF IT'S ROAD USE IN NEW YORK AND MASSACHSETTS. IT TOO HAS HAD A LARGE DOSE OF ROAD CHEMICALS. THE RECALL CURRENTLY CALLS FOR ISUZU TO INSPECT AND APPLY A RUST PREVENTIVE COATING TO SLOW/DELAY CORROSION THAT WILL CAUSE THE FRAME TO FAIL. WHY NOT INCLUDE ALL OF THESE FRAMES IN THE SAFETY RECALL? THE EXISTING ISUZU DEALER NETWORK IS EXITING THE AUTOMOTIVE MARKET. IF THE LAST TWO PRODUCTION YEARS FAIL IN A YEAR OR TWO, THERE WILL NOT BE A DEALER NETWORK THAT WILL SERVICE AN ISUZU PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10359264

Incident

Oct 5, 2004

I HAVE A 2004 AXIOM PURCHASED FROM HANCOCK ISUZU IN COLUMBIA SC AND APP. 1 YEAR AGO MY VEHICLE STARTED HESITATING WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. WHEN I GO TO PULL OFF THE TACHOMETER JUMPS TO 3 OR 4 RPMS BUT THE VEHICLE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE. FINALLY,IT WILL GET GAS AND SUDDENLY TAKE OFF. IT FEELS THAT THE GAS IS NOT GETTING TO THE ENGINE OR EITHER THE TRANSMISSION IS STICKING. IT DOES THIS ON OCCASIONS, BUT WHO KNOW WHEN IT WILL DO IT NEXT. MY FEAR IS IT WILL DO IT WHEN I PULL OUT ON A BUSY ROAD AND NOT TAKE OFF IN TIME AND THEN ANOTHER CAR WILL HIT ME. THIS CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM IF NOT FIXED. I SEE OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS TOO AND I THINK ISUZU SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE IT GETS FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336137

Incident

Jun 1, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

This bulletin outlines the procedures for using the Alpine Exchange Program (the "Exchange Program"). The Exchange Program must be used when any Alpine radio or other component covered by this bulletin is repaired under warranty and may also be used for radio and component repairs not covered under warranty. Contact Alpine directly for pricing and payment methods applicable to radio and component repairs not covered under warranty.

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural recommendations to improve dealer efficiency when submitting Parts Warranty claims. We strongly recommend dealers follow these procedures in order to avoid delays in Parts Warranty claim payments and/or claim chargeback. This bulletin was revised to add a Parts Warranty Form

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural recommendations to improve dealer efficiency when submitting Parts Warranty claims. We strongly recommend dealers follow these procedures in order to avoid delays in Parts Warranty claim payments and/or claim chargeback.

The following is a list of the Isuzu-recommended Threebond product part numbers identified in the various Isuzu Workshop Manuals and bulletins. If a Threebond product is unavailable, we recommend that you utilize the chart below to find equivalent of similar products (when available) from Loctite and Permatex.

The Isuzu Commercial Truck of America (ICTA) Service Technical Assistance Center (TAC) provides diagnostic support to Isuzu dealer technicians repairing Isuzu vehicles in and out of vehicle warranty. A TAC case number will be issued solely for information tracking purposes and future contact reference.

ISUZU: DUE TO A LATE CHANGE TO ECU CALIBRATION, A SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MY 2004 RODEO AND AXIOM REGARDING THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM READINESS. *PE