1997 Isuzu Rodeo

I STARTED THE CAR AND NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS SURGING. I THOUGHT IF I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, I COULD QUELL THE ENGINE. THE CAR BOLTED IN REVERSE OUT OF MY GARAGE, ACROSS THE BACK ALLEY, DOWN A DRAINAGE DITCH EMBANKMENT BEHIND BY HOUSE AND UP THE OTHER SIDE. I ENDED UP IN THE FIELD BEHIND MY HOUSE. I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAR SLOWED IN THE MUDDY FIELD. *NM

ENGINE SUDDENLY IDLES BETWEEN 1,500 TO 2,500 RPM. PROBLEMS SEEMS TO ONLY HAPPEN DURING WINTER MONTHS--FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. TOOK VEHICLE TO ISUZU DEALER IN TUCSON, AZ. DEALER KEPT THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK, WAS ABLE TO "DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE.HIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THE ENGINE "RACES" AT STOP LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, ETC. AND IS HARD TO HANDLE. WAITING FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN....MAYBE THIS YEAR. *AK

BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGEERS AUTOMATIC WINDOWS HAVE BROKEN. THE MIDDLE CONSOLE IS BROKEN. THE HOOKS FOR THE BACK SEAT DO NOT LATCH THE SEAT AND THE SEAT FLIES FORWARD DURING BRAKING (A DISTRACTING HAZZARD). THE ENGINE MAKES A TICKING NOISE. THE ENGINE SEEMS TO GET TOO HOT. THE ENGINE SEEMS TO SMELL OF OIL EVEN AFTER SHORT TRIPS. THE BELTS MAKE LOUD NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS JUST STARTING - I JUST HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE STATION AND THE SERVICE MAN SAID HE DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.

MY SON WAS TAKING ME TO O'HARE AIRPORT ON 12/21/00. RODEO SUDDENTLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE SUV WAS IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE AT THE TIME AND WE COULD NOT DISENGATE IT. FOR A HARROWING 6 MILES, HE PUMPED THE BRAKES UNTIL IT SLOWED BUT WE COULD NOT STOP IT. DUE TO IT BEING 6:30 AM AND A LOT OF GOOD LUCK WE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. FINALLY WHEN THE CAR HAD SLOWED WE PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND REGAINED CONTROL. THE SMELL FROM THE BRAKES BY THAT TIME WERE OVERWHELMING. THE CAR DEALER INFORMED US THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD COME UNDONE. THEY DEEMED IT AN "ADJUSTMENT AND CHARGED US TO REATTACH IT. THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBLITY FOR THE DAMAGE TO THE BRAKES SUSTAINED IN OUR ATTEMPT TO SAVE OUR LIVES. I WANT TO ALERT YOU TO THE MECHANICAL DEFECT IN THIS CAR AND HOPE THAT NO ONE HAS LOST LIFE OR LIMB YET. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AND LET ME KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER INCIDENTS. THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AT THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS BOARD FOR ISUZU. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THIS CAR ON A HIGHWAY DUE TO MY LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE REVS TO 3250 RPM AND IS UNCONTROLLABLE. THAT MEANS THE THING IN 5TH GEAR RACES TO ABOUT 80 MPH! ENGINE WOULD NOT IDEL DOWN REGARDLESS OF INPUTS BY DRIVER. VERY DANGERIOUS. HAPPENED INTERMITTANLY UNTIL WIRING CONNECTION FAILED, AT WHICH TIME DEALER WAS ABLE TO CLEAN CONNECTION. TOOK 5 MONTHS AND MANY TRIPS TO THE DEALER FOR CAUSE TO BE IDENTIFIED. DOUBT IF OTHER THAN ROUNTINE DIAGNOSTIC WAS ATTEMPTED AS DEALER WAS UNABLE TO "RECREATE" THE EVENT UNTIL ENGINE WAS 3250 RPM FULLTIME . I FEEL THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CONTITION AND SHOULD CAUSE ACTION BY MFG. *AK