NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
123 reports56,000 miles · Jan 5, 2011
Structure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU AXIOM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A RECALL REPAIR UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 03V113000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE FRAME WHICH WAS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH RUST AND CORRODED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU AXIOM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A RECALL REPAIR UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 03V113000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE FRAME WHICH WAS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH RUST AND CORRODED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
NHTSA ODI #10374786
85,000 miles · Nov 16, 2010
Latches/locks/linkagesSteering
KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. I WAS ABLE TO WIGGLE IT LOOSE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS ... BUT IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE ... THUS I NOW HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. TALKED TO ISUZU DEALER AND THEY SAID TO FIX IT IF IT WAS ONLY THE SHIFTER THAT BECAME MISALIGNED WOULD COST $100 OR WORSE CASE IT COULD COST AS MUCH AS $500. *T…
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KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. I WAS ABLE TO WIGGLE IT LOOSE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS ... BUT IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE ... THUS I NOW HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. TALKED TO ISUZU DEALER AND THEY SAID TO FIX IT IF IT WAS ONLY THE SHIFTER THAT BECAME MISALIGNED WOULD COST $100 OR WORSE CASE IT COULD COST AS MUCH AS $500. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10366394
98,032 miles · Oct 9, 2010
Power Train
DRIVING MY 2002 ISUZU AXIOM NORMALLY TO WORK. I PARKED IN A DOWNTOWN PARKING GARAGE AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO PARK ON THE 4TH FLOOR. MY CAR HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY CLIMBING THE RAMPS AND FINALLY STOPPED CLIMBING AT THE 3RD FLOOR. I LEFT MY CAR ALL DAY AND DROVE HOME AFTER WORK, TAKING ALL SURFACE STREETS AND AVOIDING HILLS. THE NEXT …
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DRIVING MY 2002 ISUZU AXIOM NORMALLY TO WORK. I PARKED IN A DOWNTOWN PARKING GARAGE AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO PARK ON THE 4TH FLOOR. MY CAR HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY CLIMBING THE RAMPS AND FINALLY STOPPED CLIMBING AT THE 3RD FLOOR. I LEFT MY CAR ALL DAY AND DROVE HOME AFTER WORK, TAKING ALL SURFACE STREETS AND AVOIDING HILLS. THE NEXT DAY I CAREFULLY DROVE TO MY MECHANICS SHOP AND(THEN THE CHECK TRANS & CHECK ENG LIGHTS CAME ON) WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACING OR REBUILDING. I CAREFULLY DROVE TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND AM HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE OF ROUGHLY $3,300. FORTUNATELY THIS ALL HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AS IT IS NORMALLY THE FAMILY CAR DRIVEN BY WIFE. SO BASICALLY THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, THERE ARE NO LEAKS OR SMOKE OR SMELL. AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AFTER IT WAS TOO LATE. WE DID TAKE OUR CAR TO THE DEALER FOR ITS LAST TRANS SERVICE AND HAD APPOINTMENT TO GET A TRANS SERVICE 3 DAYS AFTER IT FAILED! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10359886
109,589 miles · Oct 4, 2010
Structure
DURING A NON RELATED SERVICE INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP POINTED OUT THAT THE FRAME OF MY 2002 ISUZU AXIOM WAS CORRODED SEVERELY ENOUGH THAT HE BELIEVED IT TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. (AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT RECOMMEND PERFORMING THE ORIGINALLY REQUESTED SERVICE REPAIRS). THE FRAM…
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DURING A NON RELATED SERVICE INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP POINTED OUT THAT THE FRAME OF MY 2002 ISUZU AXIOM WAS CORRODED SEVERELY ENOUGH THAT HE BELIEVED IT TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. (AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT RECOMMEND PERFORMING THE ORIGINALLY REQUESTED SERVICE REPAIRS). THE FRAME HAS HUGE HOLES AROUND THE REAR AXLE CONNECTING ROD, AS WELL AS LONG CORROSION RELATED SPLITS IN THE FRAME IN THE AREA WHERE IT CROSSES OVER THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. AS I NOW UNDERSTAND, THIS VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED UTILIZING THE ISUZU RODEO MODEL FRAME, WHICH HAS A HISTORY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY CAR HAS A LITTLE OVER 109,000 MILES, AND IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION OTHERWISE...BODY, INTERIOR, ETC. PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENTS INDICATE THE NEEDED REPAIRS TO THE FRAME WOULD BE MORE THAN THE VEHICLES VALUE . I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF SOME OF THE MENTIONED AREAS, AND UNFORTUNATELY AGREE WITH THE DEALERSHIP, THAT I AM NOW STUCK WITH A CAR WITH DESIGN DEFICIENCIES, MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10359101
89,239 miles · Oct 1, 2010
Power Train
CAR HAS 89,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD TO GET TRANSMISSION REBUILT. OBVIOUSLY A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG OWNERS. $2500 LATER AND IT STILL DOESN'T DRIVE RIGHT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10358738
144,432 miles · Aug 31, 2010
Structure
TOTALLY RUSTED FRAME AND SUSPENSIONS, FAILED STATE OF MAINE INSPECTION 7/27/10 , NOT DRIVABLE/ COMPONENTS FALLING OFF. 2002 AXIOM ISUZU. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10353003
76,231 miles · Aug 11, 2010
Structure
WHILE DRIVING OUR 2002 ISUZU AXIOM WITH ONLY 76,000 MILES. THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR AXLE BRACKET DETACHED FROM THE FRAME CAUSING US TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP WHERE THEY PRODUCED AN ESTIMATE OF 7600. FOR REPAIRS TO THE FRAME.…
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WHILE DRIVING OUR 2002 ISUZU AXIOM WITH ONLY 76,000 MILES. THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR AXLE BRACKET DETACHED FROM THE FRAME CAUSING US TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP WHERE THEY PRODUCED AN ESTIMATE OF 7600. FOR REPAIRS TO THE FRAME. THE FRAME APPEARS TO HAVE RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE & WAS NOT EVIDENT UNTIL IT BROKE AWAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10348681
73,195 miles · Jul 28, 2010
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU AXIOM. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE WHERE IT WAS PARKED UNTIL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM THAT THE VE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU AXIOM. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE WHERE IT WAS PARKED UNTIL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NHTSA WAS INVESTIGATING THE FAILURE FOR THOSE CONSUMERS IN THE NEW ENGLAND STATES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,195. UPDATED 10/01/2010. *LJ UPDATED 10/04/10*JB
NHTSA ODI #10345876
160,000 miles · Jul 21, 2010
StructureTraction Control System
I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OTHER FELLOW ISUZU OWNERS. ON FRIDAY, JUNE, 16TH AROUND 9:30AM: I HAD MY DRIVER SIDE REAR TRACTION CONTROL BAR FALL OFF MY FRAME. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE MENTIONED HERE: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA09018. MY VEHICLE WAS MADE IN FEBRUARY OF 2001 AND PURCHASED DECEMBER OF THAT YEAR. AL…
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I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OTHER FELLOW ISUZU OWNERS. ON FRIDAY, JUNE, 16TH AROUND 9:30AM: I HAD MY DRIVER SIDE REAR TRACTION CONTROL BAR FALL OFF MY FRAME. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE MENTIONED HERE: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA09018. MY VEHICLE WAS MADE IN FEBRUARY OF 2001 AND PURCHASED DECEMBER OF THAT YEAR. ALTHOUGH IT IS 9 YEARS OLD MY FRAME SHOULD HAVE NOT RUSTED AS BADLY AS IT HAS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND I AM OUT A VEHICLE BECAUSE OF ISUZU'S MANUFACTURING ISSUES. THEY CONVENIENTLY LEFT THE US MARKET AND NOW I KNOW WHY. THOSE OF US WHO BOUGHT THESE FLAWED VEHICLES SHOULD BE RE-IMBURSED SOMEHOW. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10344589
130,200 miles · Jul 16, 2010
Power Train
I GET MY ISUZU AXIOM 2002 IN APRIL OF 2009 AND NOW FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS EVERYTIME I PUT MY CAR ON DRIVE IT WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND WHEN I PUT IT ON PARK.EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO MY CAR BUT NOW THE TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE ITS ALWAYS ON NEUTRAL AND OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR TELL ME THEY HAVE THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROB…
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I GET MY ISUZU AXIOM 2002 IN APRIL OF 2009 AND NOW FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS EVERYTIME I PUT MY CAR ON DRIVE IT WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND WHEN I PUT IT ON PARK.EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO MY CAR BUT NOW THE TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE ITS ALWAYS ON NEUTRAL AND OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR TELL ME THEY HAVE THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THIS FIX... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10343690
Official recalls
4Sep 22, 2010
ISUZU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2002 ISUZU RODEO AND MODEL YEAR 2002 ISUZU AXIOM VEHICLES, AND HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN 1998-2002 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES, THAT WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED, IN THE STATES OF MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WEST VIRGINIA, OHIO, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, IOWA, MISSOURI, AND KENTUCKY. 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: EXCESSIVE CORROSION MAY RESULT IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE FRAME, WHICH CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET AREA. FOR VEHICLES IN WHICH LITTLE OR NO CORROSION IS FOUND, THE AREA WILL BE TREATED WITH AN ANTI-CORROSIVE COMPOUND. FOR VEHICLES IN WHICH CORROSION HAS DAMAGED THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET AND AFFECTED ITS CONNECTION TO THE VEHICLE FRAME, A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET WILL BE INSTALLED. IN THE RARE EVENT THE CORROSION IS SO SEVERE THAT THE REINFORCEMENT BRACKET REMEDY WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE, A REPURCHASE OFFER WILL BE EXTENDED TO THE VEHICLE'S OWNER. ALL INSPECTIONS AND REMEDIES WILL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE 10 YEARS OLD OR LESS. FOR VEHICLES OLDER THAN 10 YEARS, ISUZU WILL OFFER A FREE REMEDY, BUT ONLY IF THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTED TO AN ISUZU SERVICE FACILITY, OR HONDA DEALER (AS APPLICABLE), DEALER WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF WHEN OWNER NOTIFICATIONS WERE ISSUED. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 10, 2010. ISUZU OWNERS MAY CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727. HONDA OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
Oct 7, 2005
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 CERTAIN FUEL AVAILABLE IN THE REGION OF TYLER, TEXAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN TEXAS AND THE FOUR SURROUNDING STATES: OKLAHOMA, ARKANSAS, NEW MEXICO AND LOUISIANA.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FUEL LEAK COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE STATES IDENTIFIED ABOVE, DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A NEW COVER OVER THE EXISTING FEED PORT ON THE FUEL PUMP OR, IF THE EXISTING FEED PORT HAS ALREADY BEEN DAMAGED, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL PUMP THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE NEW COVER. THE NEW COVER WILL BE MADE OF A DIFFERENT MATERIAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 25, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.
Mar 24, 2003
AS A RESULT OF INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM A HEAD IMPACT TEST CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) TO EVALUATE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT," ISUZU HAS DESIGNED A MODIFICATION FOR CERTAIN 2002 MODEL YEAR ISUZU AXIOM VEHICLES. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MODIFICATION IS TO ENHANCE HEAD IMPACT CRASH PROTECTION FOR FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE RESULTS OF THIS TEST INDICATED A POSSIBILITY OF AN INCREASED RISK OF HEAD INJURY IN A CRASH.
Remedy: ISUZU WILL OFFER OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES A FREE MODIFICATION OF THE ROOF AREA OF THE VEHICLE IN WHICH ENERGY ABSORBING COMPONENTS WILL BE INSTALLED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 11, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Aug 9, 2002
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES WERE MANUFACTURED AND SHIPPED WITHOUT A NECESSARY COMPONENT KNOWN AS A CHECK VALVE PIN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT INFLATE PROPERLY OR SUFFICIENTLY RESULTING IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-643-4070.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP18001 · Fuel Tank Retention Failure
Opened May 23, 2018 · Closed Mar 5, 2020
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting
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,
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