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Consumer Reports Files Isuzu Rollover Docs with NHTSA

12/27/96

The Associated Press reported that Consumer Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, filed a set of documents with the NHTSA that support its claim that 1995-1996 Isuzu Troopers tend to roll over in sharp turns. The filing was made last Monday and contends that Isuzu could easily fix the problem.

Consumers Union's technical director R. David Pittle said, "two independent engineering experts have confirmed the validity of our test findings and have identified a potential solution."

In August Consumers Union reported that the Isuzu Trooper and the Acura SLX (also made by Isuzu) tipped on two wheels during test runs at about 33mph. At that time the group called on the NHTSA to conduct a defect investigation of the two cars, and the group's magazine assigned its rare "not acceptable" rating. The group urged Isuzu and Acura to stop selling the vehicles until the problem was fixed.

The Isuzu reported a severe decline in Trooper sales during September and October, but reported that sales were beginning to improve in November. Isuzu says it plans no recalls and denies that that the Consumers Union's charges were scientific or credible. Isuzu says the Consumers Union's drivers grossly oversteered the Trooper, compared with other vehicles tested.

Pittle said Consumers Union hired independent auto experts Ian S. Jones and Wade Allen to answer questions posed by NHTSA after the group announced its findings in August. The group said the Trooper's tendency to tip could be fixed by simply increasing the diameter of the vehicle's front anti-roll bar, which is also called a stabilizer.

Pittle said, "we're saying to NHTSA and Isuzu that this is a pretty inexpensive fix," and estimated that it would cost less than $500 to correct.

Consumers Union said NHTSA has until April to rule on its petitions. It wants the NHTSA to carry out the defect investigation leading to corrective action and to develop a standard for sport utility vehicles that would provide information on the emergency-handling characteristics of each model.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel