PSN Opinyon

Liham ni Dr. Paul Chua vs Isuzu Philippines

December 23, 2006 | 12:00am

BIBIGYANG-DAAN ng mga kuwago ng ORA MISMO ang sulat ni Paul Chua hinggil sa sumbong nito sa Chief Kuwago.

December 18, 2006

BUTCH QUEJADA

Reporter/Columnist

Pilipino Star NGAYON

Dear Mr. Quejada,

I wish to file a complaint as additional information for the Filipino people to be aware of a situation involving the dumping of substandard vehicles by Isuzu Philippines.

I am Dr. Paul Chua, a businessman and consultant of different public and private offices in the Philippines. I write your honorable office to narrate my personal experience and provide the Filipino consumers on some helpful information which was discovered during my research. This is with hope that information provided might be helpful in protecting our consumers.

I bought a 2003 model "IZUZU TROOPER" with the 4JX1 engine from Gencars Makati and have been consistently following the required service schedules by ISUZU. My unit has been religiously maintained with their service center and I have never missed a service schedule. I would also comment that despite their high cost of having my unit serviced by their service center, (total o P214,000 in four years) I decided to have my unit serviced by them to prevent any major problems which may result to engine malfunction. Likewise, if I had the unit serviced by their own service center, I will by paying for reliability and predictability since my family is also using the car. Safety and reliability to an ordinary car owner is having your family travel home safe after a dinner or a movie. Moving along two different destinations with predictability and having your children sleep in the car while traveling long distances. This is what reliable cars are supposed to do. Guarantee safety, predictability and reliability. This is what Isuzu did not provide despite the fact that all service was done by their service center.

During the service maintenance sometime in 2004, I already complained to Isuzu that there is something unusual with the engine, but they replied that there was nothing wrong with the engine and it was maintained by Isuzu and there was no need to worry. However, barely two years after the purchase in December 2004, the first defective injector was replaced under warranty. In middle of 2006, a defective part was again found to cause a major problem in my unit and this was again replaced under warranty. This part was identified again as the "fuel injector".

After a few months in November, the same injector that was replaced in the middle of the year was again defective. This malfunction caused water to cross over to the engine cylinder head and likewise oil to the radiator. The brand new "injector" which was replaced last middle of the year is defective for the third time in less than two years.

To make matters worst, I was informed that the repair of my unit will over P180,000. I paid good money for my unit and likewise for the required service from their company. It is only the hands of their service technicians and parts used by their service center that touched my unit. All the lubricants such as oil, water and coolant were bought from Isuzu during the Periodic Maintenance Period.

First injector replacement, December 2004 resulting from oil-fuel mixture. 2nd injector replacement June 14, 2006 also oil-fuel mixture. Third injector defect November 28, 2006, water-fuel mixture caused by failure of injector sleeve o-ring. This is three brand new injector replacements in the past two years.

During my research, I discovered that the units sold in the Philippines have been recalled in some countries due to the same technical problem regarding the injectors. The Isuzu Trooper (also known as Isuzu Bighorn and Holden Jackaroo) was recalled in Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom. All these three countries suffered the same engine problems (injectors) with the 4JX1 engine. Eventually Isuzu stopped production of the Isuzu Trooper in 2002. This is just too malicious an intent for the Philippine consumers, to be sold a vehicle with technical problems.

It is very surprising that Isuzu discontinued the production of the Isuzu Trooper in 2002, yet started selling the model in Philippines in 2003 as the "Skyroof Isuzu Trooper" with the same problematic engine that was recalled in three countries, the 4JX1 engine.

I believe there was malicious intent by Isuzu Philippines when the Isuzu trooper was launched in 2003 despite the fact that massive documented recalls were in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. What could be the reason for a multinational company with global interest dump substandard vehicles in a third world country like the Philippines and impose a double standard by having the defective vehicles recalled in Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom and have a separated set of standards in not recalling the vehicles for repair and hiding under a warranty clause. In Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom, Isuzu and their business partners are recalling these vehicles and fixing them up before they return them to their buyers. However Isuzu gave a separate policy to the Philippines.

This is the same problem that I have right now which is not being addressed by Isuzu Philippines and hiding under the warranty clause and running away from obligations they should be covering. They are likewise not addressing the cause of the problems unlike the other three countries.

It has always been a policy of the state to protect the interests of the consumers in relation to motor vehicles because it is considered a major investment. By not disclosing information regarding the defective injectors as a hidden defect and subsequently avoiding warranty, Isuzu Philippines have violated my right. Despite my serious efforts to communicate with their company to address this problem, they have chosen to deny me a reply.

The danger of selling substandard cars in the Philippines is deadly. With the increasing crime rates, the predictability and reliability of our cars becomes doubly important. Anything can happen in case a substandard vehicle fail in its expectations such as brake or engine failure. Accidents and death can result. How scandalous would it be for a multinational company with global interests to be dumping substandard vehicles into the country which had been recalled in developed countries.

I hope this merits your attention to look into this case which will be of interest to the general public especially to the buyers of Isuzu Trooper who are experiencing the same problems. It will be also interesting to invite Isuzu representatives to the Senate and the Congress to give some information on how they dumped substandard vehicles and hide under the warranty clause. This specific and purposive deceit in my humble opinion is what needs to be addressed by legislators to protect the Filipinos buyers against these unscrupulous companies.

My best regards,

– Paul Chua (GSC) MCA MNSA

0918-88812219