ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, August 21, 1996 TAG: 9608210047
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: YONKERS, N.Y.
SOURCE: Associated Press
THE COMPANY branded the vehicles as ``not acceptable'' and recommended the companies either fix the models or offer owners a replacement or refund.
Consumer Reports charged Tuesday that 1995-96 Isuzu Troopers and 1996 Acura SLXs can roll over during sudden turns at low speed, and it demanded a recall of the sport-utility vehicles.
``To consumers who are considering buying one of these models, our advice is: Don't. Not until a satisfactory repair is made,'' said R. David Pittle, Consumer Reports' technical director.
The warning was issued at a news conference at which Consumers Union, the publisher of the magazine, released the results of tests.
It branded the vehicles, which are nearly identical, with its rare ``not acceptable'' rating and recommended that the companies either fix the models or offer owners a replacement or refund.
It also asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to investigate the models and establish a set of emergency handling standards for all sport utility vehicles.
The carmakers said the vehicles meet all safety standards, but the federal safety agency said it would consider the consumer group's petition.
``We'll be looking at Consumers Union's testing, but we should say that vehicles that do not perform well in tests do not necessarily have poor performance records on the road,'' said spokeswoman Liz Neblett at the safety agency.
American Suzuki Motor Corp., which was targeted in a similar Consumer Reports study eight years ago and has sued Consumers Union, denounced the tests.
The tests were designed to rate the vehicles on their ability to avoid sudden hazards, such as a child or animal running into the street.
The driver was forced to make a fast turn into the left lane to avoid a traffic cone, then turn back to the right to avoid oncoming traffic, then a left to return to the original lane.
Consumer Reports drivers did numerous runs at different speeds. In 33 runs, two wheels lifted off the road, said auto testing director Robert Knoll. The worst result came at about 33 miles an hour when the 1996 Trooper tipped over at about a 45 degree angle.
``This is a maneuver that can threaten any driver on any road at any time without warning,'' Pittle said.
Isuzu Motors Ltd. and the Acura division of American Honda Motor Co. said they haven't yet reviewed Consumers Union's test methods. ``Nevertheless, Acura believes the SLX is a safe and reliable vehicle when driven in a responsible manner,'' said Kurt Antonius, a company spokesman.
Larry Lusk, a sales manager at Precision Acura in Roanoke, said his dealership has sold about three of the SLX models and has heard no complaints from customers.
"Everybody's happy," he said. A negative rating in Consumer Reports, however, has the potential to hurt sales because so many car buyers use the magazine as a primary reference.
"Internet and Consumer Reports - that's pretty much where it's at these days," Lusk said.
No one was available Tuesday for comment at First Team Isuzu in Roanoke.
Sport-utility vehicles are rugged models that have become increasingly popular in recent years. Both the Acura and Trooper are made in Japan by Isuzu, Pittle said. They sell for about $30,000.
About 35,000 of the vehicles - a relatively small number - have been sold in the United States, and Consumers Union said there have been no accident statistics yet.
However, since 1988, Consumers Union said 46 out of 47 similar vehicles have completed the same test without any tendency to tip over. Consumers Union said owners of the Trooper and SLX should drive them only when necessary and with caution.
Consumers Union had tested the 1992 Trooper and it won an acceptable rating, Pittle said. He speculated that changes in the vehicle's suspension may have hurt its stability.
The last time the group issued a not acceptable rating was 1988 when it saw a similar problem with the Suzuki Samurai.
Sales of the Samurai plummeted by 50 percent and never fully recovered. Isuzu and Acura could face the same problem even if the tests turn out to be wrong.
The report will be published in Consumer Reports' October issue.
Staff writer Megan Schnabel contributed to this story.
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. A 1996 Acura SLX tips over during a quick-responseby CNBtest by Consumer Reports. The watchdog group said don't buy this
vehicle or the Isuzu Trooper. color.