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Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2003 Isuzu AxiomRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 16 owner complaints for the 2003 Isuzu Axiom. Most complaints involve power train (4) and fuel/propulsion system (3). The EPA rates it 16 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
16mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Oct 2013
Owner complaints
16
Top: power train
Fuel cost / yr
$3,750est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Suspension: rear

Free remedy

Isuzu Manufacturing Services of America, Inc (Isuzu) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Rodeo and Axiom, and 2003 Rodeo Sport vehicles that were originally sold in, or are currently registered in, 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, Kentucky and Missouri. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion near the forward mounting point bracket for the left or right rear suspension lower link.

SuspensionReported Oct 31, 2013NHTSA 13V547000

Fuel system

Free remedy

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.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Oct 7, 2005NHTSA 05V466000

Service brakes

Free remedy

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS." THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE IN THE EVENT OF DECREASED BRAKE FLUID VOLUME.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Oct 10, 2003NHTSA 03V390000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 12, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

16 complaints filed with NHTSA · Apr 2007 – May 2020
  1. Power train4
  2. Fuel/propulsion system3
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic3
  4. Air bags2
  5. Equipment2
  6. Structure2
  7. Engine and engine cooling2
  8. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  9. Other / unknown1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Axiom model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2002124
200316
200417
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
8
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Power train

4 reports
“I HAVE A 2003 ISUZU AXIOM 4X4 AND IN MARCH, 2014 I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AND AS A RESULT I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I HAVE LESS THEN 98,000 MILES ON IT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2014Power train, EquipmentODI 10622425

Fuel/propulsion system

3 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ISUZU AXIOM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A FUEL ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CAME TO THE RESIDENCE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,716.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2017Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11030825

Service brakes, hydraulic

3 reports1 crash
“NOT EVEN A YEAR AFTER PURCHASING MY 2003 ISUZU AXIOM, I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES. ON 5 OR MORE OCCASIONS, I HAVE HAD TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP OR HAVE PRESSED THE BRAKES LIGHTLY ON A BUMPY SERVICE AND HAVE HAD VERY POOR RESULTS. THE RESULTS INCLUDE A SENSE OF THE BRAKES NOT WORKING AT ALL. BEFORE I PURCHASED THE AXIOM, I OWED A 98 ISUZU RODEO THAT HAD VERY SIMILAR BRAKING ISSUES. I HAD A WRECK IN MY 1998 RODEO WHERE I FEEL THAT MY BRAKES FAILED WHEN I HAD TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THAT WAS 3 YEARS AGO AND I STILL SUFFER ON A DAILY BASIS FROM THAT CAR ACCIDENT. I RECALL THAT I PRESSED MY BRAKES HARD AND I HAD TO LET OFF THE BRAKE AND THEN PRESS THEM AGAIN FOR THE BRAKES TO WORK. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT I HAVE TO NOW DEAL WITH ON MY AXIOM. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN JUST WHEN YOU NEED TO BRAKE SUDDENLY. I HAVE HAD ISSUE WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT.YOU KNOW WHEN YOU LET OFF THE BRAKE SOME TO INCH FORWARD A LITTLE.....MY CAR WILL SOMETIMES LURCH AS THOUGH YOU HAVE PRESSED THE GAS. IT IS A HAZARD AND I REALLY THINK THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ISUZU BRAKES. MY CAR NOW HAS 34,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING MY…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 3, 2007Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10195210
All 2003 Axiom problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 12, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Axiom 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
151916$3,750555
Axiom 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
141916$3,750555
  • Axiom 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L
    15 city · 19 hwy · $3,750/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
  • Axiom 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L
    14 city · 19 hwy · $3,750/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 12, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 Isuzu Axiom as of Nov 12, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 12, 2026Vehicle 4989
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2003 Axiom questions

How many recalls does the 2003 Isuzu Axiom have?

3 safety recalls as of Nov 12, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2003 Isuzu Axiom problems?

Owners filed 16 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (4), fuel/propulsion system (3), service brakes, hydraulic (3). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2003 Isuzu Axiom get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Isuzu Axiom at 16 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 12, 2026