Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Isuzu Axiom problems

Owners filed 16 complaints about the 2003 Isuzu Axiom with NHTSA between Apr 2007 and May 2020. The most-cited component is power train (4).

Complaints
16
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  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.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20074
20080
20092
20101
20111
20123
20131
20141
20150
20160
20172
20180
20190
20201

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

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 crash1 related recall
“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

Air bags

2 reports2 crashes
“DRIVING IN A LARGE PARKING LOT, HIT A LARGE CEMENT POLE DOING 20 MILES PER HOUR.AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HAD NOT PUT MY SEAT BELT ON YET & HIT & SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD KNOCKING OUT ALL OF MY FRONT UPPER TEETH. FRACTURED MAXILLA .WHY DID AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOY? *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2020Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11325218

Equipment

2 reports
“SPENT 2800 FOR NEW TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION REPLACED 2X ON 2003 ISUZU AXIOM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2010Power train, EquipmentODI 10318921

Structure

2 reports
“I BROUGHT MY CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS IN MY AREA AND BOTH TOLD ME THE FRAME HAS SEVERE CORROSION AND IS MIGHT BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON. THEY SHOWED ME MULTIPLE HOLES IN THE FRAME ON THE BACK PASSENGER CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. IT LOOKS SO BAD THAT I COULD JUST BREAK THE FRAME WITH A HAMMER. THE VEHICLE PASSED INSPECTION, BUT THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD TAKE IT TO A WELDER TO GET IT REPAIRED. IS THIS SOMETHING I CAN DRIVE ON? AM I RISKING MY LIFE? IT APPEARS THAT THE FRAME WAS RECALLED ON THE 2002 MODELS, BUT NOT THE 2003 AND 2004 MODELS WHICH USE THE SAME EXACT FRAME! I HAVE NO IDEA WHY. SOUNDS PRETTY STUPID AND MIGHT RISK SOMEONE'S LIFE. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 14, 2012StructureODI 10458333
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

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