2002 Isuzu AXIOM: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
123 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 89 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 123 complaints (17.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 37 | 30.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 34 | 27.6% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 8.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 8.1% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | 21 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 20 |
| Suspension | 13 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 21; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 20; Suspension: 13; Power Train: 10; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6; Structure:Body: 6; Electrical System: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 16 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 34 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 14 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2002: 9; 2003: 16; 2004: 11; 2005: 15; 2006: 7; 2007: 4; 2008: 1; 2009: 7; 2010: 22; 2011: 14; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 5; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 34 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001601 · 2002-12-27 (December 27, 2002)
WAS TRAVELING 5MPH & HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES, IN THE RAIN, WHICH FAILED. VEHICLE RAN INTO BACK OF SCHOOL BUS. HAD SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE. TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. DEALER REFUSE TO REPAIR BECAUSE OF ACCIDENT. HAD INSURANCE ADJUSTOR COME IN AND TOOK VEHICLE FOR TEST DRIVE. DECLARED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH BRAKES TO CAUSE ACCIDENT. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001601 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016910 · 2003-05-02 (May 2, 2003)
FRONT GRILL INSIDE PAINT PEEL. NO INFORMATION AS TO WHEN THIS WILL BE CORRECTED FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE PRODUCES LOTS OF NOISE. REQUIREMENT FOR RE-ALIGNMENT REFUSED BY DEALERSHIP WITH STATEMENT OF "ONLY DONE AT 7500 MILES" COMPANY MAINTAINS THAT THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED AND DEALERSHIP WRONG. ADVISED DEALERSHIP OF REQUIREMENT GOT SHRUG. WILL NOT RESOLVE EXTREME TOE IN OF FRONT TIRES. RIGHT AND LEFT MIRRORS WERE ORDERED. PAINT DOES NOT MATCH VEHICLE. ALSO SCRATCH ON VEHICLE MIRROR. AWAITING REPLACEMENT. HAS BEEN 8 WEEKS SINCE ORDER HAS BEE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016910 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017947 · 2003-05-01 (May 1, 2003)
WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES THEY LOCKED UP AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017947 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018859 · 2003-05-17 (May 17, 2003)
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT SEVERAL STOP LIGHTS AND IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH. IT ALMOST CAUSED 3 COLLISIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER (COURTESY ISUZU) WHERE WE BOUGHT IT. YOU CAN CALL ME AT [phone removed] (CELL) OR [phone removed] (HOME) OR CALL FRANK BROZNIK - SERVICE MGR. AT COURTESEY ISUZU 9204 ADAMO DR TAMPA FL. 33619. (813)626-4200. FRANK THINKS WATER HAS GOTTEN INTO THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE ELECTRICAL BOARD AND CAUSED THIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018859 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021736 · 2003-06-04 (June 4, 2003)
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE GAS GAUGE WOULD GO PASS EMPTY AND CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO APPEAR, WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS THE VEHICLE WOULD SWING OUT (ALMOST LOST CONTROL), WHEN THE SPEED GOES UP TO 60 MPH THE FRONT END VIBRATES, AND WHEN A RIGHT TURN WAS MADE, A CRACKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. *MR SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023218 · 2003-06-17 (June 17, 2003)
VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 90 MILES AND DID NOT STOP WITH BRAKES OR ON NEUTRAL, HAD TO BE PUT ON PARK TO STOP IT. IT HAPPENED TWICE AT 6,000 MILES AND 13,000 MILES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023218 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023630 · 2003-06-23 (June 23, 2003)
2002 ISUZU AXIOM PURCHASED APRIL 2002....AFTER A FEW MONTHS, VEHICLE TAKEN BACK MANY TIMES FOR VIBRATIONS WHILE DRIVING AND THREE TIMES TO DATE FOR LEAKING GREASE FROM RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. SEPT 2002. RACK & PINION WAS FOUND DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. WHEELS WERE BALANCED MANY TIMES BY DEALER AND ALSO ALIGNED. REAR ROTORS WERE RESURFACED IN DEC 2002 AND FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED IN MARCH 2003. FRONT TIRES ARE WORN UNEVENLY, DEALER CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY. THESE ARE NEW TIRES THAT DEALER PUT ON VEHICLE IN OCT 2002 TO ELIMINATE VIBRATIONS. WHE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023630 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024432 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)
WHEN DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING VIBRATED. THE DRIVESHAFT WAS REPLACED, AND THE PROBLEM STILL RECURRED. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BACKED UP, A THUMP WAS FELT ON EVERY REVOLUTION ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE AXLES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. THE CONSUMER FELT A LOSS OF CONTROL WITH THE VEHICLE ON TURNS, AND A SQUEAKING SOUND HAD COME FROM THE TIRES DUE TO PITTED ROTORS. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024432 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V213000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2002-08-09 (August 9, 2002)
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES WERE MANUFACTURED AND SHIPPED WITHOUT A NECESSARY COMPONENT KNOWN AS A CHECK VALVE PIN.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT INFLATE PROPERLY OR SUFFICIENTLY RESULTING IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-643-4070.
NHTSA campaign record ↗03V113000 · Structure
Reported: 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
AS A RESULT OF INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM A HEAD IMPACT TEST CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) TO EVALUATE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT," ISUZU HAS DESIGNED A MODIFICATION FOR CERTAIN 2002 MODEL YEAR ISUZU AXIOM VEHICLES. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MODIFICATION IS TO ENHANCE HEAD IMPACT CRASH PROTECTION FOR FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS.
Consequence: THE RESULTS OF THIS TEST INDICATED A POSSIBILITY OF AN INCREASED RISK OF HEAD INJURY IN A CRASH.
Remedy: ISUZU WILL OFFER OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES A FREE MODIFICATION OF THE ROOF AREA OF THE VEHICLE IN WHICH ENERGY ABSORBING COMPONENTS WILL BE INSTALLED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 11, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
NHTSA campaign record ↗05V466000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2005-10-07 (October 7, 2005)
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.
Consequence: A FUEL LEAK COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE STATES IDENTIFIED ABOVE, DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A NEW COVER OVER THE EXISTING FEED PORT ON THE FUEL PUMP OR, IF THE EXISTING FEED PORT HAS ALREADY BEEN DAMAGED, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL PUMP THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE NEW COVER. THE NEW COVER WILL BE MADE OF A DIFFERENT MATERIAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 25, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.
NHTSA campaign record ↗10V436000 · Suspension:Rear
Reported: 2010-09-22 (September 22, 2010)
ISUZU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2002 ISUZU RODEO AND MODEL YEAR 2002 ISUZU AXIOM VEHICLES, AND HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN 1998-2002 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES, THAT WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED, IN THE STATES OF 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, MISSOURI, AND KENTUCKY. VEHICLES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED SUSTAINED EXPOSURE TO HIGHLY CORROSIVE MATERIALS USED IN SOME JURISDICTIONS FOR ROAD DEICING PURPOSES MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CORROSION IN THE VICINITY OF THE FORWARD MOUNTING POINT BRACKET FOR THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK PRIOR TO THE TIME THAT SUCH CORROSION WOULD NORMALLY BE EXPECTED.
Consequence: EXCESSIVE CORROSION MAY RESULT IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE FRAME, WHICH CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET AREA. FOR VEHICLES IN WHICH LITTLE OR NO CORROSION IS FOUND, THE AREA WILL BE TREATED WITH AN ANTI-CORROSIVE COMPOUND. FOR VEHICLES IN WHICH CORROSION HAS DAMAGED THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET AND AFFECTED ITS CONNECTION TO THE VEHICLE FRAME, A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET WILL BE INSTALLED. IN THE RARE EVENT THE CORROSION IS SO SEVERE THAT THE REINFORCEMENT BRACKET REMEDY WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE, A REPURCHASE OFFER WILL BE EXTENDED TO THE VEHICLE'S OWNER. ALL INSPECTIONS AND REMEDIES WILL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE 10 YEARS OLD OR LESS. FOR VEHICLES OLDER THAN 10 YEARS, ISUZU WILL OFFER A FREE REMEDY, BUT ONLY IF THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTED TO AN ISUZU SERVICE FACILITY, OR HONDA DEALER (AS APPLICABLE), DEALER WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF WHEN OWNER NOTIFICATIONS WERE ISSUED. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 10, 2010. ISUZU OWNERS MAY CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727. HONDA OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
NHTSA campaign record ↗