U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Isuzu AXIOM problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

16 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

104,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 12 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 16 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	5	31.3%
Transmission and shifting	4	25.0%
Fuel system concerns	3	18.8%
Engine operation	1	6.3%
Steering behavior	1	6.3%

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.

Fuel/Propulsion System

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Air Bags

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Power Train

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

Equipment

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Fuel/Propulsion System	3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	3
Air Bags	2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	2
Power Train	2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)	1
Equipment	1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	1

Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Air Bags: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Power Train: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Equipment: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 1

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 4 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.

2007

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2017

2020

2007: 4; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2017: 2; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 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.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10187292 · 2007-04-08 (April 8, 2007)

I HAVE A 2003 ISUZU AXIOM THAT HAS A BRAKING PROBLEM. WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP YOU GET T VIBRATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. IF FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO JUST SHAKE COMPLETELY APART. THE VIBRATING STARTS FROM THE BACK AND MOVES TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WITH THIS ENORMOUS VIBRATING SOUND. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, ALL I KEEP DOING IS GETTING THE RUN AROUND, AND THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS. NOW AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO TO TRY …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10187292 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10188399 · 2007-04-19 (April 19, 2007)

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM VIRTUALLY SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOV 2003. WHEN I BRAKE ON A BUMPY OR WET ROAD, OR WHEN I HAVE TO BRAKE HARD TO STOP IN AN EMERGENCY, THE CAR RATTLES AND MAKE S GRINDING SOUND. IT ALSO TAKE EXTRA LONG TO SLOW THE VEHICLE MUCH LESS STOP. THE LAST TIME I HAD THIS PROBLEM I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND A VAN SEVERAL VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED TO MAKE AN ILLEGAL U-TURN. I TEND TO KEEP A GREATER DISTANCE BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME DUE TO THE BRAKE ISSUE. REGARDLESS, TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10188399 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10204732 · 2007-10-02 (October 2, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ISUZU AXIOM. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY SHIFTING THE GEAR FROM PARK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER AND SWITCH ACCESSORY FAILED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204732 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10318921 · 2010-03-11 (March 11, 2010)

SPENT 2800 FOR NEW TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION REPLACED 2X ON 2003 ISUZU AXIOM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10318921 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10503422 · 2013-03-18 (March 18, 2013)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ISUZU AXIOM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE VENTS AS FLAMES ERUPTED NEAR THE FUEL TANK. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE FUEL TANK EXHIBITED A LEAK AND CAUSED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS APPROXIMATELY 106,000. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503422 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11030628 · 2017-09-30 (September 30, 2017)

THE FUEL PUMP STOP WORKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE SENSOR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11030628 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11030825 · 2017-10-02 (October 2, 2017)

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 CO…

Owner-reported narrative. 130,716 miles reported. Look up ODI 11030825 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

16 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

75.0%Usable mileage12 / 16 records

100.0%Valid incident date16 / 16 records

100.0%Valid filing date16 / 16 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates16 / 16 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	2001	2002	2003	2004
Structure:Frame And Members	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	2116.9% ODI 10274556 · 85,000 mi 2002 ISUZU AXIOM. 85K MILES. SAME FRAME AS ISUZU RODEO/HONDA PASSPORT DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE ROAD CAR STARTED TO GRIND. UPON PULLING OVER I DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVERS-SIDE REAR TRACTION BAR HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF THE FRAME. THE FRAME WAS SO RUSTED THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WILL BE ANYWAY TO REPAIR THE CAR INTO FUNCTIONAL OPERATION. *TR Look up ODI 10274556 at NHTSA ↗	16.3% ODI 10458333 · 140,000 mi 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… Look up ODI 10458333 at NHTSA ↗	15.9% ODI 10359264 WHY WERE THE LAST TWO YEARS OF PRODUCTION(2003-2004) OF THESE VEHICLES NOT RECALLED TO BE TREATED TO SLOW RUSTING COMPONENTS IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE/FRAME ON ALL ISUZU RODEOS, HONDA PASSPORTS AND ISUZU AXIOMS. ALTHOUGH A LIMITED PRODUCTION, THE FINAL TWO YEARS ARE STILL GOING TO FAIL FROM SALT/CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION. I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2004. IT WAS ADVERTISED AS BEING FROM NORTH CAROLINA. I LATER DISCOVERED THE OWNER ALSO LIVED AND USED THE VEHICLE FOR MOST OF IT'S ROAD USE IN NEW YORK AND MASSACHSETTS. IT TOO HAS HAD A LARGE DOSE OF ROAD CHE… Look up ODI 10359264 at NHTSA ↗
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	2016.1% ODI 10044323 · 9,317 mi THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND THEY DEALER REPLACED THE BEARINGS AND HUBS. WHILE TRAVELING AT NORMAL SPEED, THE DRIVER HIT A SLIGHT BUMP AND THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND JUMPED FORWARD. *AK DESCRIPTION OF ALL PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: ABS SENSOR/HUB BEARING RIGHT SIDE, ABS GRINDING, CRACKED ARM REST, DOOR PANEL ARM REST CRACKED, THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY STAYED ON, BROKEN CARGO COVER HOOKS, LEFT REAR COIL BOOT STUCK, HUB BEARING RIGHT SIDE, WEATHER STRIP TORN, EXTERIOR DOOR TRIM C… Look up ODI 10044323 at NHTSA ↗	16.3% ODI 10318921 · 103,000 mi SPENT 2800 FOR NEW TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION REPLACED 2X ON 2003 ISUZU AXIOM. *TR Look up ODI 10318921 at NHTSA ↗	15.9% ODI 10154622 I PURCHASED MY 2004 ISUZU AXIOM IN THE SPRING OF 2004. PURCHASED FROM STOKES MAZDA ISUZU AND APP. 6 MONTHS AGO MY VEHICLE STARTED HESITATING WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. WHEN I GO TO PULL OFF THE TACHOMETER JUMPS TO 3 OR 4 RPMS BUT THE VEHICLE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE. FINALLY,IT WILL GET GAS AND SUDDENLY TAKE OFF. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE AT 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY PUT IT ON THEIR DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND SAY NOTHING IS WRONG. SOMETHING IS TERRIBLY WRONG BECAUSE THE OTHER DAY AS I WAS PULLING ACROSS THE ROAD IT DID THIS TO ME AND I WAS ALMOST T… Look up ODI 10154622 at NHTSA ↗
Suspension	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1411.3% ODI 10016910 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… Look up ODI 10016910 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Power Train	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	108.1% ODI 10174343 2002 ISUZU AXIOM REPLACED TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AFTER MECHANIC STATED EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING FINE. KB NAR* THE CONSUMER HAS ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONER AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR. *NM Look up ODI 10174343 at NHTSA ↗	212.5% ODI 10463250 · 61,838 mi TRANSMISSION BAD AT 61K. SPENT $3,800 ON REBUILT TRANSMISSION AS METAL PARTICLES WERE CLOGGING THE TRANSMISSION FILTER. MECHANIC NOTED THAT TRANMISSION PUMP WAS BAD AND CAUSING METAL TO BREAK OFF AND CLOG THE FILTER. *TR Look up ODI 10463250 at NHTSA ↗	15.9% ODI 10554576 · 97,300 mi PCM OR POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE ERROR. OBD2 CODE P0602. AS A RESULT WAS SHUT OFF VEHICLE'S ALL POWER, ALL DASH LIGHT ICONS WERE ON SUDDENLY. FIRST ABS AND THEN AIR BAG, BRAKE, BATTERY, CHECK ENGINE ETC. VEHICLE WAS DIED IN SECONDS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY HIGHWAY I-80!! IT WAS HORRIBLE. NO PROBLEM WAS OCCURRED BEFORE. ISUZU COMPANY HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. FULL MAINTENANCE FOR THIS CAR WAS PERFORMED ON TIME AS REQUIRED VIA ISUZU AXIOM MANUAL. I HAVE ALL RECORDS. SEVERAL MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT ALL ISUZUS HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH P… Look up ODI 10554576 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	54.0% ODI 10137601 I BOUGHT MY ISUZU AXIOM IN NOV 2002. IT HAS HAD SEVERAL HAZARDOUS DEFECTS. 1) IN MAY 2005, AT 60,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW TO 20-30 MPH, NO LONGER ACCELERATING. IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BURNT UP. AFTER TWO TRANSMISSION FLUSHES THE TRANSMISSION STILL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONLY AFTER GETTING ISUZU INVOLVED, DID THE DEALERSHIP HONOR THE WARRANTY AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THREE WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK. THE SAME DAY IT SUDDENLY … Look up ODI 10137601 at NHTSA ↗	212.5% ODI 10297644 · 90,000 mi ENGINE USES A QUART OF OIL APPROXIMATELY EVERY 1000 - 1500 MILES ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE MILEAGE IS OVER 90,000. RESEARCHED AND ISUZU SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. *TR Look up ODI 10297644 at NHTSA ↗	317.6% ODI 10149884 · 36,000 mi DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. THIS OCCURRED WITH NO PRIOR WARNING AT 10MPH AND ABOVE. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 03/09/06. JB Look up ODI 10149884 at NHTSA ↗
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	54.0% ODI 10017947 WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES THEY LOCKED UP AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM Look up ODI 10017947 at NHTSA ↗	318.8% ODI 10187292 I HAVE A 2003 ISUZU AXIOM THAT HAS A BRAKING PROBLEM. WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP YOU GET T VIBRATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. IF FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO JUST SHAKE COMPLETELY APART. THE VIBRATING STARTS FROM THE BACK AND MOVES TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WITH THIS ENORMOUS VIBRATING SOUND. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, ALL I KEEP DOING IS GETTING THE RUN AROUND, AND THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS. NOW AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO TO TRY … Look up ODI 10187292 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	54.0% ODI 10090205 WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTRARTED VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE EPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK Look up ODI 10090205 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	211.8% ODI 10554576 · 97,300 mi PCM OR POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE ERROR. OBD2 CODE P0602. AS A RESULT WAS SHUT OFF VEHICLE'S ALL POWER, ALL DASH LIGHT ICONS WERE ON SUDDENLY. FIRST ABS AND THEN AIR BAG, BRAKE, BATTERY, CHECK ENGINE ETC. VEHICLE WAS DIED IN SECONDS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY HIGHWAY I-80!! IT WAS HORRIBLE. NO PROBLEM WAS OCCURRED BEFORE. ISUZU COMPANY HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. FULL MAINTENANCE FOR THIS CAR WAS PERFORMED ON TIME AS REQUIRED VIA ISUZU AXIOM MANUAL. I HAVE ALL RECORDS. SEVERAL MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT ALL ISUZUS HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH P… Look up ODI 10554576 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	32.4% ODI 10066658 WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS OUT WITH OUT ANY WARNING. THIS CAUSES THE LOSS OF STEERING, AND BRAKE EQUIPMENT. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED SIX TIMES IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. *MR Look up ODI 10066658 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	423.5% ODI 10327331 THE ENGINE MAKES "CLACKING" TYPE SOUND WHEN STARTED AND CONTINUES FOR ABOUT 3-4 MINUTES. ONCE THE ENGINE IS WARM THE CLACKING STOPS. I'VE COMPLAINED TWICE ABOUT THIS NOISE TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD ENGINE IS NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL. OIL IS NORMAL. IT'S MADE THIS SOUND SINCE WE DROVE IT OFF THE LOT NEW. EVERYONE EXCEPT FOR DEALER THINKS THIS IS NOT NORMAL! EVERYONE TELLS ME TO CHECK MY OIL EVERYTIME I START UP AND THEY HEAR THE NOISE. HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS FOR 4004 ISUZU AXIOM? *TR Look up ODI 10327331 at NHTSA ↗

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Fuel/Propulsion System	Too few reports for a range	118,358 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10503422 · 106,000 mi TLTHE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ISUZU AXIOM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE VENTS AS FLAMES ERUPTED NEAR THE FUEL TANK. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE FUEL TANK EXHIBITED A LEAK AND CAUSED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS APPROXIMATELY 106,000. TR Look up ODI 10503422 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 11030825 · 130,716 mi 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 CO… Look up ODI 11030825 at NHTSA ↗
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	Too few reports for a range	61,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10188399 · 61,000 mi I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM VIRTUALLY SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOV 2003. WHEN I BRAKE ON A BUMPY OR WET ROAD, OR WHEN I HAVE TO BRAKE HARD TO STOP IN AN EMERGENCY, THE CAR RATTLES AND MAKE S GRINDING SOUND. IT ALSO TAKE EXTRA LONG TO SLOW THE VEHICLE MUCH LESS STOP. THE LAST TIME I HAD THIS PROBLEM I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND A VAN SEVERAL VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED TO MAKE AN ILLEGAL U-TURN. I TEND TO KEEP A GREATER DISTANCE BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME DUE TO THE BRAKE ISSUE. REGARDLESS, TH… Look up ODI 10188399 at NHTSA ↗
Air Bags	Too few reports for a range	157,925 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10266207 · 135,850 mi TLTHE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ISUZU AXIOM. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 20 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR-ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE FRONT END OF HER VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR NECK, LEG, AND BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND COULD POSSIBLY BE LABELED AS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 135,850 UPDATED 05/08/09 BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF HIM/HER PULLED HIS EMERGENCY BRAKE BECAUSE THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF HIM STO… Look up ODI 10266207 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 11325218 · 180,000 mi 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 Look up ODI 11325218 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	Too few reports for a range	70,600 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10297644 · 90,000 mi ENGINE USES A QUART OF OIL APPROXIMATELY EVERY 1000 - 1500 MILES ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE MILEAGE IS OVER 90,000. RESEARCHED AND ISUZU SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. TR Look up ODI 10297644 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10419902 · 51,200 mi 2003 ISUZU AXIOM 3.5L 6CYL ENGINE. INTAKE MANIFOLD BURNS GASKETS AND LEAKS OIL IN THE ENGINE . ISUZU CLAIMS IT MAY BE THE ENGINE BLOCK BUT HAS NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAD THE GASKETS REPLACED 4 TIMES BEFORE I REALIZED IT WAS A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM THIS PROBLEM CAUSES SEVERE SMELL OF BURNING OIL AND CAUSES VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. KB Look up ODI 10419902 at NHTSA ↗
Power Train	Too few reports for a range	61,838 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10463250 · 61,838 mi TRANSMISSION BAD AT 61K. SPENT $3,800 ON REBUILT TRANSMISSION AS METAL PARTICLES WERE CLOGGING THE TRANSMISSION FILTER. MECHANIC NOTED THAT TRANMISSION PUMP WAS BAD AND CAUSING METAL TO BREAK OFF AND CLOG THE FILTER. *TR Look up ODI 10463250 at NHTSA ↗
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	Too few reports for a range	103,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10318921 · 103,000 mi SPENT 2800 FOR NEW TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION REPLACED 2X ON 2003 ISUZU AXIOM. *TR Look up ODI 10318921 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2003: 3 complaints · 2004: 9 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2003	1	3	3
2004	3	7	9

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2003	16	0	0
2004	17	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Fuel/Propulsion System	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	Air Bags	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	Power Train	Electronic Stability Control (Esc)	Equipment	Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Fuel/Propulsion System	—	0	0	0	0	1 ODI 11030628 THE FUEL PUMP STOP WORKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE SENSOR Look up ODI 11030628 at NHTSA ↗	0	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Air Bags	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Power Train	0	0	0	0	—	0	1 ODI 10622425 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 Look up ODI 10622425 at NHTSA ↗	0
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)	1 ODI 11030628 THE FUEL PUMP STOP WORKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE SENSOR Look up ODI 11030628 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Equipment	0	0	0	0	1 ODI 10622425 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 Look up ODI 10622425 at NHTSA ↗	0	—	0
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

6 patterns with matching reports.

Brake response concerns

2 mentions · 12.5% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 10187292

Look up ODI 10187292 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10195210

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 …

Look up ODI 10195210 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Hard or delayed shifting

1 mentions · 6.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 10195210

Look up ODI 10195210 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Oil consumption or dilution

1 mentions · 6.3% of complaints

Median mileage: 51,200 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10419902 · 51,200 mi

2003 ISUZU AXIOM 3.5L 6CYL ENGINE. INTAKE MANIFOLD BURNS GASKETS AND LEAKS OIL IN THE ENGINE . ISUZU CLAIMS IT MAY BE THE ENGINE BLOCK BUT HAS NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAD THE GASKETS REPLACED 4 TIMES BEFORE I REALIZED IT WAS A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM THIS PROBLEM CAUSES SEVERE SMELL OF BURNING OIL AND CAUSES VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. *KB

Look up ODI 10419902 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(oil consumption|burn\w* oil|consum\w* oil|oil dilution|gas(?:oline)? in (?:the )?oil)\b

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 6.3% of complaints

Median mileage: 130,716 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 11030825 · 130,716 mi

Look up ODI 11030825 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b

Steering assistance concerns

1 mentions · 6.3% of complaints

Median mileage: 130,716 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 11030825 · 130,716 mi

Look up ODI 11030825 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(power steer\w*|steering assist\w*|steering lock\w*|steering wheel lock\w*)\b

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

1 mentions · 6.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 11030628

THE FUEL PUMP STOP WORKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE SENSOR

Look up ODI 11030628 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b