VehicleVerdict

2002 Isuzu Axiom problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 193 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 8.8 times the median Axiom year — the 2002 model ranks #1 of 4 Axiom years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across transmission (36), brakes (32), and body & structure (32), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

193

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

1

Investigations

16

Crash-involved

2

Fires reported

8

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2002 compare to other Axiom years?

Axiom NHTSA complaints by model year, 2002 highlighted193 complaints2001: 1 complaints2002: 193 complaints2003: 19 complaints2004: 25 complaints
Axiom NHTSA complaints by model year, 2002 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Axiom years to avoid →

What are the most common 2002 Isuzu Axiom problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Transmission3619%
Brakes3217%
Body & Structure3217%
Suspension2111%
Engine126%
Fuel System95%
Electrical System95%
Tires & Wheels84%
Speed Control53%
Airbags53%
Visibility & Wipers42%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)42%
Other42%
Seat Belts42%
Steering42%
Seats21%
Latches & Locks21%

Does the 2002 Isuzu Axiom have recalls?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

10V436000SuspensionSeptember 22, 2010 · 149,992 units

Defect

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.

05V466000Fuel SystemOctober 7, 2005 · 15,515 units

Defect

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.

03V113000Body & StructureMarch 24, 2003 · 11,855 units

Defect

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).

02V213000AirbagsAugust 9, 2002 · 15 units

Defect

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED 2002 ISUZU AXIOM (JANUARY 2010) AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALREADY GONE OUT. I WAS RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT JUST WENT OUT. I AM THE SECOND OWNER FOR THIS AUTOMOBILE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE TRANSMISSION IS ALREADY GONE. FROM DOING MY RESEARCH I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · February 1, 2010

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · June 21, 2009

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · December 6, 2002 · crash

ISUZU AXIOM 2002. MY WIFE WAS TRYING TO MERGE ONTO JAMES RIVER FREEWAY IN SPRINGFIELD, MO FROM HWY 65 N. IT WAS RAINING BUT HER SPEED WAS LESS THAN 40 MPH. SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE INTO THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND THE SUV SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND SENT US DOWN A BOULDER EMBEDDED EMBANKMENT OF…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · November 14, 2003 · crash

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55MPH IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATED. SECONDS LATER, THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE AND FELT EXTREME HEAT COMING FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EVACUATED ALL PASSENGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · February 22, 2006 · fire

2002 Isuzu Axiom — common questions

Is the 2002 Isuzu Axiom reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 193 complaints put the 2002 model at #1 of 4 Axiom years. It is one of the Axiom years to avoid.

What are the most common 2002 Axiom problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are transmission (36 complaints), brakes (32 complaints), body & structure (32 complaints).

Does the 2002 Isuzu Axiom have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 2002 Isuzu Axiom. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2002 Isuzu Axiom under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Isuzu Axiom years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Axiom years to avoid are 2002. The cleanest record among Axiom years belongs to 2001.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.