2002 Isuzu Axiom

I HAVE A 2002 ISUZU AXIOM MILEAGE 101,000.. WHILE DRIVING I HIT A POT HOLE - THE FAMILY HEARD A WEIRD SOUND. WE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THE PASSENGER REAR CONTROL ARM HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE FRAME. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A WELDING SHOP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THE WELDING SHOP CALLED ME AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN THE AIR THAT THE FRAME WAS TOTALLY ROTTED AWAY.. SOME PLACES OF THE FRAME YOU CAN PUT YOUR HAND THRU THE BOTTOM AND SOME PLACES THRU THE TOP OF THE FRAME. THERE ARE OTHER PLACES THAT CAN NOT BE REPAIRED DO TO SIDE ROT OF THE FRAME.. THE WELD SHOP INFORMED ME THE AXIOM CAN NOT BE REPAIRED AND CAN NOT PASS INSPECTION. I LOOKED ON LINE AND FOUND THE ODI REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS - SO HERE IS MY REPORT. THE REST OF THE AXIOM IS PERFECT NO RUST ON THE BODY AND ENGINE RUNS PERFECT. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE HAS A INSURANCE VALUE OF $6,700 PER AN INSURANCE ADJUSTOR, BUT INSURANCE WONT COVER IT. SO IM OUT A VEHICLE THANKS TO A COMPANY USING INFERIOR METAL FOR A FRAME. THANK GOD I WASN'T DRIVING FAST AND DIDN'T HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED THE LIFE OF A FAMILY MEMBER OR SOMEONE ELSE. *TR

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2002 ISUZU AXIOM WITH 100,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS STILL COVERED BY A POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I AM READING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER 2002 AXIOM OWNERS ABOUT HOW THE AXIOM FRAME CAN RUST, ALONG WITH THE REAR TRACTION CONTROL BAR, AND THE REAR TRACTION CONTROL BAR CAN BREAK LOOSE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOCK UP AND SPIN AROUND IN A CIRCLE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS LIFE SAFETY HAZARD. WORSE, THE TYPICAL CONSUMER WILL NOT KNOW HOW TO DETECT THIS PROBLEM UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. I CALLED AND DISCUSSED THIS WITH A NHTSA REP AND SUPERVISOR TODAY, AND COULD NOT GET THEM TO PROMISE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE EVALUATED BY THE SAFETY ENGINEERS, EVEN THOUGH BEFORE MY COMPLAINT, THERE WERE ALREADY 10 COMPLAINTS FILED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT ISUZU IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I AM ASKING THAT NHTSA TAKE SOME ACTION TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF ISUZU AXIOM OWNERS, BY CONTACTING ISUZU AND DEMANDING A RECALL OF ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. ACCORDING TO POSTINGS ON THE EDMUNDS.COM AXIOM FORUM, THIS PROBLEM IS FAIRLY COMMON ON 2002 AXIOMS, BUT MAY AFFECT OTHER AXIOMS AND OTHER ISUZU MODELS, SUCH AS TROOPERS OR RODEOS. BEING AN ENGINEER MYSELF, MY GUESS IS THAT THERE WAS NO OR INADEQUATE CORROSION PROTECTION APPLIED AT THE FACTORY THAT IS CAUSING A PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE FRAME WHERE THE REAR TRACTION CONTROL BAR IS ATTACHED. YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM COULD SAVE LIVES, EVEN MINE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR INJURED. *TR

NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT THIS PAST MONDAY. I THOUGHT ONE OF MY TIRES WAS LOW. I CHECKED AND THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. I CONTINUED GOING ABOUT MY ERRANDS THINKING THE ALIGNMENT MUST BE OFF. I STARTED HEARING CREAKING SOUNDS AND BUMPS WHEN I CAME TO STOPS. WHEN I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT SOMETHING SNAPPED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I CALLED AAA AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THE REAR TRAILING ARM/TRACTION ARM CONNECTED TO THE AXLE AND FRAME HAD RUSTED OFF, AND THAT THE FRAME ITSELF WAS IN BAD SHAPE. HE HAD SAID THAT THIS WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR A 2002 MODEL AND THAT IT WAS NOT FIXABLE. *TR

2002 ISUZU AXIOM BEGAN RATTLING AND SHAKING BACK AND FORTH WHILE I WAS ON A MAJOR ROADWAY. I HEARD A HORRIBLE SOUND, BUT WAS ABLE TO GET INTO A PARKING LOT. I HAD IT TOWED, AND WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE WHOLE FRAME HAS RUSTED AND ROTTED OUT, ALONG WITH THE WHOLE LEFT TRAILING ARM. HE STATED, "I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT, AND YOU'RE LUCKY YOU WEREN'T KILLED." I CALLED ISUZU, AND THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THIS ROT AND RUST IS CAUSED BY SALT ON OUR ROADWAYS IN MASSACHUSETTS!! *TR

FAILURE OF REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK COMPONENT DRIVERS SIDE FROM FRAME DUE TO CORROSION, CAUSED VEHICLE TO SPIN 180 DEGREES, IN LIGHT TRAFFIC, NO COLLISION. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, SPEED WAS 30-35MPH, RAIN, CRANBERRY HIGHWAY RT 28 IN WAREHAM MA, VEHICLE IS 2002 ISUZU AXIOM, APPROX, 115,000 MILES, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS PROBLEM. THERE APPEARS TO BE MORE THAN NORMAL AMOUNTS OF CORROSION ON FRAME AND COMPONENTS, VEHICLE IS IN FOR REPAIR AT TOWERS SERVICE CENTER,606 MACARTHUR BLVD, RT28 POCASSET MA 02559 ONCE THIS VEHICLE IS INSPECTED ON A LIFT I EXPECT THERE WILL BE OTHER ISSUES TO ADDRESS. ALSO, THIS VEHICLE WAS DUE TO TRAVEL TO THE STATE OF RI AT 60-65MPH BY MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL AT URI. I WOULD HATE TO THINK WHAT THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN AT THAT SPEED THESE VEHICLES ARE PRONE TO CORROSION AND SHOULD BE CAREFULLY INSPECTED, OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THE DEALERS ARE FAR AND FEW BETWEEN THEY NO LONGER PRODUCE PRIVATE VEHICLES JUST COMMERCIAL TRUCKS, ONE MIGHT ASK WHY. THANK YOU, I SHALL GET IN TOUCH WITH A DEALER ABOUT THIS AS IT JUST HAPPENED TODAY PLEASE CHASE THIS COMPANY DOWN I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE THIS AGAIN THANK YOU FOR HELP. *TR

MY MOTHER OWNS A 2002 ISUZU, AXIOM, SHE BOUGHT NEW IN 2003. SHE WENT TO GET IT INSPECTED TODAY AND THEY TOLD HER THE FRAME WAS RUSTED SO BAD THEY COULDN'T PASS IT. SHE ONLY HAS 42,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE OTHERWISE. THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THIS EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE ROAD. WE ARE UNSURE WHETHER WE CAN GET IT FIXED. WHAT KIND OF RECOURSE DO WE HAVE? *TR

2002 ISUZU AXIOM. DRIVER'S SIDE "TRACTION BAR" (CONNECTS TO REAR AXLE) COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF OF THE FRAME. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION, THE ENTIRE FRAME IS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS IN VERY GOOD/GOOD CONDITION. LUCKILY, THE BREAK HAPPENED WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, SO NO ONE WAS HURT. IF IT HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD. VEHICLE IS UNUSABLE UNLESS THE ENTIRE FRAME IS REPLACED. I HAD A MECHANIC/WELDER LOOK AT IT, AND HE SAID THERE IS "NO WAY" HE WOULD TRY TO REPAIR IT. THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH "GOOD METAL" TO WELD TO. HOPEFULLY, INSURANCE WILL PAY FOR REPAIR (WHICH I DOUBT) OR TOTAL THE VEHICLE. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A LARGE PROBLEM FOR 2002 AXIOMS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ISUZU AXIOM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED, INCLUDING THE SUSPENSION, TRACTION ARM, AND THE STEERING ARM. THE DEALER WAS SHOCKED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO A WELDING SHOP. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT END FRAME WOULD ALSO RUST IF IT WERE WELDED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND IT FELT LIKE SHE WAS SHIFTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, SHE DISCOVERED OTHER CONSUMERS WHO WERE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE AND WERE NOT BEING ASSISTED. SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE WELDING SHOP AWAITING A REMEDY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 117,000.

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

ALSO HAVE LOUD CREAKING NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT SIDE OF VEHICLE WHEN TURNING LEFT, RIGHT, OR GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS. PROBLEM FIXED ONCE OUT OF 4 DEALERSHIPS THAT WERE TRIED. NOISE WENT AWAY AFTER SERVICE TECH TIGHTENED BOLTS CONNECTING THE CROSS BAR/BEAM TO THE 2 LONG TORQUE BARS THAT RUN DOWN THE LENGTH OF VEHICLE. AFTER 1 MONTH, PROBLEM CAME BACK, WAS FIXED AGAIN, AND THEN CAME BACK AGAIN. AFTER 4 REVOLUTIONS OF THIS, PROBLEM PERSISTS TODAY. VEHICLE'S FRAME FELT "TIGHTER" WHEN MAKING TURNS DURING THE PERIOD WHERE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AS COMPARED TO WHEN THE NOISE WAS PRESENT. THE LONGER THE NOISE EXISTS, THE "LOOSER" THE FRAME FEELS, AS WELL. ADDITIONALLY, A "TAR-LIKE SUBSTANCE" HAS BEEN SEEPING OUT OF ALL 4 DOORS SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2004. THE ISUZU DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM SAYS THAT THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM FROM MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS, THE SUBSTANCE IS USED TO SECURE A "VAPOR SEAL" INSIDE EACH DOOR PANEL, AND ISUZU WILL NOT WARRANTY THE CLEANING OR REPLACING OF IT. ESSENTIALLY EXACTLY LIKE TAR ITSELF, IT MELTS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED UNDER DIRECT SUN. DUE TO THE LARGE QUANTITY, IT BECOMES UNAVOIDABLE WHEN LOADING/UNLOADING PASSENGERS OR, IN OUR CASE, SMALL CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS. IT HAS RUINED THE CARPET, MANY OF OUR CLOTHES, AND GIVEN US GREAT HEARTBURN. WHY WON'T ISUZU WARRANTY THE CLEANING AND REPLACEMENT OF THIS FAULTY MATERIAL? MOST ALL MANUFACTURERS HAVE SOME TYPE OF VAPOR/WATER SEAL AND YOU WILL NOT FIND TAR LEAKING OUT OF THEIR VEHICLES. *NM