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2004 Isuzu Axiom

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 13 of 17 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

17 reports
12,227 miles · Dec 3, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE MAKES "CLACKING OR PINGING TYPE SOUND" WHEN INITIALLY STARTED FOR ABOUT 3-4 MINUTES. ONCE ENGINE IS WARM (OR AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE) THE ENGINE SOUND IS NORMAL. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE ENGINE OIL TAKES TIME TO CIRCULATE TO ALL ENGINE PARTS OR PERHAPS VALVES ARE LOOSE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT EXCESSIVE ENGINE WEAR IF OI…

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ENGINE MAKES "CLACKING OR PINGING TYPE SOUND" WHEN INITIALLY STARTED FOR ABOUT 3-4 MINUTES. ONCE ENGINE IS WARM (OR AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE) THE ENGINE SOUND IS NORMAL. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE ENGINE OIL TAKES TIME TO CIRCULATE TO ALL ENGINE PARTS OR PERHAPS VALVES ARE LOOSE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT EXCESSIVE ENGINE WEAR IF OIL IS NOT REACHING INTERNAL PARTS PROPERLY. DEALER SAYS ENGINE IS NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL. ALSO, DEALER NO LONGER SERVICES WARRANTY ON VEHICLE I.E. NO LONER AN ISUZU DEALER. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10175007

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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 …

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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-BONED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. IT FEELS THAT THE GAS IS NOT GETTING TO THE ENGINE OR EITHER THE TRANSMISSION IS STICKING. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERYTIME I GET IN IT BUT THE DEALER IS SAYING IT IS NOT HAPPENING WHILE PUTTING IT ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE OR WHEN THEY TEST DRIVE IT. I EVEN SUGGESTED THAT I GO WITH THEM AND THEY WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE MY SUGGESTION. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING?*JB

NHTSA ODI #10154622

36,000 miles · Feb 9, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

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…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10149884

15,500 miles · Aug 29, 2005
Electrical System

PREMATURE BATTERY FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10134461

10,896 miles · Jan 24, 2005
Fuel System, GasolineCrash

I WAS GOING TO WORK AND WAS PULLING INTO A FENCED IN PARKING AREA, GOING APPROX. 10 MPH. I GAVE THE CAR A LITTLE GAS AND THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AND THE CAR TOOK OFF LIKE A BULLET. I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, SO I PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT STOP. I HIT A PARKED 19…

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I WAS GOING TO WORK AND WAS PULLING INTO A FENCED IN PARKING AREA, GOING APPROX. 10 MPH. I GAVE THE CAR A LITTLE GAS AND THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AND THE CAR TOOK OFF LIKE A BULLET. I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, SO I PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT STOP. I HIT A PARKED 1993 CROWN VICTORIA THAT TWO PEOPLE HAD JUST SECONDS BEFORE PARKED AND GOT OUT OF. AFTER I HIT THE PARKED CAR THE ACCELERATOR WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THE CRASH PUSHED THE PARKED CAR INTO THE FENCE, MOVING THAT CAR TWO TO THREE FEET ON IMPACT. THE TWO PEOPLE THAT WITNESSED THIS RAN TO MY CAR AND OPENED BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS AND MY FEET WERE STILL ON THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY FLOOR. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF BECAUSE I WAS ON THE BRAKE SO HARD THAT MY BUMPER WENT UNDER THE CROWN VICTORIA. MY BUMPER PUT A SMALL DENT IN THE CROWN'S GAS TANK. I DID NOT GET HURT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE BUMPER. ESTIMATED DAMAGE TO MY CAR IS $4600. TO $5000. IT BUSTED MY RADIATOR AND BUCKLED MY HOOD. I CALLED THE POLICE AND CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND REQUESTED THAT MY INSURANCE COMPANY DO AN INVESTIGATION TO SEE WHY THE ACCELERATOR STUCK. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD BRING IN AN ENGINEER TO DETERMINE WHAT THE FAILURE WAS. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE BODY SHOP. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE BODY PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THE MANUAL LINKAGE ON THE THROTTLE. THE BODY PEOPLE SAID THAT IT LOOKED FINE AND THAT WAS THE END OF THE BIG INVESTIGATION. THE INSURANCE CO. SAID THAT WAS ALL THEY COULD DO. NO QUALIFIED MECHANIC HAS EVER LOOKED AT THE CAR SINCE THE ACCIDENT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS DONE WITH THEIR INVESTIGATION. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10107831

1,000 miles · Aug 26, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

WE HAVE OWNED OUR AXIOM FOR 3 MONTHS, AFTER APPROX 1000 MILES WE NOTICED THAT WHEN STARTING THE CAR OCCASIONALLY RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE STARTED IT WOULD BUCK, BACK FIRE,SMOKE AND HAVE NO POWER AT ALL FOR APPROX THE FIRST 1-2 MINUTES OF RUNNING. WE DID'NT THINK TO MUCH OF AS IT WAS BRAND NEW AND HAD NOT BEEN BROKEN IN AS OF YET.…

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WE HAVE OWNED OUR AXIOM FOR 3 MONTHS, AFTER APPROX 1000 MILES WE NOTICED THAT WHEN STARTING THE CAR OCCASIONALLY RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE STARTED IT WOULD BUCK, BACK FIRE,SMOKE AND HAVE NO POWER AT ALL FOR APPROX THE FIRST 1-2 MINUTES OF RUNNING. WE DID'NT THINK TO MUCH OF AS IT WAS BRAND NEW AND HAD NOT BEEN BROKEN IN AS OF YET. THEN IT STARTED TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN AND WOULD EVEN STALL BEFORE WE GOT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY.WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE 1ST OIL CHANGE AT 4000 MILES AND HAD THEM CHECK IT AND THE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO CODE ON THE COMPUTER SO IT MUST HAVE BEEN BAD GAS (I DON'T THINK SO) ALSO WHEN THIS OCCURS GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE TRANSMISSION ACTS UP AFTER IT CLEARS UP LIKE IT SURGES FORWARD AND BACK. I'M WRITING THIS TODAY BECAUSE ON 8/19/04 I WENT TO DINNER AND LEAVING I HAD TO CROSS 3 LANES OF HEAVY TRAFFIC TO GO HOME. WHEN I PULLED OUT THE CAR BUCKED,BACKFIRED AND CLOSE TO NO POWER AT ALL, I WAS ALMOST "T" BONED BY A TRACTOR TRAILER AND ANOTHER CAR. THE CAR STRAIGHTENED IT SELF OUT JUST IN TIME AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THERE WAY. MY WIFE SAID IT DID IT TO HER WHEN SHE TRIED TO PASS A CAR BUT THAT SHE PUT THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT PICKED UP AND RAN OK AFTER THAT. I HAVE ANOTHER APPOINT TO HAVE SUSPENSION CHECKED AND I HOPE THEY WILL LOOK AT THIS TO. 2ND THING IS A REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEM. WHEN THE CAR HAS 2 ADULTS, 2 CHILDREN AND 3 SUIT CASES IN THE REAR AND TRAVELING THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE ROAD SURFACE CHANGES LIKE GOING ON TO A BRIDGE THE REAR END WILL BOUNCE AND BOUNCE SEVERAL TIME UNTIL IT STOPS, I ALSO HAD THIS CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STRUTS SO THERES NOTHING THEY CAN DO. NOW I HAVE TO WATCH MY SPEED WHEN I SEE THE ROAD SURFACE CHANGE BECAUSE IT HAS BOUNCED VERY, VERY BADLY. THIS TO WILL BE CHECKED AGAIN WHEN I BRING IT BACK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10088601

4,203 miles · Jun 12, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE AND STOPPING FOR 1 HOUR; WHEN RESTARTING, THE ENGINE STALLS AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE. WHEN I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC, NEARLY HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THIS BEGAN ON 5-18-2004 WITH 3563 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE FOURTH TIME…

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AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE AND STOPPING FOR 1 HOUR; WHEN RESTARTING, THE ENGINE STALLS AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE. WHEN I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC, NEARLY HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THIS BEGAN ON 5-18-2004 WITH 3563 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE FOURTH TIME. THE MILAGE IS NOW 4203. I AM STILL DRIVING A LOANER VEHICLE SINCE JUNE 6 2004. AND HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE DEALER SINCE THAT DATE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10075268

Official recalls

2

13V547000 · Suspension:rear

Oct 31, 2013

Isuzu Manufacturing Services of America, Inc (Isuzu) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Rodeo and Axiom, and 2003 Rodeo Sport vehicles that were originally sold in, or are currently registered in, 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, Kentucky and Missouri. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion near the forward mounting point bracket for the left or right rear suspension lower link.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The corrosion may allow the bracket to detach from the frame, impacting vehicle handling and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Isuzu will notify owners, and 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 event the corrosion is so severe that the reinforcement bracket remedy would not be sufficient, Isuzu will offer to repurchase the vehicle for an amount based on the Kelley Blue Book "Private Party" price. 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 dealer within 12 months of when owner notifications were issued, after that time owners will be charged for the repairs. The recall is expected to begin in mid-December 2013. Isuzu owners may contact Isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.

05V466000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Oct 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP18001 · Fuel Tank Retention Failure

Opened May 23, 2018 · Closed Mar 5, 2020

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

On April 10, 2018, NHTSA received a petition from Mr. Kevin Byrne (the Petitioner) requesting that the Agency ?undertake a defects investigation? of ?rust-related detachment of Isuzu Rodeo fuel tanks? (NHTSA ID 11091788). The Petitioner experienced a partial fuel tank detachment in his model year (MY) 2004 Isuzu Rodeo in July 2017. On May 23, 2018, ODI opened DP18-001 to evaluate the Petitioner?s request for a defect investigation. ODI sent information request letters to Isuzu and Honda requesting production, design history and field data related to fuel tank retention failures in MY 2001-2004 Isuzu Rodeo, MY 2002-2004 Isuzu Axiom and MY 2001-2002 Honda Passport vehicles equipped with the same fuel tank shield part number as the Petitioner?s vehicle (the ?subject vehicles?). ODI notes that Isuzu manufactured the subject Passport vehicles for Honda. Isuzu implemented a change to the tank shield corrosion protection system as a running change in early MY 2002 production. Isuzu and Honda sold approximately 172,000 subject vehicles in the United States. Fifty-eight (58) percent of the subject vehicles were produced prior to the shield change (99,000) and 42 percent after the change (73,000).ODI?s analysis of field data identified 19 incidents of partial fuel tank detachments in the subject vehicles. The incidents all occurred in states with high road salt usage in winter months (Salt States) and involved older vehicles beyond 10-years in service. On average, the failures occurred in the vehicle?s 13th year-in-service. Evidence of severe general corrosion in multiple undercarriage components was also noted in 13 of the 19 vehicles that experienced partial fuel tank detachments. None of the incidents resulted in fuel leakage or fire. Aside from the petitioner?s vehicle, ODI has not identified any other incidents of complete or partial fuel tank detachment in the MY 2002-2004 subject vehicles equipped with the modified retention shield.In addition, ODI reviewed 24 NHTSA complaints alleging corrosion concerns with the fuel tank retention system in the subject vehicles that did not result in fuel tank detachment. Twenty-three (23) of these complaints involve subject vehicles built prior to the shield change. Like the vehicles reporting fuel tank detachments, these vehicles are also all from Salt States and, in most cases (20 of the 24 complaints), the vehicles also experienced severe corrosion concerns in other undercarriage components. Half (12 of the 24 complaints) of the vehicles show prior accident damage in their service histories.Based on these analyses, ODI has not identified evidence of a defect trend for premature corrosion-related fuel tank detachments in the MY 2004 Isuzu Rodeo or similarly equipped vehicles. The damage that may result in tank retention concerns appears to occur progressively over many years with ample opportunity for detection and repair. Furthermore, ODI has not identified any crashes, fires, injuries, or fuel leaks associated with fuel tank retention failures in a population of vehicles that currently range from 16 to 19 years old.Accordingly, the Agency is denying the petition.A summary of ODI?s analysis of this petition will be published in the Federal Register and is also available in the investigative file for this action.The NHTSA consumer complaints counted in the closing resume for DP18-001 can be reviewed at www.nhtsa.gov under the following ODI identification numbers (VOQs in parentheses denote duplicate records): Allegations of fuel tank retention failure: 11084098 (11091788), 10532845, 10486109. Allegations of fuel tank retention component corrosion: 11138931, 10992150, 10845523,