AI Damage2002 Isuzu Axiom: common problems
Owners of the 2002 Isuzu Axiom filed 124 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and structure. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 124
- involving a crash
- 13
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 28% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 25% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 23% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 18% of all complaints
- 5 Engine and cooling 7% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 7% of all complaints
- 7 Tires 6% of all complaints
- 8 Electrical system 5% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 35 complaints (28% of all).
- Structure: 31 complaints (25% of all).
- Service brakes: 28 complaints (23% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 22 complaints (18% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 9 complaints (7% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 124 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 28 | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Loss of steering, car went into ditches when brakes applied. Which ever front wheel grabbed when brakes were applied the suv went that direction. Then back on the road , across it and into a embankment and back onto the road. Finally rolling to a stop because the driver was afraid to re-apply the brakes.
The air bags did not deploy, and the driver suffered bruising from the safety belt. There is a recall, #02v213000 but the contact was not notified of the recall when the vehicle was purchased. Updated 02/28/06.
She was wearing a seat belt at the time but the air bags did not deploy. The weather was dry and the road conditions were good. T he vehicle hasn't been taken tot he dealer yet for inspection. The dealer was contacted and they said for him to take it to a mechanic. He hasn't been able to get a hold of the mfr.
Vehicle spun out on 2 occasiions on wet road due to poor traction of goodyear integrity tires.
While driving at 25 mph left front tire blew out, driver lost control and hit a guard rail. Upon impact, none of the air bags deployed. Goodyear, size p235/65r17, dot# unknown. Consumer stated there was not an issue with the tire, but his son ran over something and blew the tire.
On 10/17/03, I was driving on a wet road with a small hill when my 2002 axiom skidded, first to the right, then across the road into the path of a car causing a collision. There was no reason for my car to go into a skid traveling at 25 mph.
The air bags did not deploy, despite the square front to rear impact. The front passenger seat in my vehicle broke, twisting the passenger to the side, facing the steering wheel.
The contact stated that severe corrosion was discovered above the rear tires while the vehicle was raised on a lift. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V436000 (Suspension).
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,056 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 8% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Axiom has 40 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 124, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Isuzu Axiom?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, structure, service brakes. Total complaints: 124. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rust, corrosion (24%), vibration (14%), transmission slipping (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2002 Isuzu Axiom?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2002 Isuzu Axiom from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2002 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.