Most common 2004 Isuzu Axiom problems
Share of the 17 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Isuzu Axiom complaints by model year
Best Axiom years: 2003, 2004. Years to avoid: 2002. Compare all years →
2004 Isuzu Axiom recalls (2)
Suspension › Rear
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,…
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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
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.
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…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2004 Isuzu Axiom:
Fuel Tank Retention Failure
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.
What 2004 Isuzu Axiom owners say
Engine & cooling
The car was being pulled into the garage and the brake had been applied. The engine accelerated uncontrollably and the car sped up hitting the main support for the house and damaging the vehicle.
While driving on a city street, vehicle completely lost power and came to a complete stop blocking traffic. Shop ultimately diagnosed the problem as the bolt holding the crankshaft sheared off, destroying an engine head in the process. This shop specializes in working with japanese engines and said "there are reports of this happening all over the country" with this make/model/year. Shop said the bolt isn't of high enough quality to support long-term use and now recommends replacing the bolt every 80,000 miles. Total repair cost more than $2000.
Fuel & propulsion system
I own 2004 Isuzu Axiom 3.5l with 94,000 plus miles. On 6/01/15 I was driving my vehicle and I noticed that the car seemed like it had to heavy. The vehicle starts and runs but very low power. There is a 'reduced power" warning on the dashboard . I checked it over and noticed that the gasoline tank is wet with fuel coming out from the top of tank in the fuel pump area. Now I am sure that I have fuel pump leaking I found out this 2004 Isuzu Axiom recall: service bulletin number: 05V466000 report date: oct 07, 2005component: fuel system, gasoline potential units affected: 15515 manufacturer: Isuzu manufacturing services of America summary: 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 fuel system. …
Car was diagnosed code p0602 ECM programming error. Vehicle died in hwy in minutes, all lights suddenly came "on" check engine, transmission, reduced power and car is dead. Thanks god no cars around me on busy hwy. Paid $$$$ for towing.
Electrical system
Car was diagnosed code p0602 ECM programming error. Vehicle died in hwy in minutes, all lights suddenly came "on" check engine, transmission, reduced power and car is dead. Thanks god no cars around me on busy hwy. Paid $$$$ for towing.
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 powertrain control module.
2004 Isuzu Axiom engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Isuzu Axiom a good car?
Based on 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Axiom rates better than average: 75% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Axiom at the same age. It is one of the best Axiom years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Isuzu Axiom?
The engine & cooling — 13 complaints, 76% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (4) and electrical system (3).
How many recalls does the 2004 Isuzu Axiom have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2004 Isuzu Axiom, the most recent from October 31, 2013 (rear). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Isuzu Axiom?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2003 and 2004. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2002. See the full Isuzu Axiom years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Isuzu Axiom problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 46% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.