Head-to-head reliability

Isuzu Axiom vs Honda Accord

How the Isuzu Axiom and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Isuzu Axiom156 complaints · 9 recalls Fewer issues per year
Honda Accord4,173 complaints · 35 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Isuzu Axiom averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. Isuzu Axiom has 156 complaints and 9 recalls on record; Honda Accord has 4,173 complaints and 35 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryIsuzu AxiomHonda Accord
Total complaintsAll model years combined156 Better4,173
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns9 Better35
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints18 Better146
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years52.0 Better417.3
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints14 Better135
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better3

Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.

What actually goes wrong

The problems owners report

The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.

Isuzu Axiom

  1. 01POWER TRAIN41
  2. 02STRUCTURE34
  3. 03SERVICE BRAKES32
  4. 04HYDRAULIC27
  5. 05SUSPENSION22
In owners' words — POWER TRAIN

MY 2002 ISUZU AXIOM TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING WITHIN A WEEK I WAS AT A STOP SIGN I WENT TO TAKE OFF AND MY CAR WOULDN'T DRIVE IT WENT IN REVERSE BUT NOT FORWARD IF I HIT 'WINTER MODE' IT WILL BYPASS FIRST GEAR AND DRIVE IN SECOND AND THIRD BUT NOT IN FIRS…

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 ANYW…

Honda Accord

  1. 01ENGINE940
  2. 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM812
  3. 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE784
  4. 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER677
  5. 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM567
In owners' words — ENGINE

2021 Honda Accord EX-L, 1.5T turbocharged engine. Within 8 months of purchase at approximately 21,900 miles, I experienced three separate incidents of sudden complete engine power loss at highway speeds. During each incident the vehicle would not exceed 2,000…

I am filing a complaint regarding the premature head gasket failure on my 2021 Honda Accord, which failed on May 28, 2026, with only 89,000 miles on the vehicle. A head gasket is a critical engine component that should last well beyond 89,000 miles under norm…

Official recalls

Safety recalls on record

Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.

Isuzu Axiom — 9 recalls

Suspension — Rear
#13V547000

The defect: 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,…

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

The fix: 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 corrosio…

Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump
#05V466000Jul 2005

The 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 LAUNC…

The risk: A FUEL LEAK COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.

The fix: 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 EQUI…

Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Brake Fluid Low Warning — Lamp
#03V390000Oct 2003

The defect: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS." THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE IN THE EVENT OF DECREASED BRAKE FLUID VOLUME.

The fix: THE DIODES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. ALL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED.

Suspension — Rear
#13V547000

The defect: 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,…

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

The fix: 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 corrosio…

Honda Accord — 35 recalls

Seat Belts — Rear/Other — Retractor
#21V900000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…

The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
#24V064000Jan 2024

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…

The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…

Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump
#23V858000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…

The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
#26V332000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…

The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…

Check the actual car

Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.

Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Isuzu Axiom or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Isuzu Axiom vs Honda Accord — comparison facts
Comparison
Isuzu Axiom vs Honda Accord
Isuzu Axiom total complaints
156
Honda Accord total complaints
4,173
Isuzu Axiom total recalls
9
Honda Accord total recalls
35
Isuzu Axiom avg complaints/year
52.0
Honda Accord avg complaints/year
417.3
More reliable overall
Isuzu Axiom
Isuzu Axiom top complaint area
POWER TRAIN
Honda Accord top complaint area
ENGINE