Owners filed 64 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 1 time.
When it fails
08000080,000 milesMedian miles at failure
51 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 120,000–150,000 miles.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Electrical System
15
0
0
0
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
10
0
0
0
Fuel System, Gasoline
8
0
0
0
Fuel/Propulsion System
6
0
0
0
Exterior Lighting
3
0
0
0
Seat Belts › Front
2
0
0
0
Engine
2
0
0
0
Visibility › Windshield
1
0
1
0
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
1
0
1
0
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Rear Window
1
0
0
0
1 safety recall
Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal05V198000
Filed May 5, 2005286,478 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.
Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE DRIVER WISHING TO SIGNAL A TURN BY MOVING THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL LEVER, (UP OR DOWN) MAY CAUSE THE FRONT MARKER/TURN LIGHTS AND REAR TURN LIGHTS TO FLASH IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO HAZARD WARNING, RATHER THAN FLASHING ON THE DESIRED SIDE ONLY.
Risk. THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CLEARLY SIGNAL THEIR INTENTIONS TO TURN, CHANGE TRAVEL LANES, OR POTENTIALLY WARN OTHERS OF AN IMPAIRED VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT FLASHER MODULES WITH A NEW FLASHER MODULE DESIGNED WITH SEALED RELAYS AND MORE DURABLE CONTACT MATERIAL INSIDE OF THE RELAYS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2005. ISUZU BEGAN MAILING OWNER LETTERS ON AUGUST 4, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, AND OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Jan 6, 2018MO
THE GAUGE CLUSTER IS MALFUNCTIONING
Exterior Lighting
Filed May 5, 2017170,000 milesTX
THE LOW BEAMS ON MY HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ALSO WILL TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND TURN BACK ON BUT THIS IS NOT AS MUCH OF A SAFETY ISSUE AS WHEN IT HAPPENS DURING NIGHTTIME DRIVING. SOMETIMES MY HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK FROM THE MOMENT I START MY CAR BUT MOST OF THE TIME THEY SHUT OFF DURING DRIVING. I CAN SWITCH THE HEADLIGHTS TO HIGH BEAMS AND THEY TYPICALLY WORK FINE. ONLY ONCE HAVE I HAD BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAMS OUT AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN THAT HAPPENED I PARKED MY CAR AND LET IT SIT. WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AFTER ABOUT 30 MIN TO AN HOUR BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAMS WERE WORKING AGAIN. MY HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT WHILE I'M DRIVING IN THE CITY, IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS, AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE OR EVEN WHEN I FIRST START MY VEHICLE AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE REASON FOR MY HEADLIGHTS SPONTANEOUSLY GOING OUT IS UNKNOWN. THE PART THAT CAUSING THE PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN. IT DOES, HOWEVER, SEEM TO BE VERY SIMILAR TO ISSUES THAT HAS CAUSED GM TO DO A RECALL ON OTHER GM VEHICLES WHICH INCLUDES 2006-2009 (?) ISUZU ASCENDERS BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE MY 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE FIRST TIME THAT I EXPERIENCED THIS WAS BACK IN JANUARY 2017. THE LAST TIME THAT I EXPERIENCED THIS WAS LAST NIGHT, MAY 4, 2017.
Engine
Filed Dec 16, 2016180,000 milesFL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BANK ONE SENSOR WAS RUNNING RICH AND THE BANK TWO SENSOR WAS RUNNING LEAN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jul 7, 201655,000 milesTX
RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON FAULTY GAS TANK. HAD CAR INSPECTED BY ISUZU FACILITY 2/4/16 AND NEW PART(S) ORDERED. CANNOT GET ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHEN PART WILL BE IN AND MY CAR REPAIRED. IN THE MEANTIME, DRIVING WITH FAULTY, GAS-LEAKING, PROBABLY DANGEROUS CAR. GM APPARENTLY NOT COMMUNICATING WITH ISUZU AND PARTS NOT GETTING PRODUCED.
Service Brakes
Filed Apr 29, 2016144,455 milesTN
WHILE DRIVING MY CARS BRAKELIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE FASTER AND FASTER. PULLLED OVER AS SOON AS I COULD AND STOPPED THE CAR AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE CHECK GAUGES WARNING LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS SITTING IDLE OR WHEN I PULL UP AND STOP AT A RED LIGHT IT COMES ON.
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 16, 201699,000 milesVA
FUEL TANK HAS LEAKING SEALS, WHICH IS CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK AND THE SMELL OF FUEL INTO CABIN AREA OF VEHICLE AND VEHICLE REJECTED DURING STATE INSPECTION. PART NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL AFTER MAY.TOOK IT TO REPAIR FACILITY, WAS TOLD IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THEN WAS TOLD TO COME PICK UP THE VEHICLE. ISUZU UNWILLING TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE
Electrical System
Filed Feb 5, 201670,000 milesNC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Electrical System
Filed Dec 31, 2015129,998 milesRI
HAD AUTO TOWED TO MIDAS AFTER INABILITY TO START, ATTEMPTED JUMP START, UNSUCCESSFUL. BATTERY REPLACED ON 12/28/15. DROVE AUTO NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AND ON 12/30/15 DROVE TO PICK UP MY HUSBAND, SHUT OFF CAR IN PARK. UNABLE TO START VEHICLE AGAIN, KEYS COULD NOT BE REMOVED. KEYS WERE IN LOCK POSITION IN BATTERY MODE, ABLE TO TURN TO ENGINE ON BUT NOT TURNOVER. BATTERY RUNNING ALL LIGHTS. HAD AUTO TOWED AGAIN TO MIDAS BUT UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE. SPOKE WITH AUTO SHOP AND GIVEN THIS INFO TO CHECK RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. VIN [XXX]. 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. WILL REQUIRE ANOTHER TOW TO DIFFERENT FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTICS PLUS MORE FEES FOR REPAIRS,TOWING. AUTO WAS IN PARK ON SIDE STREET 4PM 12/30/15 AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE ALL DAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Structure › Body
Filed Dec 27, 2015PA
CAR PAID IS PILLING OFF WE PAINT THIS CAR 3 TIMES AND A THOSES THE SAMETHING ALL CLEAR PAINT WHIT IN 3-5 MONTH START TO COME OFF CAN ANY BODY TELL ME IS GM HAD A RECAL FOR THIS
Electrical System
Filed Dec 21, 2015150,000 milesOK
CLUSTER PANEL DOES NOT WORK. THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING REGULARLY WHETHER STATIONARY OR DRIVING.. THEY WORK INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE USE OF HIGH BEAMS. IT HAS BECOME A NIGHT TIME DRIVING SAFETY ISSUE. CAR WILL TURN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING CAUSING MY DAUGHTER TO HAVE TO PULL OVER FOR SAFETY.
Electrical System
Filed Nov 6, 2015180,000 milesFL
VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS WORK VERY ERRATICALLY BOTH WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED OR IN MOTION. LOW-BEAM LIGHTS WILL GO OFF ON A MOMENT'S NOTICE AND ONLY HIGH-BEAM LIGHTS WILL WORK. MORE RECENTLY, EVEN THE HIGH-BEAN LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ACTING UP AND TURNING OFF. HEADLIGHTS SOCKETS WERE REPLACED AT SOME POINT BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS CONDITION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND ALL THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT.
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Oct 8, 2015100,000 milesAZ
MY TRANSMISSION HAS HAD TO BE FIX 3 TIMES 2 OF THOSE TIME ME AND MY 5 CHILDREN WHERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR STOPPED PICKING UP SPEED AND WE HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE RODE. MY BACK VENTS FOR MY A/C DO NOT WORK, THE BACK DOOR OPENS ALL THE TIME ONE TIME IT OPENED AND ALL OUR GROCERIES FELL OUT AND WHEN I TRY TO PUMP GAS INTO MY CAR IT WOULD TAKE FOREVER THE PUMP WOULD STOP LIKE IT WAS FULL BUT NOW IT JUST SPILLS OUT AND MY CAR SMELLS LIKE GAS SO BAD ON THE INSIDE I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT ANYMORE. IT'S ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER AND I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS AND IT'S ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Aug 19, 2015110,000 milesMA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, THE DOOR WOULD NOT PROPERLY LATCH AND CLOSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO LATCH PROPERLY INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO SUCCESSFULLY LATCH AND CLOSE THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Visibility › WindshieldFire
Filed May 26, 201580,000 milesKS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAUGES AND LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE CONTROL PANEL OF THE ARM REST ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V035000 (VISIBILITY) EVEN THOUGH THE WINDSHIELD OF THE VEHICLE HAD SHIFTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Exterior Lighting
Filed Mar 2, 2015122,344 milesNH
WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE BOTH LOWBEAM HEADLIGHTS JUST WENT OUT. SHE WAS FORCED TO DRIVE WITH HIGHBEAMS TO GET HOME. AFTER REPLACING BOTH LIGHTS AND CHECKING ALL FUSES I AM AT A LOSS OF WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. WE CANNOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Oct 1, 2014100,000 milesNC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT DARK. AFTER TWENTY MINUTES, IT RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PROBLEM HAD RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Electrical System
Filed Mar 12, 201430,000 milesOK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. *TR
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jan 29, 2014138,000 milesCA
MY CAR HAS SMELLED OF GAS AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS A FRACTURE IN MY FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE 7 PASSENGER ASCENDER BUT THEY ARE DOING NOTHING WITH THE 5 PASSENGER ASCENDER THOUGH IT IS THE EXACT SAME PART THAT IS FAULTY. I HAVE CONTACTED ISUZU AND AM TAKING INTO THEIR SERVICE CENTER BUT I WANT THIS COMPLAINT ON RECORD IN CASE SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN SUCH AS MY CAR EXPLODING. THE FUMES INSIDE THE CAR ARE SO NOXIOUS THEY ARE MAKING ME SICK AND I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. *TR
Electrical System
Filed Sep 19, 201388,000 milesVA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CONTROL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CONTROL MODULE EXHIBITED A SHORT AND AS A RESULT, WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jun 17, 2013135,000 milesGA
ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS AND WARNING CHIME COMES ON EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE CAR. THE CHIME WILL GO OFF AFTER ABOUT 15 SEC. OF CHIMING. LIGHTS AND WARNING ON THE "READOUT" STAY ON. OUR MECHANIC SAID ITS THE ABS MODULE AND GM DOESN'T HAVE ANY. THEY HAVE BEEN ON BACKORDER FOR AT LEAST 8 MONTHS. HE SAID IT'S A PROBLEM WITH "LIKE" GM VEHICLES ALSO. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. DON'T KNOW TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY OR NOT. DON'T KNOW IF OUR BRAKES ARE GOING TO WORK. WE NEED THIS FIXED AND WE CAN'T EVEN GET A PART. HELP!! *TR
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: May 5, 2005. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.