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
55 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,000–75,000 miles.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Electrical System
18
0
0
0
Fuel System, Gasoline
13
0
0
0
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
5
0
0
0
Air Bags
5
1
0
1
Vehicle Speed Control
4
0
0
0
Fuel/Propulsion System
4
0
0
0
Air Bags › Side/Window
3
0
0
0
Fuel System, Other › Storage › Fuel Gauge System
2
0
0
0
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
1
0
1
0
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
1
0
0
0
1 safety recall
Part 573 reports
Visibility › Windshield05V035000
Filed Feb 3, 200517,815 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.
Defect. CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, 'WINDSHIELD MOUNTING.' THE WINDSHIELD URETHANE BEAD MAY NOT HAVE ADHERED TO THE BODY IN CERTAIN AREAS DURING THE CURE PROCESS.
Risk. IF A CRASH OCCURS, THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE RETAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 10, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Apr 10, 2021144,750 milesTX
DRIVING AT NIGHT ON HIGHWAY AND MY EXTERIOR LIGHTS WILL GO COMPLETELY OFF AND ONLY MY HIGH BEAMS WILL COME ON BUT THAT'S IT. THEY'LL COME BACK ON USUALLY WHEN I GET TO WHERE I'M GOING AND PARK THE CAR BUT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN YOUR HEADLIGHTS GO OUT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BOTH THE HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAMS WENT OUT. BUT ON MOST OCCASIONS AND NOW EVERY OCCASION WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE REGULAR LOWBEAM HEADLIGHTS JUST GO OUT RANDOMLY
Air Bags1 injured
Filed Sep 21, 2018CA
LETTER FROM CONSTITUENT REGARDING AIRBAG IN HIS 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER WENT OFF FOR NO REASON CAUSING PERSONAL INJURIES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, BUT THE CLAIM WAS DENIED DUE TO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM REPORTING A CRASH. *JS *BF
Electrical System
Filed Feb 3, 2018150,000 milesWI
SMOKE IN THE CABIN, BURNING PLASTIC/ELECTRICAL SMELL, ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FAILURE, BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR PACK INTERFACE CONNECTOR ELECTRICAL FAILURE ON 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER FIVE (5) PASSENGER VEHICLE
Electrical System
Filed Oct 5, 2017TN
"ELECTRICAL ISSUE"- ONE NIGHT,I WAS DRIVING MY SUV ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY MOM AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUT (ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR) WENT OFF. WE WERE DRIVING ALONG WITH NO LIGHTS. THE NEXT DAY WE NOTICED THE CLUSTER PANEL STOPPED WORKING AS WELL. ALL OF THE GAUGES EXCEPT FOR THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. ISUZU WENT OUT OF BUSINESS HERE IS MEMPHIS A FEW YEARS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.
Engine
Filed Oct 14, 2016MO
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE WIRES ON THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHTS MELTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS FRACTURED AND THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED, ALL OF WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND TWICE FOR THE HEADLIGHTS WITHIN THE PAST THREE YEARS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Exterior Lighting
Filed Mar 5, 201670,000 milesCA
THE LIGHTS GO OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS WITH THE ASCENDER 2006-2008 RECALL, BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 2005. THE HDM HAS GONE OUT. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST 4 MONTHS ONLY TO GO OUT AND NOT COME BACK ON THIS LAST TIME 03/01/2016. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I NOTICED ON THE INTERNET THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO 2006 MODEL. THEY SHOULD COVER THE COST ON THIS CAR SINCE IT IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL 14V755000 11/26/2014 AND SECOND NOTICE OF RECALL 08/18/2015. THE 2005 MODEL SHOULD BE INCLUDED.
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 2, 201654,000 milesTX
FUEL GAGE FLUXUATES READING EMPTY WHEN FULL AT START UP AND AT SPEED.
Air Bags
Filed Aug 19, 2015149,671 milesTX
I WAS DRIVING OUR CAR ( 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER), HAVING JUST EXITED THE HIGHWAY I WAS ONLY GOING AROUND 5- 8 MPH WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE AND WITH NO REASON THE SIDE, AND REAR AIRBAGS UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYOED. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THEM TO HAVE DEPLOYED, NO ACCIDENT, IMPACT, BUMPS OR ANYTHING. ONE MINUTE EVERYTHING WAS FINE THE NEXT THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND AND THE CABIN FILLED WITH AIRBAGS AND A HORRIBLE SMELL THANKFULLY MY CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR BECAUSE THE WAY THEY EXPLODED IT WOULD HAVE SURELY CAUSED THEM PHYSICAL HARM. UPON THE AIRBAGS UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYING THE SEATBELTS LOCKED UP COMPLETELY.
Air Bags
Filed Aug 18, 2015149,671 milesTX
VEHICLE'S REAR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITH OUT ANY CAUSE. I WAS DRIVING APROX. 5-8 MPH TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AND OUT OF NOWHERE THE VEHICLES AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. UPON THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING THE SEATBELTS LOCKED UP COMPLETELY.
Power Train
Filed Aug 20, 201450,000 milesPA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HORN WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW GLASS FELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Electrical System
Filed Aug 10, 201470,000 milesIL
VEHICLE SUDDENLY 'SHUTTERED' AT 65MPH ON THE TOLLWAY AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED COMPLETELY, INDICATING BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. CONCURRENTLY, INDICATOR LIGHT FOR REAR DRIVE TRAIN ALSO SHOWING FAILURE. UNSURE IF THESE ISSUES WERE RELATED OR COINCIDENTAL. DIAGNOSTICS/TESTING BY MECHANIC RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF SEVERAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PARTS, INCLUDING A/C DELCO TRANS SELECTOR SWITCH; A/C DELCO SPEED SENSOR; A/C DELCO IGNITION SWITCH, AND REPAIR OF 4-WHEEL DRIVE ENGINE HARNESS, TOTALING EXPENSE OF $808.37. SINCE REPAIR, NO FURTHER INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE COMPONENTS. WHILE IT IS CLEAR THAT WOULD SEEM RELATED TO GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL, THERE IS NO PUBLISHED INDICATION THAT GM SUV'S PRODUCED UNDER THE ISUZU NAME-PLATE HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, AS THEY SHOULD BE. *TR
Visibility › Power Window Devices and ControlsFire
Filed Aug 8, 2014104,000 milesMD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY AT 2 MPH HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW SWITCHES WHICH IMMEDIATELY FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jul 30, 201490,000 milesKS
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED EXCEPT FOR THE TEMPERATURE AND RPM GAUGES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Electrical System
Filed Apr 7, 201457,377 milesNM
MY CAR RUNS FINE BUT FOR SOME REASON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL IS ERRATIC OR DOESN'T WORK AT ALL, MY SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES, THE RPM, OIL AND GAS LEVEL GAUGES DO NOT WORK AT ALL. *TR
Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Feb 11, 201443,015 milesFL
FUEL GAUGE WORKING ERRATICALLY. CURRENTLY THE GAUGE IS PAST THE FULL MARK, EVEN THOUGH THE GAS TANK SHOULD HALF FULL. *TR
Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jan 1, 201480,000 milesFL
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT( THERMOSTAT), SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE AND NOW THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE HAVE STOPPED WORKING OR WORK SPORADICALLY AND INACCURATELY. THESE PROBLEMS ARE LISTED IN ORDER OF FAILURE AND THEY STARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 85,000MI AND THE LAST WAS AT 106,000 MILES. IF I HAD KNOWN THIS VEHICLE WAS MADE BY GM, I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT IT. IT WILL DEFINITELY BE THE LAST GM PRODUCT IN MY HOUSEHOLD. I HAVE HAD MANY AND ALL BUT ONE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. A FOOTNOTE: A PART OF THE GEARSHIFT LINKAGE BROKE AT APPROX. 95,000MI. *TR
Electrical System
Filed Dec 13, 201362,480 milesMN
ON 11/27/13 I WAS TRAVELING FROM MINNEAPOLIS MN TO OMAHA NE FOR THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. I HAD JUST LEFT A REST STOP ON HWY 35 SOUTHBOUND. AT ONE POINT I HAPPENED TO ROUTINELY SCAN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND SUDDENLY NOTICED THAT, ACCORDING TO THE GAUGE, MY ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WAS SHOWING 60+ PSI AND WAS CONTINUING TO RISE. I QUICKLY PULLED OFF ON THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER AND SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. THE GAUGE NOW READ OVER "80". I GOT OUT AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, BUT FOUND NOTHING UNUSUAL. NOTE: WHEN THE GAUGE WENT CRAZY, THERE WERE NO OTHER WARNING LIGHT OR INDICATORS. I GOT BACK IN THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED NORMALLY AND THE ENGINE SOUNDED FINE. I PROCEEDED INTO MASON CITY IA AND FOUND A GM DEALER. THERE WERE NO MECHANICS PRESENT, BUT A HELPFUL SALES PERSON TOOK ALOOK AT THE GAUGE AND SAID IT WAS PROBABLY A FAULTY STEP MOTOR IN THE GAUGE OR A BAD SENDER UNIT. IN EITHER CASE, HE SAID IT WAS OK TO DRIVE TO OMAHA, BUT SUGGESTED STOPPING AT A GM DEALER IN OMAHA ON FRIDAY, AFTER THANKSGIVING. I DID TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER ON FRIDAY AND A MECHANIC CHECKED THE GAUGE AND SAID THAT IT WAS A FAULTY STEPPER MOTOR IN THE GAUGE. HE SAID GM HAS HAD ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS ON THE MID-SIZE SUVS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM ABOUT 2003 THROUGH ABOUT 2007. HE SAID I SHOULD CHECK WITH A GM DEALER BACK IN MINNEAPOLIS TO SEE WHETHER GM IS COVERING MY BAD GAUGE. HE SAID THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT MY FIRST BAD GAUGE IN THE CLUSTER WAS OIL PRESSURE, RATHER THAN SPEEDOMETER OR G
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Oct 3, 201395,000 milesFL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE PROVIDED AN INACCURATE READING AND FLUCTUATED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical System
Filed Sep 10, 201390,000 milesSC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD NOT OPERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Aug 12, 201395,000 milesFL
2005 ISUZU ASCENDER-FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING, OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 95,000 MILES. RECEIVED NOTICE FROM ISUZU STATING THEY WILL REPLACE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR IF THE CONDITION OCCURS WITHIN 10 YEARS OF THE DATE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED OR 120,000 AT NO CHARGE, WHICH EVER OCCURS FIRST. MY ASCENDER HAS APPROX. 128,000 MILES, SEEING THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS IN REGARD TO FUEL GAUGE ISUZU SHOULD REPAIR IT REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. *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: Feb 3, 2005. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.