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2004 Isuzu Ascender

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Isuzu Ascender do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 32.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

51 reports with mileage · 13 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

34 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2010
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train

THE COMPUTER SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE IS BROKEN DOWN. THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS FROM 0 MPH TO 120MPH AND NEVER SHOWS THE CORRECT SPEED. AIRBAG SIGN FLICKERS AND TURNS ON AND OFF AT TIMES. THE GEAR STICK JAMS ON ONE MODE AND CAR STARTS STALLING. DEALERSHIP DOESN'T WANT TO ACCEPT IT AS A LEMON CAR THAT IS EATING AWAY OUR MONEY. AND WANTS…

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THE COMPUTER SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE IS BROKEN DOWN. THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS FROM 0 MPH TO 120MPH AND NEVER SHOWS THE CORRECT SPEED. AIRBAG SIGN FLICKERS AND TURNS ON AND OFF AT TIMES. THE GEAR STICK JAMS ON ONE MODE AND CAR STARTS STALLING. DEALERSHIP DOESN'T WANT TO ACCEPT IT AS A LEMON CAR THAT IS EATING AWAY OUR MONEY. AND WANTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308767

30,500 miles · Dec 30, 2008
Electrical System

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON, SERVICE DEPARTMENT UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253308

80,000 miles · Aug 13, 2008
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND NOTICED THAT THE DIGITAL ODOMETER AND GEAR GAUGES WERE INOPERATIVE. ALSO, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS WERE NOT WORKING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE INTERMITTENT FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SCHEDULED FOR…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND NOTICED THAT THE DIGITAL ODOMETER AND GEAR GAUGES WERE INOPERATIVE. ALSO, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS WERE NOT WORKING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE INTERMITTENT FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SCHEDULED FOR AN APPOINTMENT AT THE AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED 8/25/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. UPDATED 08/27/10 UPDATED 08/30/10*JB

NHTSA ODI #10238021

65,000 miles · Apr 29, 2008
Electrical SystemFuel System, OtherVisibility

#1 BACK WINDOW POPS OPEN WHILE DRIVING #2 SPEED GAGE STOPS AT TIMES, FUEL GAGE STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226027

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2008
Electrical System

I OWN A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER AND SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN WORKING ERRATICALLY, AND NOW, NOT AT ALL. SPECIFICALLY THE TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER ARE NON-FUNCTIONING, AND THE VOLTMETER AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGE GIVE FALSE READINGS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND AM TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL AND THE WARRANTY IS N…

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I OWN A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER AND SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN WORKING ERRATICALLY, AND NOW, NOT AT ALL. SPECIFICALLY THE TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER ARE NON-FUNCTIONING, AND THE VOLTMETER AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGE GIVE FALSE READINGS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND AM TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL AND THE WARRANTY IS NOW UP. I HAVE CONTACTED ISUZU OF AMERICA AND TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL AND WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. BECAUSE THIS INVOLVES THE SPEEDOMETER, I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY A CO-WORKER OWNS A 2004 GMC ENVOY WHICH IS A SISTER VEHICLE, AND SHE IS ALSO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10220480

85,000 miles · Jan 29, 2008
Electrical System

TACHOMETER NEEDLE WENT STRAIGHT DOWN AND GAVE INCORRECT READINGS, THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SPEEDOMETER DID THE SAME THING THEN A WEEK LATER THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE BEGAN TO GIVE INCORRECT READINGS. MY MECHANIC SAYS HE HAS ALREADY HAD ONE 2004 GM VEHICLE IN FOR THE SAME THING. *CN

NHTSA ODI #10216360

25,000 miles · Jan 9, 2008
Electrical System

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW. GMC ENVOY, CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER, BUICK RAINIER, OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA, SAAB 9-7X, ISUZU ASCENDER THEY ARE ALL EXACTLY THE SAME VEHICLE THAT HAS JUST BEEN REBADGED. I PERSONALLY DRIVE A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER, AND I CAN'T GET GM , CHEVY, OR ISUZU TO FIX IT WITHOUT CHARGING ME $475. MY TACHOMETER ALWAYS READS …

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JUST TO LET YOU KNOW. GMC ENVOY, CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER, BUICK RAINIER, OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA, SAAB 9-7X, ISUZU ASCENDER THEY ARE ALL EXACTLY THE SAME VEHICLE THAT HAS JUST BEEN REBADGED. I PERSONALLY DRIVE A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER, AND I CAN'T GET GM , CHEVY, OR ISUZU TO FIX IT WITHOUT CHARGING ME $475. MY TACHOMETER ALWAYS READS WRONG. MY SPEEDOMETER SOMETIMES READS WRONG AND MY GAS GAUGE DOES NOT GIVE ME THE CORRECT READING. THIS CAN BE REAL DANGEROUS. THE SPEEDOMETER ISSUE IS MORE WIDE SPREAD THAN YOU GUYS THINK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10214347

25,700 miles · Dec 21, 2007
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER WHICH IS A GM PRODUCT IS GIVING FALSE READINGS AND SHOWS HIGHER AND/OR SLOWER SPEEDS THAN THE CORRECT SPEED. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A NATIONWIDE COMPLAINT AMONG OTHER GM PRODUCT OWNERS. THE DEALERSHIPS ARE REFUSING TO FIX IT, CITING "OUT OF WARRANTY" EXCUSES AND SAYING THAT IT IS NOT …

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THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER WHICH IS A GM PRODUCT IS GIVING FALSE READINGS AND SHOWS HIGHER AND/OR SLOWER SPEEDS THAN THE CORRECT SPEED. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A NATIONWIDE COMPLAINT AMONG OTHER GM PRODUCT OWNERS. THE DEALERSHIPS ARE REFUSING TO FIX IT, CITING "OUT OF WARRANTY" EXCUSES AND SAYING THAT IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS IN FACT, A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE FIXED AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10212477

59,000 miles · Jul 5, 2007
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER AND RPM GAUGE OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. HE STATED THAT ALL OF THE OTHER INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES OPERATE CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 59,064 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ODI #10195409

5,691 miles · Oct 10, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. TOOK TO DEALER AND HE HAD TO REPROGRAM OR REBOOT THE COMPUTER. (1 DAY AT DEALER) SUBSEQUENTLY (APPROX. 6 MONTHS) THE DASH LIGHTS FAILED (NO WARNING LIGHTS) DEALER REPROGRAMMED/REBOOTED COMPUTER. PROBLEM RECURRED ON TRIP HOME SO I RETURNED CAR TO DEALER. DIAGNOSED AS BAD I…

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. TOOK TO DEALER AND HE HAD TO REPROGRAM OR REBOOT THE COMPUTER. (1 DAY AT DEALER) SUBSEQUENTLY (APPROX. 6 MONTHS) THE DASH LIGHTS FAILED (NO WARNING LIGHTS) DEALER REPROGRAMMED/REBOOTED COMPUTER. PROBLEM RECURRED ON TRIP HOME SO I RETURNED CAR TO DEALER. DIAGNOSED AS BAD INSTRUMENT PANEL - TOOK 6 DAYS TO GET REPLACEMENT PART. PARTS FOR ISUZU HAVE TO BE ORDERED FROM ISUZU. THE EXACT SAME PART IS AVAILABLE FROM CHEVROLET, GMC, BUICK AND WAS READILY AVAILABLE FROM ANY OF THESE BUT WE LOST USE OF OUR VEHICLE FOR 6 DAYS WAITING ON ISUZU TO DELIVER THE PART. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10170352

Official recalls

1

05V198000 · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

May 5, 2005

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

RQ17002 · Loss Of Headlights

Opened Apr 24, 2017 · Closed Mar 29, 2021

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights

The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.

EA07009 · Fuel Pump Module Leaks Gasoline

Opened Jul 10, 2007 · Closed Aug 28, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

DURING THE COURSE OF THIS EA INVESTIGATION, ODI OBSERVED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPLAINTS (88%) AND WARRANTY CLAIMS (94%) WERE REPORTED FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE REGISTERED FOR USE IN THE SALT BELT REGION OF THE US.THIS AREA INCLUDES 20 STATES IN THE NORTHEAST, MID ATLANTIC AND THE MIDWEST REGIONS AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.CONSUMERS IN THE SALT BELT REGION REPORTED TO ODI THAT THEY COULD SMELL FUEL VAPORS IN THEIR VEHICLES WHILE DRIVING.UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THEIR VEHICLES, THEY DISCOVERED THAT FUEL VAPORS WERE COMING OUT OF THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS CONDITION IS CAUSED BY CORROSION OF THE RETURN AND SENDER LINES OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE.WATER AND ROAD SALT COLLECT ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP LEADING TO SMALL PINHOLES APPEARING ON THE FUEL LINES.FUEL MAY LEAK AND COLLECT ON TOP OF THE MODULE AND/OR SPILL ONTO THE GROUND.THE DATA EVALUATED UNDER THIS INVESTIGATION REFLECT A RELATIVELY LOW FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE THAT LARGELY ARISES IN SALT BELT STATES.GM HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE SUBJECT COMPONENT TO TEN YEARS OR 120,000 MILES.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SELECT DOCUMENT SEARCH.