← New search

2005 Isuzu Ascender

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Isuzu Ascender do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 32.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Ascender years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

55 reports with mileage · 9 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 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
144,750 miles · Apr 10, 2021
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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 OCCAS…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #11407343

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2017
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

"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 WORK…

Read full complaint

"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.

NHTSA ODI #11031904

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2016
EngineExterior Lighting

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 F…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10916050

70,000 miles · Mar 5, 2016
Exterior Lighting

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 …

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10840090

72,000 miles · Feb 23, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

THE FIRST TIME I REALIZED MY GAS GAUGE WASN'T WORKING, I WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE GAS HAND READ HALF FULL. I MADE THE TURN AT THE INTERSECTION AND THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. AT THIS POINT, I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING WHEEL OR ANYTHING. TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY SO I WRESTLED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO COAST TO THE SIDE O…

Read full complaint

THE FIRST TIME I REALIZED MY GAS GAUGE WASN'T WORKING, I WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE GAS HAND READ HALF FULL. I MADE THE TURN AT THE INTERSECTION AND THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. AT THIS POINT, I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING WHEEL OR ANYTHING. TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY SO I WRESTLED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SINCE THEN, OTHER GAUGES IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAVE STOPPED WORKING. ALSO, MY HEADLIGHTS WORK ON BRIGHT ONLY. I HAD THE LOW BEAMS CHANGED AND THEY STILL DON'T WORK. THERE SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. WITH THE NUMBER OF REPORTS, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10449145

Official recalls

1

05V035000 · Visibility:windshield

Feb 3, 2005

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

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

1

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.