IllustrationFUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH GM SUV'S LIKE ENVOY, TRAILBLAZER, BUICK AND POSSIBLY MORE. OUR DEALER INSISTS THERE IS NO RECALL. THIS VEHICLE IS PRETTY MUCH 99% GM EXCEPT FOR THE NAME. *JS
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
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
40–25K
525–50K
1850–75K
1675–100K
11100–150K
1150K+
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
Fuel System, Other complaints
4 reportsMY 2005 ISUSZU ASCENDER HAD ; STILL HAS A PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUEL LINE AND PUMP. I HAD ABOUT 75,000 MILES ON THE CAR. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING ABOUT 900 MILES AND MY WATER PUMP WENT OUT, SO WE STOPPED IN A GOODYEAR/ FIRESTONE SHOP IN RURAL MO. I HAD THE WATER PUMP REPAIRED. FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE I STOPPE…
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MY 2005 ISUSZU ASCENDER HAD ; STILL HAS A PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUEL LINE AND PUMP. I HAD ABOUT 75,000 MILES ON THE CAR. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING ABOUT 900 MILES AND MY WATER PUMP WENT OUT, SO WE STOPPED IN A GOODYEAR/ FIRESTONE SHOP IN RURAL MO. I HAD THE WATER PUMP REPAIRED. FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE I STOPPED TO REFUEL THE CAR. AFTER THE PUMP SHUT OFF AND I TURNED ON THE VEHICLE, MY FUEL GAGE READ EMPTY AND WAS BEEPING ON "E" AS WE DROVE OUT OF GAS STATION. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 20 MILES IT REGISTERED AS FULL. THIS CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL FILL UPS. WE DRIVE FAR DISTANCES HERE IN THE MIDWEST, I NEEDED TO KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN MY TANK AT ALL TIMES. I HAD FUEL PUMP REPLACED, BUT NOW ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT I NEED TO HAVE A PRESSURE TEST AT AN ISUZU SERVICE CENTER THERE IS A LEAK OF SOME TYPE, RELATED TO MY FUEL LINE. EACH TIME I HAVE AN OIL CHANGE I HAVE TO HAVE THE CODES READ AND THE CAR RESET TO MAKE ENGINE LIGHT GO OFF. I HAVE MY MECHANIC CONFIRM THAT THE CODE IS DUE TO THE FUEL LINE PRESSUE AND THEN I HAVE HIM REMOVE TURN OFF LIGHT. IT WILL USUALLY STAY OFF FOR A FEW DAYS. THE REPAIR TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS SOME WHAT COMPLICATED. I WOULD SMELL STRONG GAS FUMES AFTER THE ORIGINAL REPAIR. ONE DAY AS I WAS PUMPING GAS, GAS STARTED SPAYING FROM UNDER MY VEHICLE. I WENT BACK TO MY MECHANIC AND AT NO CHARGE THERE WAS SOME CONNECTION THAT HE HAD TO TIGHTEN. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN RPMS OF UP TO 3,500. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED AS NORMAL. IN ADDITION, …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN RPMS OF UP TO 3,500. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED AS NORMAL. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WOULD PROVIDE ERRONEOUS FUEL LEVEL READINGS. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WOULD DISPLAY INACCURATE FUEL LEVELS. WHEN FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE, THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR WOULD REGISTER THE FUEL TANK AS EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WOULD DISPLAY INACCURATE FUEL LEVELS. WHEN FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE, THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR WOULD REGISTER THE FUEL TANK AS EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
Official recalls
105V035000 · 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
1RQ17002 · 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.