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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

64Owner complaints

Model-year median: 32

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

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Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2005 Isuzu Ascender

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 64 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Electrical System: 27 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline: 14 reports
Air Bags: 9 reports
Fuel/propulsion System: 6 reports
Exterior Lighting: 5 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

05V035000 — Visibility:windshield

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all Ascender years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System

27 Fuel System, Gasoline

14 Air Bags

9 Fuel/propulsion System

6 Exterior Lighting

All reported categories

Fuel System, Other

4 Vehicle Speed Control

4 Engine And Engine Cooling

1 Service Brakes, Hydraulic

1 Suspension

1 Tires

1 Visibility/wiper

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

0–25K

25–50K

50–75K

75–100K

100–150K

150K+

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

4 reports

Clear category filter

85,000 miles · Jun 23, 2011

Fuel System, OtherVehicle Speed Control

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10408713

70,000 miles · Mar 26, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

MY ISUZU SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. I CANT SEE HOW SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS NOT MY CAR ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE THAT.

NHTSA ODI #10322308

1,239 miles · Sep 29, 2006

Vehicle Speed Control

Read full complaint

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE GAS PEDAL AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY DECELERATED OR STOPPED, THE RPM GAUGE SPIKED REALLY HIGH THEN SLAMMED DOWN. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO 3 SEPARATE DEALERS WHO DETERMINED THAT ALL PARAMETERS WERE OKAY BASED ON THE SCAN TEST. THE LAST DEALER INSTALLED A FLIGHT RECORDER TO RECORD ANY IRREGULARITIES. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO DEPRESS A BUTTON WHEN THERE WERE ANY IRREGULARITIES PRESENT. NONE OF THE SERVICE DEALERS COULD DETERMINE THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED TWICE BUT NO RESOLUTION WAS PROVIDED OTHER THAN TO CALL THE BETTER BUSINESS AUTO LINE.

NHTSA ODI #10169608

333 miles · Nov 22, 2005

Vehicle Speed Control

DT: THE CONTACT STATES TWO ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER, BUT DID NOT STALL. WHEN SHE TRIED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS HAPPENED FOUR SEPARATE TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE …

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10143442

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect investigations

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.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.