Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 35 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Isuzu Ascender. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 35 · page 1 of 2
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS PERFORATED DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
SERVICE BULLETIN OR RECALL 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER. PROBLEM KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION CAN NOT REMOVE SEEMS TO BE NORMAL PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL . L HAVE BEEN READING THROUGH FORUM COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. I AM CURIOUS IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL AND IF NOT WHY NOT. CAR COULD BE CAR JACK OR STOLEN BY NOT ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THIS HAS BEEN A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *TR
POWER STEERING LINES FROM THE PUMP (HIGH PRESSURE AND RETURN LINES) ARE CORRODING AND NOW LEAKING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER. HE STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE "SES" AND "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE RISK FOR A VEHICLE CRASH WAS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND REPAIRED TEN TIMES; HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
WHILE TRYING TO RELEASE THE FULL-SIZED SPARE TIRE, THE CABLE HOLDING IT UP BROKE CAUSING THE TIRE TO UNEXPECTEDLY FALL. *TR
HEATER/AC FAN KEPT GOING OUT. WAS TOLD IT WAS RELAY SWITCH. AFTER SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS, WAS TOLD IT WAS A FAULT IN THE IGNITION. IGNITION WAS REPLACED. FAN NOW WORKS. NOW HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. TECH'S CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY. *TR
WHEN YOU GO TO PUT GEAR SELECTOR INTO PARK THE IGNITION KEY GETS STUCK TEMPORARILY ON MY ISUZU ASCENDER 2003 . SOMETIMES I HAVE TO WAIT 1 MIN OR SOMETIMES 10 MIN. TO GET THE KEY OUT .IF YOU LISTEN REAL CLOSE YOU CAN HERE A ELECTRONIC CLICK .THIS JUST STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. I AM WORRIED ABOUT LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. IT COULD BE STOLEN OR EVEN CAR JACK. *TR
SMELL OF GASOLINE AND DRIPPING UNDERNEATH REAR BENEATH FUEL TANK (DRIVER'S SIDE), WHEN STARTING. PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE THE FUEL PUMP MODULE AT THE LINE :OUTPUT SIDE OF PUMP. REPLACED FUEL PUMP MODULE AND RING. PARTS AND PICS AVAILABLE. *TR
REAR PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT LATCH CLOSE. REMOVED AND REPLACED BOTH RUSTY LATCHES. *TR
GAS ODOR AND GASOLINE DRIPPING BENEATH FUEL TANK WHEN PARKED. *TR
AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING THE LOW BEAMS HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES TURN BACK ON. THE HIGH BEAMS WORK WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT AND WE HAVE TO TURN THEM ON TO HAVE HEADLAMPS. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DON'T SEEM TO BE AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEM DURING THE DAY. PROBLEM HAPPENS ONLY AT NIGHT. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON 1-88W BOUND ON 2-1-2008, MY CAR STARTED TO MAKE SQUEAKING NOISE AND VERY HARD TO DRIVE. LUCKILY, 2 BLOCKS FROM RT 31 EXIT, THERE WAS A FIRESTONE AUTO CARE, THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT AXEL BROKE AND IT IS AFFECTING THE DIFFERENTIAL. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO ISUZU DEALER IN ELGIN THE NEXT DAY.THE MECHANIC FROM BIGGER ISUZU CALLED MONDAY, 2-5-07, CLAIMING THAT THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF LACK OF GEAR OIL. COST--$4,800 TO BE REPAIRED. THE CAR MILEAGE WAS 77,000 MILES. I CALLED ISUZU TO COMPLAINED AND THEY SAID, THEY WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. I WENT TO NHTSA, THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER POWER TRAIN-DRIVE DIFFERENTIAL. NHTSA ITEM #10016589 AND SERVICE BULLETIN #0507002. DATE OF BULLETIN 08/01/2005. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE DIM HEAD LIGHTS GO OFF FOR NO REASON,THIS HAPPENS EVERY TWO DAYS OR SO , SO I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH BRIGHT LIGHTS (WHICH BLINDS ON COMING TRAFFIC) ON FOR ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN MILES BEFORE THE LOW BEAMS START WORKING AGAIN. DEALERSHIP CAN'T SEEM TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM, SO NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL # 05V198000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER IN SEPT. 2003. WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) LIGHT CAME ON. WE TOOK THE SUV TO AN ISUZU DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD IMPROPERLY PUT THE GAS CAP ON AND THAT IS WHY THE SES LIGHT CAME ON. WITHIN A WEEK THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS THOROUGHLY CHECKED AND THE ISUZU DEALER FOUND A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK. THE TANK WAS REPLACED AFTER A LENGTHY WAIT FOR THE PROPER PARTS. WE THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. JULY 2, 2007 WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM ISUZU STATING THAT THE SES LIGHT MAY COME ON AFTER FUELING AND THAT YOU MAY SMELL A FUEL ODOR. WE BROUGHT THE SUV TO AN ISUZU DEALER ON JULY 5. THE SERVICE STAFF FOUND 2 LEAKS IN THE TANK. IT IS NOW JULY 13, 2007 AND THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY ARE UNABLE TO GET A TANK FOR THE SUV. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ALLOW US TO DRIVE THE SUV OFF THE LOT BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL RISK OF IT CATCHING FIRE OR EXPLODING.
GAS GAUGE DOES NOT ACCURATELY REPORT THE AMOUNT OF GAS IN TANK. HAD PROBLEM REPAIRED BUT CONTINUES TO BE INACCURATE. REAR HATCHBACK WINDOW OPENS WHEN BUMP IS HIT. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DEALER COULD FIND NO PTOBLEM. KEY OFTEN DOES NOT REMOVE FROM COLUMN WHEN PLACED IN PARK. CAR MUST BE CYCLED THROUGH ON/OFF AND PLACEED IN REVERSE AND THEN INTO DRIVE AGAIN TO REMOVE KEY.*AK
THE 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER IS THE SAME VEHICLE AS A CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER AND GMC ENVOY. AT APPROXIMATELY 51,000 MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAN CLUTCH MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAD TO ASSUME FULL PAYMENT TO REPLACE IT. NOW, THE TRUCK SOUNDED LIKE THE UNDERCARRIAGEWAS RATTLING. HAD IT TO A MECHANIC, AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT I MUST HAVE BEEN THE SWAY BAR LINKS REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER DISCUSSION THE MECHANIC DETERMINE D THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE THEM ON THE TRAILBLAZER , AND THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED ON THE ENVOY, BOTH WITH THE SAME PLATFORM. THIS SEEMED TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT GM AND ITS AFFILIATES SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING. *AK
MY 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER WILL NOT START OCCASIONALLY. THE KEYS EVEN LOCKED IN THE IGNITION ONE OF THE TIMES. I HAD IT JUMPED AND THE VEHICLE WAS OK FOR A MONTH OR SO. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 4 MONTHS. THE BATTERY CHECKS OUT OK. THE DEALER IN WINCHESTER, VA DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. THERE ARE NO DEFAULT CODES SHOWING UP IN THE COMPUTER. *JB
I PURCHASED A 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER IN FEBRUARY 2004. IN AROUND MARCH 2006, THE TRANSMISSION BEGIN SLIPPING. AT THE TIME THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH MEANT IS WAS STILL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS NOT INFORMED BY THE DEALER AT CLAY COOLEY MOTORS THAT THE WARRANTY WAS NOT TRANSFERABLE. THEREFORE, I HAVE BEEN STUCK WITH TRYING TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. I CONTACTED THE ISUZU COMPANY AND THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY HELP AND STATED THAT THEY DO NOT REGULATE THE DEALERSHIPS THAT CARRY AND SELL THEIR BRAND VEHICLE. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR AT 55 MPH, A VEHICLE HIT THE WALL AND TAIL SPINNED IN FRONT OF CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HIT THE VEHICLE WITH A FRONTAL IMPACT CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE. UPON IMPACT, THE NONE OF THE CONTACT'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEATBELT HOWEVER INJURIES WERE SUSTAIN TO THE SHOULDERS, BACK AND NECK. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING PROPERLY HOWEVER THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE.
SES LIGHT COMES ON AFTER FUELING--SMELL OF GASOLINE EVIDENT AROUND LH REAR CORNER OF VEHICLE. VISUAL INSPECTION INDICATES FUEL LEAKAGE AT FILLER NECK TO TANK CONNECTION. ODI CASE # 'S 10104638, 10139878 & 10134665 ARE SIMILAR TO THIS ONE. VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS SITUATION FOR AT LEAST A YEAR AND 30-40,000 MILES. *NM
MY HUSBAND AND I SWITCHED VEHICLES AND HE DROVE MY VEHICLE TO WORK. WHEN HE CAME OUT OF WORK, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT TOWED THE NEXT DAY. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THEY REPLACED IT A FEW DAYS AGO. NOW, IT IS SLOW TO TURN OVER OR I HAVE TO TURN THE SWITCH 2+ TIMES TO GET IT TO START. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FOR TWO DAYS FROM NOW. LOOKING AT THE ENVOY AND TRAILBLAZER RECORDS (SAME VEHICLE AS ASCENDER), THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR A RECALL? *JB
WHEN DRIVING, MY SPEEDOMETER WILL BECOME STUCK BETWEEN 30 AND 60 MPH. WHEN IT DOES, THE SPEEDOMETER WILL USE THE POINT AT WHICH IT IS STUCK AS ZERO MPH WHEN I AM STOPPED / PARKED. WHEN I START THE VEHICLE MOVING AGAIN, I HAVE TO CALCULATE THE SPEED I AM ACTUALLY GOING. EXAMPLE: IF SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK ON 30 MPH AND I WANT TO DRIVE AT 45 MPH, I HAVE TO ADD 30 + 45 SO WHEN MY SPEEDOMETER IS READING 75 MPH, I HOPE I AM ACTUALLY DRIVING 45 MPH. *NM
FILLER NECK BROKEN AT FUEL TANK. DAMAGE NOT INCURRED BY OUTSIDE SOURCE. FOUND OUT FROM SHOP WORKING ON VEHICLE THIS IS COMMON OCCURRENCE. CONSIDER THIS SAFETY RISK DUE TO GAS LEAKING. *JB
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED IN HIS VEHICLE WHILE TURNING THE CORNER IN THE MOUNTAINS. THE POWER WOULD WORK, BUT NOT WHEN HE WOULD SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN ORDERED. THEY DID NOT TELL HIM WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING. THIS HAPPENED JUNE 28, 2005. IT HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES THAT DAY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN THAT DAY, AND HE HAS NOT HAD THE PROBLEM SINCE. THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A WHIRRING NOISE AT THIS TIME. *NM
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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