ISUZU ASCENDER · model year

2004 ISUZU ASCENDER

88 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004ISUZUASCENDER carries 88 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 4 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 ASCENDER is electrical system with 23 filings, followed by electrical system: instrument cluster/panel (11) and fuel system, gasoline (8). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 2004 ASCENDER. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

88
Complaints
0
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

88 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM23
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL11
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE8
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM7
EXTERIOR LIGHTING5
ENGINE4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT2
POWER TRAIN2
TIRES1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION1
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
SEAT BELTS1

Recalls (1)

05V19800005/05/2005

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

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.

Recent Complaints

20180106ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE GAUGE CLUSTER IS MALFUNCTIONING

20170505EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE LOW BEAMS ON MY HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ALSO WILL TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND TURN BACK ON BUT THIS IS NOT AS MUCH OF A SAFETY ISSUE AS WHEN IT HAPPENS DURING NIGHTTIME DRIVING. SOMETIMES MY HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK FROM THE MOMENT I START MY CAR BUT MOST OF THE TIME THEY SHUT OFF DURING DRIVING. I CAN SWITCH THE HEADLIGHTS TO HIGH BEAMS AND THEY TYPICALLY WORK FINE. ONLY ONCE HAVE I HAD BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAMS OUT AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN THAT HAPPENED I PARKED MY CAR AND LET IT SIT. WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AFTER ABOUT 30 MIN TO AN HOUR BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAMS WERE WORKING AGAIN. MY HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT WHILE I'M DRIVING IN THE CITY, IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS, AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE OR EVEN WHEN I FIRST START MY VEHICLE AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE REASON FOR MY HEADLIGHTS SPONTANEOUSLY GOING OUT IS UNKNOWN. THE PART THAT CAUSING THE PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN. IT DOE

Mileage: 170,000

20161216ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BANK ONE SENSOR WAS RUNNING RICH AND THE BANK TWO SENSOR WAS RUNNING LEAN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

20160707FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON FAULTY GAS TANK. HAD CAR INSPECTED BY ISUZU FACILITY 2/4/16 AND NEW PART(S) ORDERED. CANNOT GET ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHEN PART WILL BE IN AND MY CAR REPAIRED. IN THE MEANTIME, DRIVING WITH FAULTY, GAS-LEAKING, PROBABLY DANGEROUS CAR. GM APPARENTLY NOT COMMUNICATING WITH ISUZU AND PARTS NOT GETTING PRODUCED.

Mileage: 55,000

20160429SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE DRIVING MY CARS BRAKELIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE FASTER AND FASTER. PULLLED OVER AS SOON AS I COULD AND STOPPED THE CAR AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE CHECK GAUGES WARNING LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS SITTING IDLE OR WHEN I PULL UP AND STOP AT A RED LIGHT IT COMES ON.

Mileage: 144,455

20160429ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING MY CARS BRAKELIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE FASTER AND FASTER. PULLLED OVER AS SOON AS I COULD AND STOPPED THE CAR AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE CHECK GAUGES WARNING LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS SITTING IDLE OR WHEN I PULL UP AND STOP AT A RED LIGHT IT COMES ON.

Mileage: 144,455

20160216FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL TANK HAS LEAKING SEALS, WHICH IS CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK AND THE SMELL OF FUEL INTO CABIN AREA OF VEHICLE AND VEHICLE REJECTED DURING STATE INSPECTION. PART NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL AFTER MAY.TOOK IT TO REPAIR FACILITY, WAS TOLD IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THEN WAS TOLD TO COME PICK UP THE VEHICLE. ISUZU UNWILLING TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE

Mileage: 99,000

20160205ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

20160205POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

20151231ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HAD AUTO TOWED TO MIDAS AFTER INABILITY TO START, ATTEMPTED JUMP START, UNSUCCESSFUL. BATTERY REPLACED ON 12/28/15. DROVE AUTO NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AND ON 12/30/15 DROVE TO PICK UP MY HUSBAND, SHUT OFF CAR IN PARK. UNABLE TO START VEHICLE AGAIN, KEYS COULD NOT BE REMOVED. KEYS WERE IN LOCK POSITION IN BATTERY MODE, ABLE TO TURN TO ENGINE ON BUT NOT TURNOVER. BATTERY RUNNING ALL LIGHTS. HAD AUTO TOWED AGAIN TO MIDAS BUT UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE. SPOKE WITH AUTO SHOP AND GIVEN THIS INFO TO CHECK RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. VIN [XXX]. 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. WILL REQUIRE ANOTHER TOW TO DIFFERENT FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTICS PLUS MORE FEES FOR REPAIRS,TOWING. AUTO WAS IN PARK ON SIDE STREET 4PM 12/30/15 AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE ALL DAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 129,998

20151231STEERING

HAD AUTO TOWED TO MIDAS AFTER INABILITY TO START, ATTEMPTED JUMP START, UNSUCCESSFUL. BATTERY REPLACED ON 12/28/15. DROVE AUTO NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AND ON 12/30/15 DROVE TO PICK UP MY HUSBAND, SHUT OFF CAR IN PARK. UNABLE TO START VEHICLE AGAIN, KEYS COULD NOT BE REMOVED. KEYS WERE IN LOCK POSITION IN BATTERY MODE, ABLE TO TURN TO ENGINE ON BUT NOT TURNOVER. BATTERY RUNNING ALL LIGHTS. HAD AUTO TOWED AGAIN TO MIDAS BUT UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE. SPOKE WITH AUTO SHOP AND GIVEN THIS INFO TO CHECK RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. VIN [XXX]. 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. WILL REQUIRE ANOTHER TOW TO DIFFERENT FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTICS PLUS MORE FEES FOR REPAIRS,TOWING. AUTO WAS IN PARK ON SIDE STREET 4PM 12/30/15 AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE ALL DAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 129,998

20151227STRUCTURE:BODY

CAR PAID IS PILLING OFF WE PAINT THIS CAR 3 TIMES AND A THOSES THE SAMETHING ALL CLEAR PAINT WHIT IN 3-5 MONTH START TO COME OFF CAN ANY BODY TELL ME IS GM HAD A RECAL FOR THIS

20151227ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CAR PAID IS PILLING OFF WE PAINT THIS CAR 3 TIMES AND A THOSES THE SAMETHING ALL CLEAR PAINT WHIT IN 3-5 MONTH START TO COME OFF CAN ANY BODY TELL ME IS GM HAD A RECAL FOR THIS

20151221ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CLUSTER PANEL DOES NOT WORK. THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING REGULARLY WHETHER STATIONARY OR DRIVING.. THEY WORK INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE USE OF HIGH BEAMS. IT HAS BECOME A NIGHT TIME DRIVING SAFETY ISSUE. CAR WILL TURN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING CAUSING MY DAUGHTER TO HAVE TO PULL OVER FOR SAFETY.

Mileage: 150,000

20151221ENGINE

CLUSTER PANEL DOES NOT WORK. THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING REGULARLY WHETHER STATIONARY OR DRIVING.. THEY WORK INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE USE OF HIGH BEAMS. IT HAS BECOME A NIGHT TIME DRIVING SAFETY ISSUE. CAR WILL TURN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING CAUSING MY DAUGHTER TO HAVE TO PULL OVER FOR SAFETY.

Mileage: 150,000

20151221EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CLUSTER PANEL DOES NOT WORK. THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING REGULARLY WHETHER STATIONARY OR DRIVING.. THEY WORK INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE USE OF HIGH BEAMS. IT HAS BECOME A NIGHT TIME DRIVING SAFETY ISSUE. CAR WILL TURN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING CAUSING MY DAUGHTER TO HAVE TO PULL OVER FOR SAFETY.

Mileage: 150,000

20151106ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS WORK VERY ERRATICALLY BOTH WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED OR IN MOTION. LOW-BEAM LIGHTS WILL GO OFF ON A MOMENT'S NOTICE AND ONLY HIGH-BEAM LIGHTS WILL WORK. MORE RECENTLY, EVEN THE HIGH-BEAN LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ACTING UP AND TURNING OFF. HEADLIGHTS SOCKETS WERE REPLACED AT SOME POINT BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS CONDITION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND ALL THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT.

Mileage: 180,000

20151106EXTERIOR LIGHTING

VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS WORK VERY ERRATICALLY BOTH WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED OR IN MOTION. LOW-BEAM LIGHTS WILL GO OFF ON A MOMENT'S NOTICE AND ONLY HIGH-BEAM LIGHTS WILL WORK. MORE RECENTLY, EVEN THE HIGH-BEAN LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ACTING UP AND TURNING OFF. HEADLIGHTS SOCKETS WERE REPLACED AT SOME POINT BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS CONDITION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND ALL THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT.

Mileage: 180,000

20151008FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY TRANSMISSION HAS HAD TO BE FIX 3 TIMES 2 OF THOSE TIME ME AND MY 5 CHILDREN WHERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR STOPPED PICKING UP SPEED AND WE HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE RODE. MY BACK VENTS FOR MY A/C DO NOT WORK, THE BACK DOOR OPENS ALL THE TIME ONE TIME IT OPENED AND ALL OUR GROCERIES FELL OUT AND WHEN I TRY TO PUMP GAS INTO MY CAR IT WOULD TAKE FOREVER THE PUMP WOULD STOP LIKE IT WAS FULL BUT NOW IT JUST SPILLS OUT AND MY CAR SMELLS LIKE GAS SO BAD ON THE INSIDE I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT ANYMORE. IT'S ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER AND I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS AND IT'S ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.

Mileage: 100,000

20151008UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY TRANSMISSION HAS HAD TO BE FIX 3 TIMES 2 OF THOSE TIME ME AND MY 5 CHILDREN WHERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR STOPPED PICKING UP SPEED AND WE HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE RODE. MY BACK VENTS FOR MY A/C DO NOT WORK, THE BACK DOOR OPENS ALL THE TIME ONE TIME IT OPENED AND ALL OUR GROCERIES FELL OUT AND WHEN I TRY TO PUMP GAS INTO MY CAR IT WOULD TAKE FOREVER THE PUMP WOULD STOP LIKE IT WAS FULL BUT NOW IT JUST SPILLS OUT AND MY CAR SMELLS LIKE GAS SO BAD ON THE INSIDE I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT ANYMORE. IT'S ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER AND I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS AND IT'S ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.

Mileage: 100,000

Compare 2004ISUZUASCENDER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER have?
The 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER has 88 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 4 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER?
Yes, the 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER?
The most-complained component for the 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 23 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
Is the 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.