Model year record

2005 Isuzu Ascender recalls & problems

The 2005 Isuzu Ascender has 1 safety recall and 64 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (27 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints64filed by owners

Crashes · fires3 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

VisibilityFeb 3, 2005

Windshield

Recall 05V03500017,815 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: IF A CRASH OCCURS, THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE RETAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2005 Isuzu Ascender 5 4-DR

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	19.1%

2005 Isuzu Ascender 7 4-DR

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Ascender 5-passenger 2WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 20 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.2 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

Ascender 5-passenger 4WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.2 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

Ascender 7-passenger 4WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.2 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

Ascender 7-passenger 2WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.2 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Ascender 7-passenger 2WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Ascender 7-passenger 4WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel	27	0	0	0	71,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	14	0	0	0	80,000 mi
Air bagsSide/window; Frontal	9	2	0	1	96,375 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	6	0	0	0	87,500 mi
Exterior lighting	5	0	0	0	72,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	4	0	0	0	35,619 mi
Fuel system, otherStorage › Fuel gauge system	4	0	0	0	82,500 mi
Engine and engine coolingCooling system	3	0	0	0	—
Power train	3	0	0	0	70,000 mi
Steering	2	1	0	0	—
VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system; Power window devices and controls	2	0	1	0	—
Tires	1	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system
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
Apr 1, 2021 · 144,750 miles
Air bags1 injury
LETTER FROM CONSTITUENT REGARDING AIRBAG IN HIS 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER WENT OFF FOR NO REASON CAUSING PERSONAL INJURIES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, BUT THE CLAIM WAS DENIED DUE TO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM REPORTING A CRASH. *JS *BF
Nov 16, 2017
Electrical system
SMOKE IN THE CABIN, BURNING PLASTIC/ELECTRICAL SMELL, ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FAILURE, BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR PACK INTERFACE CONNECTOR ELECTRICAL FAILURE ON 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER FIVE (5) PASSENGER VEHICLE
Jan 27, 2018 · 150,000 miles
Electrical system
"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.
Aug 19, 2011
Engine
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.
Oct 14, 2013
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 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.
Mar 1, 2016 · 70,000 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
FUEL GAGE FLUXUATES READING EMPTY WHEN FULL AT START UP AND AT SPEED.
Jun 1, 2015 · 54,000 miles
Air bags
I WAS DRIVING OUR CAR ( 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER), HAVING JUST EXITED THE HIGHWAY I WAS ONLY GOING AROUND 5- 8 MPH WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE AND WITH NO REASON THE SIDE, AND REAR AIRBAGS UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYOED. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THEM TO HAVE DEPLOYED, NO ACCIDENT, IMPACT, BUMPS OR ANYTHING. ONE MINUTE EVERYTHING WAS FINE THE NEXT THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND AND THE CABIN FILLED WITH AIRBAGS AND A HORRIBLE SMELL THANKFULLY MY CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR BECAUSE THE WAY THEY EXPLODED IT WOULD HAVE SURELY CAUSED THEM PHYSICAL HARM. UPON THE AIRBAGS UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYING THE SEATBELTS LOCKED UP COMPLETELY.
Aug 18, 2015 · 149,671 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Loss of HeadlightsClosed
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…
RQ17002 · opened Apr 24, 2017 · closed Mar 29, 2021