2003 ISUZU ASCENDER Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
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 T...
Mileage: 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 ...
Mileage: 76,000
POWER STEERING LINES FROM THE PUMP (HIGH PRESSURE AND RETURN LINES) ARE CORRODING AND NOW LEAKING. *TR
Mileage: 80,000
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 A...
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
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
WHILE TRYING TO RELEASE THE FULL-SIZED SPARE TIRE, THE CABLE HOLDING IT UP BROKE CAUSING THE TIRE TO UNEXPECTEDLY FALL. *TR
WHILE TRYING TO RELEASE THE FULL-SIZED SPARE TIRE, THE CABLE HOLDING IT UP BROKE CAUSING THE TIRE TO UNEXPECTEDLY FALL. *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 LE...
Mileage: 43,000
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
Mileage: 55,371
GAS ODOR AND GASOLINE DRIPPING BENEATH FUEL TANK WHEN PARKED. *TR
Mileage: 50,000
REAR PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT LATCH CLOSE. REMOVED AND REPLACED BOTH RUSTY LATCHES. *TR
Mileage: 50,000
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. ...
Mileage: 48,000
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...
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 ...
Mileage: 50,000
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.
Mileage: 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 ...
Mileage: 30,000
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 ...
Mileage: 30,000
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 ME...
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 ME...
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 O...
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 O...
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 O...
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. T...
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 NO...
Mileage: 74,950
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...
Mileage: 34,800
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,...
Mileage: 40,000
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 ...
Mileage: 31,480
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 STU...
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
Mileage: 76,652
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 ...
Mileage: 35,000
DT: DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BECAME STUCK, IT WAS JAMMED ON THE INSIDE. WILL NOT COME OUT AT ALL. IT HAS DONE THIS BEFORE BUT WAS ABLE AT THAT TIME TO GET IT OUT. ALSO, WHEN PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKES CONSUMER COULD HEAR A CLANKING NOISE.*AK
Mileage: 19,000
DT: DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BECAME STUCK, IT WAS JAMMED ON THE INSIDE. WILL NOT COME OUT AT ALL. IT HAS DONE THIS BEFORE BUT WAS ABLE AT THAT TIME TO GET IT OUT. ALSO, WHEN PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKES CONSUMER COULD HEAR A CLANKING NOISE.*AK
Mileage: 19,000
VIBRATION IN DRIVE TRAIN
Mileage: 18,000
VIBRATION IN DRIVE TRAIN
Mileage: 18,000
THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS BLINK. *NM THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE HEADLIGHT PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN PRESENT SINCE PURCHASE. THE BLINKING PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR IN THE MORNING AND AFTER SITTING FOR A FEW HOURS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE LIGHTS WOULD DIM DOWN WHEN THE CONSUMER'S ...
THE HEADLIGHTS DIM 2 - 3 TIMES DAILY WHILE DRIVING. THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT IS ON WHEN THIS OCCURS. ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS HEADLIGHTS TOTALLY WENT OUT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE COMING BACK ON. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT T...
Mileage: 8,000
THE HEADLIGHTS DIM 2 - 3 TIMES DAILY WHILE DRIVING. THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT IS ON WHEN THIS OCCURS. ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS HEADLIGHTS TOTALLY WENT OUT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE COMING BACK ON. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT T...
Mileage: 8,000
THE HEADLIGHTS DIM 2 - 3 TIMES DAILY WHILE DRIVING. THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT IS ON WHEN THIS OCCURS. ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS HEADLIGHTS TOTALLY WENT OUT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE COMING BACK ON. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT T...
Mileage: 8,000
THE HEADLIGHTS DIM 2 - 3 TIMES DAILY WHILE DRIVING. THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT IS ON WHEN THIS OCCURS. ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS HEADLIGHTS TOTALLY WENT OUT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE COMING BACK ON. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT T...
Mileage: 8,000
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DROVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE PREMISES AND IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING. *NM
Mileage: 9,500
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DROVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE PREMISES AND IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING. *NM
Mileage: 9,500
PASSENGER SIDE STAIONARY WINDOW FLEW OFF AT 65 MPH.*AK
Mileage: 65
THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AT A RAPID PACE WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE NOT SLOWING DOWN IMMEDIATELY. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ABS MODULE. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT AFTER BEING TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE BRAKES WORKED NORMA...
Mileage: 3,733
WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS WERE NOT ON, THE CONSUMER WAS ONLY ABLE TO SEE TWO CAR LENGTHS AHEAD. *JB *TS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE HEADLAMPS WERE PRE-SET AND COULD NOT BE READJUSTED. *JB
Mileage: 500
THE DOOR ON THE VEHICLE WAS VERY LARGE, AND CAUSED A HUGE BLIND SPOT. *JB *TS *JB
Mileage: 500
THE 3RD ROLL BENCH SEAT COULD NOT BE REMOVED, THE HEADREST BLOCKED THE DRIVERS VISION. *JB THE 3RD ROW WAS ALSO RAISED HIGHER THAN THE FRONT AND SECOND ROW SEATS. ONE THIRD OF THE WINDOW WAS BLOCKED. *SCC *JB