2003 Isuzu ASCENDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
40,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 35 complaints (17.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 11.4% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 8.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
Electrical System: 6; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 5; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2003: 3; 2004: 4; 2005: 8; 2006: 3; 2007: 5; 2008: 5; 2009: 5; 2010: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10134665 · 2005-08-29 (August 29, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 76,652 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134665 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10196280 · 2007-07-13 (July 13, 2007)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196280 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050233 · 2004-01-27 (January 27, 2004)
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 NORMALLY. THE BRAKES WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS A HUMMING SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,733 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050233 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126792 · 2005-06-28 (June 28, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059342 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10285169 · 2009-09-24 (September 24, 2009)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10285169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103238 · 2004-12-07 (December 7, 2004)
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 THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO DO ANY MORE REPAIRS UNLESS THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173971 · 2006-11-21 (November 21, 2006)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10173971 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128429 · 2005-07-12 (July 12, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128429 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10291898 · 2009-11-11 (November 11, 2009)
POWER STEERING LINES FROM THE PUMP (HIGH PRESSURE AND RETURN LINES) ARE CORRODING AND NOW LEAKING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10291898 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168141 · 2006-09-13 (September 13, 2006)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 74,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168141 at NHTSA ↗