2004 Isuzu ASCENDER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
64 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 51 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 64 complaints (35.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 18.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 12.5% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.6% |
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 | 23 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 11 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front | 2 |
Electrical System: 23; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 11; Fuel System, Gasoline: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Exterior Lighting: 5; Engine: 4; Power Train: 2; Seat Belts:Front: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 13 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2004: 5; 2005: 4; 2006: 4; 2007: 4; 2008: 6; 2009: 4; 2010: 3; 2011: 5; 2012: 4; 2013: 7; 2014: 3; 2015: 8; 2016: 5; 2017: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10055866 · 2004-02-12 (February 12, 2004)
CONCERNS REGARDING VEHICLE SEATBELTS.*MR THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE'S SEAT BELTS ARE INADEQUATE FOR SHORT OR SMALL PEOPLE. THE SHOULDER BELT CUTS ACROSS THE NECK INSTEAD OF THE SHOULDER WHICH IS A CONCERN FOR THE CONSUMER.*MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10055866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096370 · 2004-10-25 (October 25, 2004)
I HAVE A CONCERN ON MY NEW 2004 ISUZU ASCESDER SEAT BELTS. MY WIFE IS 5'4" TALL, AND THE SEAT BELT BOTH DRIVER AND PASSAGERS SLIDES UP AROUND HER NECK AND RIGHT UNDERARM. CAN NOT KEEP THE SEAT BELTS IS PLACE. NO ADJUSTMENT FOR SEAT BELTS FOR HEIGHT. IT IS ATTACHED TO THE BACK OF THE SEATS. THE CONCERN IS IF WE HAD TO MAKE A HARD STOP, THEN THE SEAT BELT WOULD CAUSE INJURY FOR SURE. PRESENTLY SHE HOLDS THE SEAT BELT AWAY FROM HER NECK WHEN DRIVING THE SUV, AND IT IS HER CAR. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE G…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10096370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097947 · 2004-10-28 (October 28, 2004)
TIRES ARE OF POOR QAULITY, FREQUENTLY NEEDS TO BE FORCE BALANCED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 31 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097947 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10101306 · 2004-12-10 (December 10, 2004)
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, LIQUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10101306 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105557 · 2004-12-30 (December 30, 2004)
THE REAR WINDOW POPPED AND EXPLODE ON ITS OWN, POSSIBLY INJURING THE BACK PASSENGER. TOOK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS TWICE, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10105557 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125759 · 2005-06-20 (June 20, 2005)
DT: WENT TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULDN'T START BECAUSE LIGHT IN DASHBOARD WOULD SAY UNKNOWN DRIVER,. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME IT WAS THE WIRING. SECOND TIME SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION, AND PUT IN A NEW IGITION. FOR 3 NIGHTS AFTER GETTING IT BACK IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL. WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AGAIN.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125759 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125778 · 2005-06-20 (June 20, 2005)
DT: WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT MIDNIGHT WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. THERE WAS A LOUD THUMP. PULLED OVER ,AND TIRE HAD EXPLODED. HAD TOWED TO HOME. CALLED AAA TO COME OUT AND CHANGE TIRE AND PUT ON SPARE TIRE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF RUNNING OVER OR STRIKING AN OBJECT. WHEN WENT TO SERVICE DEALER FOR TIRES, DEALER SAID TIRE SHOULD NOT HAVE DETERIORATED. DEALER SUGGESTED CONSUMER TAKE PICTURE OF THIS UNIQUE DAMAGE TO THE TIRE. NO PROBLEMS SINCE THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT THERE WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE REMAINING TIRES WERE CONTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125778 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126560 · 2005-06-25 (June 25, 2005)
I OWN A 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. THERE HAS BEEN A HOST OF PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH IN THE MINIMAL 10 MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. TWO OF THE PROBLEMS HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY TYPE OF FIX FROM THE LOCAL ISUZU SERVICE CENTER. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE BELT SCREAMING EVERY DAY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN THREE TIMES FOR THE BELT AND THEY FINALLY FIXED IT. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS ALL FOUR DOOR WINDOWS. DEBRIS CONSISTENTLY MAKES ITS WAY INTO THE DOOR AND ANY TIME I ROLL DOWN OR ROLL UP MY WINDOWS MY WINDOWS GET SEVERLY SCRATCHED. I A…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126560 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V198000 · Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
Reported: 2005-05-05 (May 5, 2005)
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.
Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CLEARLY SIGNAL THEIR INTENTIONS TO TURN, CHANGE TRAVEL LANES, OR POTENTIALLY WARN OTHERS OF AN IMPAIRED VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT FLASHER MODULES WITH A NEW FLASHER MODULE DESIGNED WITH SEALED RELAYS AND MORE DURABLE CONTACT MATERIAL INSIDE OF THE RELAYS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2005. ISUZU BEGAN MAILING OWNER LETTERS ON AUGUST 4, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, AND OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
NHTSA campaign record ↗