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Vehicle Stats/Isuzu/Ascender Reliability
NHTSA Official DataUpdated Aug 2026Methodology

Isuzu Ascender Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

Below Average reliability signalOur verdict from 82 complaints and 0 recalls on NHTSA record

Comparing used Isuzu Ascender options? We analyzed 6 model years (2003–2008) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

82
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
0
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
0
Crash-Related
crash complaints
2
Fire-Related
fire complaints
0
Injuries Reported
across all years
6
Years Analyzed
2003–2008

Free VIN check

Found a Isuzu Ascender? Check that exact car.

Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.

  • Accident & damage history
  • Odometer rollback records
  • Open recalls & title brands
NMVTIS official data Instant results No signup for the preview
Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Isuzu Ascender has 82 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls across model years 2003–2008. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2004 drew the most complaints; 2007 drew the fewest.

Isuzu Ascender — key reliability facts
Make
Isuzu
Model
Ascender
Model years analyzed
2003–2008 (6 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
82
Safety recall campaigns
0
Crash-related complaints
0
Fire-related complaints
2
Worst model year (by complaints)
2004 (64 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2007 (18 complaints)
Top reported issue area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Reliability signal
Below Average
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) · Data last refreshed Aug 18, 2026

By model year

Isuzu Ascender: which years to avoid & which to buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

Years to avoid
200464 complaints200718 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

Best years to buy
200718 complaints200464 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.

Looking at a 2004 Isuzu Ascender? It logged the most NHTSA complaints of any model year — averages won't tell you whether this exact car is affected.Check this VIN free →

Crash test ratings

NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.

What the complaint data suggests

Below Average
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Data engine & NHTSA methodology by Eduard Batog, Co-founder & Data Engineer. How we calculate this.

The ISUZU ASCENDER has 82 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key findings
  • 82 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 0 federal recall campaigns
  • No crash-related complaints on record
Top concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
Worst years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

Best years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to check before buying used
  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume — popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

Problems by model year (best vs. worst)

2004
64
2007
18

Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026

Safety recalls

NHTSA safety recalls

0 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

No active recalls found in database

No NHTSA recalls were found in our database for this model. Always verify open recalls using your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2003–2008. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

Common problems

What goes wrong most often

The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 82 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.

01
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM38 complaints
02
FUEL SYSTEM22 complaints
03
GASOLINE18 complaints
04
EXTERIOR LIGHTING8 complaints
05
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM7 complaints
06
TIRES5 complaints
07
ENGINE4 complaints
08
VISIBILITY4 complaints

Owner complaints

NHTSA complaint reports

82 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGJul 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 ISUZU ASCENDER. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE LOW BEAMS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER FIVE MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION; HOWEVER, THE LOW BEAM LIGHT FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGESDec 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OVER BUMPS AND RAILROAD TRACKS, A CHIME SOUNDED AS ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE LATCH FAILED AND WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR ELECTRONICALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V404000 (VISIBILITY) BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE INITIAL FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,125.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)Mar 2014

ALL THE LIGHTS ON BOARD ARE ON...STAYS ON FOR HOURS THAN GOES PARTIAL OFF ... ENGINE LIGHTS ON ZERO GAS ON ALL THE TIME... IS RISK TO DRIVE WITH ALL BOARD LIGHTS ON SO WHAT SHOULD I DO? IN PHOENIX, AZ. WHERE WE LIVE THERE IS NO ISUZU DEALER... *TR

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEDec 2011

I PURCHASED A 2007 ISUZU ASCENDER WITH 9,900 MILES ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2009. IN NOVEMBER OF 2010, THE GAS GAUGE STARTED TO READ INACCURATELY. IF I FILLED THE TANK, THE GAS GAUGE WOULD SHOW FILLED. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70-80 MILES, THE GAUGE NEEDLE WOULD SLOWLY DROP TO 'E' AND THE LOW FUEL LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I SEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS INVOLVING GMC VEHICLES. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALLS THAT WERE ISSUED, HOWEVER, I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. FOR NOW, I CONTINUE TO FILL THE TANK, RESET THE TRIPOMETER AND REFILL ONCE I'VE DRIVEN 90-100 MILES, AS I AM NOT PREPARED TO SPEND $800 TO REPLACE THE FAULTY FUEL SENDING UNIT...THE MILEAGE ON THIS VEHICLE IS 24K. THANK YOU *TR

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHERJul 2011

FUEL GAUGE IN 2007 ISUZU ASCENDER STARTED SHOWING INCORRECT FUEL LEVEL AS I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON I-71 SOUTH OF COLUMBUS,OH. IT STARTED SHOWING EMPTY BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT LEST HALF A TANK. *TR

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEJun 2011

I OWN A 2007 ISUZU ASCENDER I HAVE RIGHT AT 42,000 MILES ON IT I FILLED THE TANK YESTERDAY AND HAD 3/4 A TANK REMAINING LAST NIGHT THIS MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK I HAD DRIVEN A LESS THAN A MILE FROM MY HOME AND THE GAS GAUGE STARTED GOING DOWN AND WITHIN A MILE FROM HOME MY GAS LIGHT WAS ON AND MY TANK SHOWED EMPTY . I DROVE MY VEHICLE HOME AND SWITCHED TO MY OTHER VEHICLE WHEN I PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK THE GAS GAUGE JUMPED BACK UP TO 3/4 FULL . I CALLED THE ISUZU DEALER IN KNOXVILLE TN AND AS SOON AS I STATED WHAT WAS GOING ON HE KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE SO I FIGURED THAT THEY HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS THAN JUST MINE SO I LOOKED ONLINE WHEN I GOT OF WORK AND I HAVE READ NUMEROUS REPORTS AND THEY ARE ALL THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES STARTING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE 2005'S . WHY ON EARTH HAVE THESE PROBLEMS NOT BE RECALLED FOR THIS YET THIS IS A ONGOING PROBLEM SEEMS LIKE ON THESE PARTICULAR VEHICLES. *TR

Read 14 more owner reports
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEJun 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED THE INCORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT WAS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENDER UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000. UPDATED 07/20/11*LJ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEJul 2010

I BROUGHT MY ASDENDER TRUCK FROM MATT BLATT IN VINLAND IN 2007 WITH 211 MILES AND I ALWAYS HAD PROBLEM AT THE GAS STATION BUT I DID NOT PLAY IT ANY MIND. THEN ONE DAY I TOOK THE TRUCK FOR SERVICE AND I SAID PLEASE CHECK OUT THE GAS TANK BECAUSE IT ALWAYS CUTTING OFF AT THE PUMP,SO THEY CHECK IT AND TOLD ME I HAVE TO REPLACE THE GAS LINE FILTER AND THE BALL THAT TELL U HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE. THIS TRUCK JUST TURN THREE YR OLD IN APRIL I SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THEM THING ALREADY. I THINK THIS PROBLEM WAS ALREADY THERE WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TRUCK. NOW I HAVE NO MORE WARNING ON THE TRUCK/ THIS TRUCK SHOULD BE RECALL FOR THE GAS TANK . TO ME THIS TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE I AM SCARE SOME TIME . I JUST DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT. *TR

TIRESDec 2009

AFTER NORMAL, MOSTLY RURAL, PERSONAL, NON-COMMERCIAL USE IN CENTRAL TEXAS, THE LF TIRE FAILED AFTER 16 MONTHS AND 27000 MILES OF SERVICE. THE TREAD/BELT SHOWED AN OBVIOUS LARGE BULGE AND SEPARATION FROM THE CARCASS OVER APPROXIMATELY 10% OF THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE OUTSIDE TREAD PORTION OF THE TIRE. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH AUDIBLE EXTERNAL NOISE (AT SLOW SPEEDS) ALONG WITH A FELT BUMP IN THE TIRE AND A SHIMMY ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SYMPTOMS WERE REDUCED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS WAS NOTICED AROUND THE LAST WEEK OF OCTOBER, 2009. IT WAS REPORTED TO CONTINENTAL VIA A LOCAL CONTINENTAL TIRE DEALER AND THE ADJUSTMENT WAS 25% OFF OF A NEW REPLACEMENT TIRE. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT CONTINENTAL APPARENTLY DETERMINED THAT 16 MONTHS AND 27000 MILES WAS 3/4 OF THE TIRES LIFE. THREE WEEKS AND 400 MILES LATER, THE LR TIRE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND MY EXAMINATION REVEALED AN IDENTICAL BULGE OVER APPROXIMATELY 10% OF THE TIRE CIRCUMFERENCE. AT THE TIME MY FAMILY & I WERE DRIVING TO THE AUSTIN, TX AIRPORT FOR A THANKSGIVING VACATION OUT OF STATE. WHEN I RETURNED EIGHT DAYS LATER, I AGAIN WENT TO THE LOCAL CONTINENTAL DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED MY INSPECTION (THIS TIME WITH STEEL CORDS SHOWING AT THE FAILED SPOT), AND TOLD THEM THAT I NO LONGER TRUSTED THE REMAINING TWO ORIGINAL TIRES AND WOULD LIKE FOR CONTINENTAL TO REPLACE ALL FOUR WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND OF APPROPRIATE TIRES. THAT REQUEST AS WELL AS THE WARRANTY REPLACEMENT OF THE SECOND DEFECTIVE TIRE IS INCOMPLETE AT THIS TIME. CONTINENTAL TIRE CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS ALREADY SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT CONSIDER ANY ADJUSTMENT UNTIL THE TIRE FAILS. IF IT FAILS ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE DIRE FOR MY FAMILY OR OTHERS. AS CAN BE IMAGINED, I AM NOT SO HAPPY ABOUT THE SITUATION. *TR

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGJul 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 ISUZU ASCENDER. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE LOW BEAMS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER FIVE MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION; HOWEVER, THE LOW BEAM LIGHT FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGESDec 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OVER BUMPS AND RAILROAD TRACKS, A CHIME SOUNDED AS ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE LATCH FAILED AND WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR ELECTRONICALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V404000 (VISIBILITY) BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE INITIAL FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,125.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)Mar 2014

ALL THE LIGHTS ON BOARD ARE ON...STAYS ON FOR HOURS THAN GOES PARTIAL OFF ... ENGINE LIGHTS ON ZERO GAS ON ALL THE TIME... IS RISK TO DRIVE WITH ALL BOARD LIGHTS ON SO WHAT SHOULD I DO? IN PHOENIX, AZ. WHERE WE LIVE THERE IS NO ISUZU DEALER... *TR

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEDec 2011

I PURCHASED A 2007 ISUZU ASCENDER WITH 9,900 MILES ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2009. IN NOVEMBER OF 2010, THE GAS GAUGE STARTED TO READ INACCURATELY. IF I FILLED THE TANK, THE GAS GAUGE WOULD SHOW FILLED. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70-80 MILES, THE GAUGE NEEDLE WOULD SLOWLY DROP TO 'E' AND THE LOW FUEL LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I SEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS INVOLVING GMC VEHICLES. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALLS THAT WERE ISSUED, HOWEVER, I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. FOR NOW, I CONTINUE TO FILL THE TANK, RESET THE TRIPOMETER AND REFILL ONCE I'VE DRIVEN 90-100 MILES, AS I AM NOT PREPARED TO SPEND $800 TO REPLACE THE FAULTY FUEL SENDING UNIT...THE MILEAGE ON THIS VEHICLE IS 24K. THANK YOU *TR

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHERJul 2011

FUEL GAUGE IN 2007 ISUZU ASCENDER STARTED SHOWING INCORRECT FUEL LEVEL AS I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON I-71 SOUTH OF COLUMBUS,OH. IT STARTED SHOWING EMPTY BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT LEST HALF A TANK. *TR

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEJun 2011

I OWN A 2007 ISUZU ASCENDER I HAVE RIGHT AT 42,000 MILES ON IT I FILLED THE TANK YESTERDAY AND HAD 3/4 A TANK REMAINING LAST NIGHT THIS MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK I HAD DRIVEN A LESS THAN A MILE FROM MY HOME AND THE GAS GAUGE STARTED GOING DOWN AND WITHIN A MILE FROM HOME MY GAS LIGHT WAS ON AND MY TANK SHOWED EMPTY . I DROVE MY VEHICLE HOME AND SWITCHED TO MY OTHER VEHICLE WHEN I PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK THE GAS GAUGE JUMPED BACK UP TO 3/4 FULL . I CALLED THE ISUZU DEALER IN KNOXVILLE TN AND AS SOON AS I STATED WHAT WAS GOING ON HE KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE SO I FIGURED THAT THEY HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS THAN JUST MINE SO I LOOKED ONLINE WHEN I GOT OF WORK AND I HAVE READ NUMEROUS REPORTS AND THEY ARE ALL THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES STARTING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE 2005'S . WHY ON EARTH HAVE THESE PROBLEMS NOT BE RECALLED FOR THIS YET THIS IS A ONGOING PROBLEM SEEMS LIKE ON THESE PARTICULAR VEHICLES. *TR

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEJun 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED THE INCORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT WAS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENDER UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000. UPDATED 07/20/11*LJ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEJul 2010

I BROUGHT MY ASDENDER TRUCK FROM MATT BLATT IN VINLAND IN 2007 WITH 211 MILES AND I ALWAYS HAD PROBLEM AT THE GAS STATION BUT I DID NOT PLAY IT ANY MIND. THEN ONE DAY I TOOK THE TRUCK FOR SERVICE AND I SAID PLEASE CHECK OUT THE GAS TANK BECAUSE IT ALWAYS CUTTING OFF AT THE PUMP,SO THEY CHECK IT AND TOLD ME I HAVE TO REPLACE THE GAS LINE FILTER AND THE BALL THAT TELL U HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE. THIS TRUCK JUST TURN THREE YR OLD IN APRIL I SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THEM THING ALREADY. I THINK THIS PROBLEM WAS ALREADY THERE WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TRUCK. NOW I HAVE NO MORE WARNING ON THE TRUCK/ THIS TRUCK SHOULD BE RECALL FOR THE GAS TANK . TO ME THIS TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE I AM SCARE SOME TIME . I JUST DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT. *TR

TIRESDec 2009

AFTER NORMAL, MOSTLY RURAL, PERSONAL, NON-COMMERCIAL USE IN CENTRAL TEXAS, THE LF TIRE FAILED AFTER 16 MONTHS AND 27000 MILES OF SERVICE. THE TREAD/BELT SHOWED AN OBVIOUS LARGE BULGE AND SEPARATION FROM THE CARCASS OVER APPROXIMATELY 10% OF THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE OUTSIDE TREAD PORTION OF THE TIRE. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH AUDIBLE EXTERNAL NOISE (AT SLOW SPEEDS) ALONG WITH A FELT BUMP IN THE TIRE AND A SHIMMY ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SYMPTOMS WERE REDUCED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS WAS NOTICED AROUND THE LAST WEEK OF OCTOBER, 2009. IT WAS REPORTED TO CONTINENTAL VIA A LOCAL CONTINENTAL TIRE DEALER AND THE ADJUSTMENT WAS 25% OFF OF A NEW REPLACEMENT TIRE. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT CONTINENTAL APPARENTLY DETERMINED THAT 16 MONTHS AND 27000 MILES WAS 3/4 OF THE TIRES LIFE. THREE WEEKS AND 400 MILES LATER, THE LR TIRE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND MY EXAMINATION REVEALED AN IDENTICAL BULGE OVER APPROXIMATELY 10% OF THE TIRE CIRCUMFERENCE. AT THE TIME MY FAMILY & I WERE DRIVING TO THE AUSTIN, TX AIRPORT FOR A THANKSGIVING VACATION OUT OF STATE. WHEN I RETURNED EIGHT DAYS LATER, I AGAIN WENT TO THE LOCAL CONTINENTAL DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED MY INSPECTION (THIS TIME WITH STEEL CORDS SHOWING AT THE FAILED SPOT), AND TOLD THEM THAT I NO LONGER TRUSTED THE REMAINING TWO ORIGINAL TIRES AND WOULD LIKE FOR CONTINENTAL TO REPLACE ALL FOUR WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND OF APPROPRIATE TIRES. THAT REQUEST AS WELL AS THE WARRANTY REPLACEMENT OF THE SECOND DEFECTIVE TIRE IS INCOMPLETE AT THIS TIME. CONTINENTAL TIRE CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS ALREADY SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT CONSIDER ANY ADJUSTMENT UNTIL THE TIRE FAILS. IF IT FAILS ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE DIRE FOR MY FAMILY OR OTHERS. AS CAN BE IMAGINED, I AM NOT SO HAPPY ABOUT THE SITUATION. *TR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJan 2018

THE GAUGE CLUSTER IS MALFUNCTIONING

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGMay 2017

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 DOES, HOWEVER, SEEM TO BE VERY SIMILAR TO ISSUES THAT HAS CAUSED GM TO DO A RECALL ON OTHER GM VEHICLES WHICH INCLUDES 2006-2009 (?) ISUZU ASCENDERS BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE MY 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE FIRST TIME THAT I EXPERIENCED THIS WAS BACK IN JANUARY 2017. THE LAST TIME THAT I EXPERIENCED THIS WAS LAST NIGHT, MAY 4, 2017.

Showing 20 of 82 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check the exact car

Before you buy, check the exact Isuzu Ascender

These pages show model-year patterns across 6 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

The basics

How to read this data

Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Isuzu Ascender, in plain English.

01

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Isuzu Ascender has 82 complaints on record across 6 model years.

02

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Isuzu Ascender has 0 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

03

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 0 of the Isuzu Ascender's 82 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

04

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Below Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

05

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

06

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Isuzu Ascender vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Isuzu Ascender vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

07

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Isuzu Ascender has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

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By state

Check a Isuzu Ascender by state

Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Isuzu Ascender.

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Keep researching before you buy

Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.

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Isuzu Ascender reliability — frequently asked questions

Is the Isuzu Ascender reliable?

Below Average. The Isuzu Ascender has 82 NHTSA owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.

Which Isuzu Ascender years to avoid?

Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2004 (64 complaints), 2007 (18 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.

What are the most common Isuzu Ascender problems?

Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (38 complaints); FUEL SYSTEM (22 complaints); GASOLINE (18 complaints).

Does the Isuzu Ascender have recalls?

No NHTSA recall campaigns are currently on record for the Isuzu Ascender. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.

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