Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Isuzu Ascender problems
Owners filed 35 complaints about the 2003 Isuzu Ascender with NHTSA between Jul 2003 and Nov 2013. The most-cited component is electrical system (9).
Complaints
35
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system9
- Exterior lighting7
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Power train4
- Structure3
- Steering2
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Fuel system, other2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Service brakes1
- Tires1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
- Suspension1
- Air bags1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
4
8
3
5
5
5
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
9 reports
“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 STOLEN BY NOT ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THIS HAS BEEN A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *TR”
Exterior lighting
7 reports1 related recall
“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”
Fuel system, gasoline
5 reports
“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”
Power train
4 reports1 related recall
“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 ISUZU DEALER IN ELGIN THE NEXT DAY.THE MECHANIC FROM BIGGER ISUZU CALLED MONDAY, 2-5-07, CLAIMING THAT THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF LACK OF GEAR OIL. COST--$4,800 TO BE REPAIRED. THE CAR MILEAGE WAS 77,000 MILES. I CALLED ISUZU TO COMPLAINED AND THEY SAID, THEY WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. I WENT TO NHTSA, THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER POWER TRAIN-DRIVE DIFFERENTIAL. NHTSA ITEM #10016589 AND SERVICE BULLETIN #0507002. DATE OF BULLETIN 08/01/2005. *TR”
Structure
3 reports
“WHILE TRYING TO RELEASE THE FULL-SIZED SPARE TIRE, THE CABLE HOLDING IT UP BROKE CAUSING THE TIRE TO UNEXPECTEDLY FALL. *TR”
Steering
2 reports
“POWER STEERING LINES FROM THE PUMP (HIGH PRESSURE AND RETURN LINES) ARE CORRODING AND NOW LEAKING. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.