Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
40–25K
525–50K
1850–75K
1675–100K
11100–150K
1150K+
55 reports with mileage · 9 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
64 reports
122,000 miles · Aug 7, 2013
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL GAUGE PROVIDED AN INACCURATE READING AND FLUCTUATED SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURERS RECALL FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHIC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL GAUGE PROVIDED AN INACCURATE READING AND FLUCTUATED SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURERS RECALL FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OVER THE MILEAGE LIMIT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10534047
120,225 miles · Apr 30, 2013
Fuel/propulsion System
THE GAS GAUGE IN MY 2005 ASCENDER STOPPED WORKING. IT IS ALWAYS SHOWING THAT THE CAR IS EMPTY. I HAVE NOTICED ON THE WEB THAT SEVERAL OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10510100
85,000 miles · Apr 5, 2013
Fuel/propulsion System
FILL CAR UP AND IT SHOWS EMPTY....IT MIGHT FROM TIME TO TIME GO UP SOME BUT I HAVE TO WATCH MY MILEAGE TO SEE HOW MUCH I HAVE DRIVEN TO FILL UP AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10507220
90,000 miles · Mar 27, 2013
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER AND OIL GAUGE WERE ALL PROVIDING ERRATIC READINGS. AFTER REFUELING THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD PROVIDE AN ERRONEOUS READING OF ZERO. THE OIL GAUGE PRESSURE WOULD MOVE BACK AND FORTH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER AND OIL GAUGE WERE ALL PROVIDING ERRATIC READINGS. AFTER REFUELING THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD PROVIDE AN ERRONEOUS READING OF ZERO. THE OIL GAUGE PRESSURE WOULD MOVE BACK AND FORTH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP, SENSOR AND THE LEVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL GENERAL MOTORS BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL MOTORS. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED GENERAL MOTORS BUT WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA ODI #10504699
68,000 miles · Dec 1, 2012
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
THE ISUZU ASCENDER 2005 HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER AND OIL GAUGE. ALL ARE READING ERRATICALLY. FILL THE TANK THE GAUGE READS THAT IS NEEDS GAS. THE OIL GAUGE IS COMPLETELY AS HAVE CHANGED OUT THE FUEL GAUGE INSIDE THE FUEL TANK FOR ABOUT $750 THAT WORKED FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND NOW THE PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN.…
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THE ISUZU ASCENDER 2005 HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER AND OIL GAUGE. ALL ARE READING ERRATICALLY. FILL THE TANK THE GAUGE READS THAT IS NEEDS GAS. THE OIL GAUGE IS COMPLETELY AS HAVE CHANGED OUT THE FUEL GAUGE INSIDE THE FUEL TANK FOR ABOUT $750 THAT WORKED FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND NOW THE PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN. ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. THE MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS AN ERROR AND JUST RESETS IT AFTER CHECKING THE ON BOARD SYSTEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10486666
65,000 miles · Nov 13, 2012
Electrical System
MY SPEEDOMETER IS RARELY ACCURATE ANYMORE. IT CAN BE FINE WHEN I START OUT BUT THEN JUMP TO AN OBNOXIOUS SPEED AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW, IT SAYS I AM GOING 120 MILES AN HOUR AND 65 MILES AN HOUR WHEN STOPPED. THE GAS GAUGE IS NOT READING CORRECTLY AND THE OIL GAUGE IS STUCK ALL THE WAY OVER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10484528
120,000 miles · Jul 12, 2012
Electrical System
I'VE BEEN HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A DAY AFTER I BOUGHT IT. THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING AS I WAS DRIVING IT OFF THE LOT. WHEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED AND IT WORKED FOR A FEW MONTHS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER GOES HAYWIRE…
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I'VE BEEN HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A DAY AFTER I BOUGHT IT. THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING AS I WAS DRIVING IT OFF THE LOT. WHEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED AND IT WORKED FOR A FEW MONTHS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER GOES HAYWIRE WHEN IT DROPS BELOW A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE AND THE GAS GAUGE WHEN IT RAINS OR IT'S HUMID. I KNOW IT SEEMS RIDICULOUS BUT I HAD NO PROBLEMS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WITH EITHER UP UNTIL NOW RAINY SEASON. IT HAS ONLY COME OFF ONCE, WHEN I REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT IT CAME BACK ON A DAY LATER. HOPE SOMEONE FIGURES SOMETHING OUT! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10465467
111,000 miles · Jun 16, 2012
Air Bags
MY DAUGHTER WAS PULLING OUT TO TURN LEFT ONTO A 4 LANE ROAD. AS SHE CROSSED THE MEDIAN SHE HIT A LARGE PUDDLE AND HYDROPLANED. WHEN THE CAR HIT A DRY PATCH ON THE ROAD, BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. SHE WAS THEN ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND DRIVE IT 1-MILE HOME. THE INSUR…
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MY DAUGHTER WAS PULLING OUT TO TURN LEFT ONTO A 4 LANE ROAD. AS SHE CROSSED THE MEDIAN SHE HIT A LARGE PUDDLE AND HYDROPLANED. WHEN THE CAR HIT A DRY PATCH ON THE ROAD, BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. SHE WAS THEN ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND DRIVE IT 1-MILE HOME. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE CAR AND CLAIMS IT IS A MECHANICAL ERROR. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALER AND WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR FROM ISUZU. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10461938
32,410 miles · May 20, 2012
SteeringSuspension
HAVE PROBLEMS WITH FRONT STEERING AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM EVER SINCE THIS HAPPENED. HAD REPLACE RACK & PINION 4 TIMES SINCE THIS DATE AND RODS, SHOCKS, ARM TERMINALS...........NO MATTER HOW LOW USAGE IS DONE...FRONT DRIVE LINE IS A LEMON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10459034
70,000 miles · Apr 30, 2012
Fuel System, Other
FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH GM SUV'S LIKE ENVOY, TRAILBLAZER, BUICK AND POSSIBLY MORE. OUR DEALER INSISTS THERE IS NO RECALL. THIS VEHICLE IS PRETTY MUCH 99% GM EXCEPT FOR THE NAME. *JS
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, 'WINDSHIELD MOUNTING.' THE WINDSHIELD URETHANE BEAD MAY NOT HAVE ADHERED TO THE BODY IN CERTAIN AREAS DURING THE CURE PROCESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A CRASH OCCURS, THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE RETAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 10, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
RQ17002 · Loss Of Headlights
Opened Apr 24, 2017 · Closed Mar 29, 2021
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights
The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.
2005 Isuzu Ascender Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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