2003 ISUZU ASCENDER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
47
Owner Complaints
5
Recalls
48
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER
The 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER has received a total of 47 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER. 48 technical service bulletins have been issued by Isuzu Motors Limited for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (6 complaints), Exterior Lightingheadlights (5 complaints), and Electrical Systemignitionswitch (2 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER, potentially affecting up to 388,225 vehicles.
Recall 05V494000 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
| 98,007 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE A REAR SIDE CLOSURE LATCH THAT MAY NOT LATCH OR UNLATCH DUE TO CORROSION CAUSED BY ROAD SPLASH, SUCH AS WATER AND ROAD SALT. THESE VEHICLES WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO,...
Consequence: IF THE DOOR IS NOT LATCHED PROPERLY AND IT GOES UNNOTICED, IT MAY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IF AN UNBELTED OCCUPANT FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE, PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SEAL ALONG THE LOWER PART OF THE ROCKER PANEL TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF CORROSIVE MATERIAL, AND INSPECT THE REAR SIDE CLOSURE LATCHES. FUNCTIONAL LATCHES WILL BE CLEANED AND LUBRICATED. NON-FUNCTIONING LATCHES WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL...
View full details →Recall 05V198000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
| 286,478 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
View full details →Recall 04V061000 — VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
| 439 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEMS THAT WILL NOT TURN ON, CEASE OPERATION WHILE IN USE, FAIL TO TURN OFF/ON BY THEMSELVES (MOISTURE SENSITIVE WIPER SYSTEM), OR HAVE CONTINUOUS WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP OPERATION BECAUSE THE PRESENCE OF WATER WITHIN THE WIPER MODULES CAN EITHER CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT OR CAN LEAD TO THE CORROSION OF COMPONENTS WITHIN THE...
Consequence: DEPENDING ON THE OCCURRENCE AND WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 15, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.
View full details →Recall 03V269000 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
| 3,290 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE LOWER UNIVERSAL ANCHORAGE SYSTEM.
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARD.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. IT DESCRIBES AND SHOWS THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE VEHICLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT ISUZU AT...
View full details →Recall 03V213000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
| 11 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A MECHANICAL OVERRIDE THAT COULD ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN A POSITION OTHER THAN PARK. IN ADDITION, THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN OVERRIDE THAT CAN ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION TO...
Consequence: THESE OVERRIDES ARE NOT PERMITTED UNLESS THE VEHICLE HAS A LOCKING STEERING COLUMN.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ELIMINATE THESE CONDITIONS BY DISABLING THE OVERRIDES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 13, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER
47 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS PERFORATED DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
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
POWER STEERING LINES FROM THE PUMP (HIGH PRESSURE AND RETURN LINES) ARE CORRODING AND NOW LEAKING. *TR
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.
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
Safety Rating for the 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER
Isuzu Motors Limited has issued 48 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
SB16-02-S001A — FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
SOME 2003-2004 MODEL YEAR ISUZU ASCENDER VEHICLES CONTAIN A FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE (ICV) THAT COULD FRACTURE. THE ICV IS LOCATED ABOVE THE FULL FUEL LEVEL. A FRACTURED ICV COULD ALLOW FUEL VAPORS TO PASS THROUGH AND DROPLETS OF FUEL TO ACCUMULATE ON THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK...
0611015 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
NOISE COMING FROM INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. *KB
0606003 — SUSPENSION
REVISED SHOCK MODULE REPLACEMENT (SERVICE MANUAL REVISION). *KB
0604001 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, DTC P0526 SET. *TT
0405S008 — POWER TRAIN
DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0894 AND P1870. *TT
0601001 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE OIL LEAK AT REAR COVER ASSEMBLY AREA. *TT
0511001 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
AVOIDING FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR JAMMING WHEN STORING SEAT BELT. *TT
0505002 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DIAGNOSIS OF CRACK OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *EH
0501006 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
UNDERHOOD TICK NOISE AT IDLE. *TT
0503003 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
REVISED INSPECTION/MAINTENANCE (I/M) EVAPORATIVE EMISSION (EVAP) SYSTEM SET PROCEDURE (SERVICE MANUAL REVISION). *TT
Showing 10 of 48 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the ISUZU ASCENDER
- 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER (current)
- 2004 ISUZU ASCENDER — 88 complaints
- 2005 ISUZU ASCENDER — 84 complaints
- 2006 ISUZU ASCENDER — 49 complaints
- 2007 ISUZU ASCENDER — 12 complaints
- 2008 ISUZU ASCENDER — 0 complaints
Other ISUZU Models
- ISUZU RODEO — 3,295 total complaints
- ISUZU TROOPER — 713 total complaints
- ISUZU AXIOM — 238 total complaints
- ISUZU AMIGO — 220 total complaints
- ISUZU RODEO SPORT — 143 total complaints
- ISUZU HOMBRE — 142 total complaints
- ISUZU PICKUP TRUCK — 93 total complaints
- ISUZU VEHICROSS — 80 total complaints