2003 Isuzu Ascender problems
The 2003 Isuzu Ascender has 47 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (23%) concerns electrical system. Next are fuel system (15%) and lighting (15%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 47 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 23% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 31,000 miles 32 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 14 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 5 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 8 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 3 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 32 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 31,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 3 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 4 model years of the Isuzu Ascender with enough data (38 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Dt: the contact stated while driving on the interstate during rush hour at 55 MPH, a vehicle hit the wall and tail spinned in front of contact's vehicle. The contact hit the vehicle with a frontal impact causing severe damage. Upon impact, the none of the contact's air bags deployed. The contact was wearing a seatbelt however injuries were sustain to the shoulders, back and neck. When the vehicle was taken to the dealership, they determined the vehicle was operating properly however the airbags did not deploy.
While trying to release the full-sized spare tire, the cable holding it up broke causing the tire to unexpectedly fall.
When the high beams were not on, the consumer was only able to see two car lengths ahead.. The consumer was told the headlamps were pre-set and could not be readjusted.
Dt: the consumer stated that the power steering failed in his vehicle while turning the corner in the mountains. The power would work, but not when he would slow down. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership and a new power steering pump has been ordered. They did not tell him why this was happening. This happened june 28, 2005. It happened approximately 6 times that day. He took the vehicle in that day, and he has not had the problem since. The vehicle is making a whirring noise at this time.