Most common 2003 Isuzu Ascender problems
Share of the 35 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Isuzu Ascender complaints by model year
Best Ascender years: 2007, 2006. Years to avoid: 2005, 2004. Compare all years →
2003 Isuzu Ascender recalls (5)
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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,…
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.
Exterior lighting › Turn signal
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.
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.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
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…
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.
Equipment › Other › Owners/service/other manual
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.
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.
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
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…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2003 Isuzu Ascender:
Loss of 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.
Fuel pump module leaks gasoline
During the course of this ea investigation, odi observed that the majority of the complaints (88%) and warranty claims (94%) were reported for vehicles that are registered for use in the salt belt region of the us.this area includes 20 states in the northeast, mid atlantic and the midwest regions and the district of columbia.consumers in the salt belt region reported to odi that they could smell fuel vapors in their…
Windshield wiper failure
On September 17, 2003, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe03-042) to investigate alleged windshield wiper failure in certain model year (my) 2002 and 2003 Chevrolet trailblazer and trailblazer ext, GMC envoy and envoy xl, and Oldsmobile bravada vehicles.the investigation was upgraded to an engineering analysis on January 6, 2004, and the scope was expanded to include certain…
What 2003 Isuzu Ascender owners say
Electrical system
My husband and I switched vehicles and he drove my vehicle to work. When he came out of work, the vehicle would not start. I called the dealership and had it towed the next day. The problem was diagnosed as a faulty ignition switch. They replaced it a few days ago. Now, it is slow to turn over or I have to turn the switch 2+ times to get it to start. I have an appointment for two days from now. Looking at the envoy and trailblazer records (same vehicle as Ascender), this seems to be a common problem. Are there any plans for a recall?
The headlights dim 2 - 3 times daily while driving. The day time running light is on when this occurs. On 3 separate occasions headlights totally went out for a short period of time before coming back on. Dealership replaced the ignition switch, alternator, and battery an attempt to correct the failure. However, the failure recurred. Manufacturer refused to do any more repairs unless the dealership was able to duplicate the problem.
Lights
The headlights dim 2 - 3 times daily while driving. The day time running light is on when this occurs. On 3 separate occasions headlights totally went out for a short period of time before coming back on. Dealership replaced the ignition switch, alternator, and battery an attempt to correct the failure. However, the failure recurred. Manufacturer refused to do any more repairs unless the dealership was able to duplicate the problem.
While driving at night the dim head lights go off for no reason,this happens every two days or so , so I have to drive with bright lights (which blinds on coming traffic) on for about six or seven miles before the low beams start working again. Dealership can't seem to duplicate problem, so nothing has been done yet.
Fuel & propulsion system
I purchased a new 2003 Isuzu Ascender in sept. 2003. When the vehicle had approximately 500 miles on the odometer the service engine soon (ses) light came on. We took the SUV to an Isuzu dealer where I was told that I had improperly put the gas cap on and that is why the ses light came on. Within a week the ses light came on again. My husband took the car back to the dealer where the vehicle was thoroughly checked and the Isuzu dealer found a leak in the fuel tank. The tank was replaced after a lengthy wait for the proper parts. We thought the problem was solved. July 2, 2007 we received a recall notice from Isuzu stating that the ses light May come on after fueling and that you May smell a fuel odor. We brought the SUV to an Isuzu dealer on July 5. The service staff found 2 leaks in the tank. …
Ses light comes on after fueling--smell of gasoline evident around lh rear corner of vehicle. Visual inspection indicates fuel leakage at filler neck to tank connection. Odi case # 's 10104638, 10139878 & 10134665 are similar to this one. Vehicle has had this situation for at least a year and 30-40,000 miles.
2003 Isuzu Ascender engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 19 / 15 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 16 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Isuzu Ascender a good car?
Based on 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Ascender rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Ascender at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Isuzu Ascender?
The electrical system — 9 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition › switch. Next are the lights (7) and fuel & propulsion system (6).
How many recalls does the 2003 Isuzu Ascender have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2003 Isuzu Ascender, the most recent from October 27, 2005 (latch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Isuzu Ascender?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007 and 2006. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005 and 2004. See the full Isuzu Ascender years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Isuzu Ascender problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 64% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.