2004 Isuzu Ascender: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2004 Isuzu Ascender
On the 2004 Isuzu Ascender, the failure owners report most often is other electrical problem, and the reports cluster around 80,000 miles. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 80,000 miles. Overall it scores 57 out of 100, elevated risk for a 2004.
Elevated risk for a 2004 — 314th riskiest of the 329 2004 vehicles we can rate. 88 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
The failures owners actually file about
Owners have reported 24 named failure modes on the 2004 Isuzu Ascender, and the three most-reported carry 49% of everything filed.
Other electrical problem leads with 17 reports, about 0.7 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 26k to 130,000 miles.
Instrument cluster or gauge failure follows with 15 reports, usually reported between 50k to 85,000 miles. 3 of those reports mention a fire.
Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure follows with 11 reports, usually reported between 44k to 90,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into electrical (18), fuel (18) and infotainment (15).
When these failures get reported
69 of the reports on the 2004 Isuzu Ascender came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 80,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 28% by 50,000 miles, 59% by 100,000 miles and 90% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.
The busiest stretch is between 80,000 and 90,000 miles, which alone holds 14% of the dated reports.
26% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: other electrical problem around 80k, instrument cluster or gauge failure around 80k and fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure around 80k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 24. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 4 a fire. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 3.05, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, instrument cluster or gauge failure at $350–$1,400, fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure at $250–$1,800 and headlight failure or clouding at $150–$1,800. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
10% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 17 | 13 | 26k | 80k | 130k | 0.7 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 15 | 13 | 50k | 80k | 84k | 0.6 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 11 | 11 | 44k | 80k | 90k | 0.4 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 5 | 5 | — | 150k | — | 0.2 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 4 | 3 | — | 100k | — | 0.2 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 4 | 3 | — | 170k | — | 0.2 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 3 | 3 | — | 135k | — | 0.1 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 35k | — | 0.1 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 3 | 2 | — | 102k | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 2 | 1 | — | 73k | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 2 | 1 | — | 70k | — | 0.1 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 2 | 1 | — | 110k | — | 0.1 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 30k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 124k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 88k | — | 0.0 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 32k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 144k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 130k | — | 0.0 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 1 | 1 | — | 8k | — | 0.0 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 31 | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 1 | 1 | — | 45k | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Unclassified problem | other | 3 | 1 | — | 100k | — | 0.1 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2004 Isuzu Ascender draws about 3.4 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 76th percentile of complaint rates among 2004 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 26,043 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2004 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other electrical problem
Dt: went to start the vehicle and it wouldn't start because light in dashboard would say unknown driver,. According to the dealer the first time it was the wiring. Second time said it was the ignition, and put in a new igition. For 3 nights after getting it back it wouldn't start at all. Was towed to the dealer again.*ak
Instrument panel began working intermittently. Took in for check. Dealer repaired. Left dealer and instrument panel failed again within 15 minutes. Returned to dealer and had to wait for (8) days for replacement dash module. Car was unsafe and undrivable as no information (speed, gear location, etc.) was available to driver. This vehicle is a gm product and is the same as trailblazer, envoy, etc. I have been told by envoy owners that they have experienced the same problem,trailblazers also. Dealer service rep stated to me that gm knows there is a problem with the instrument modules. This complaint form does not allow for the identification of the manufacturer of this vehicle. It is manufactured by general motors. I had to select isuzu manufacturing due to your error in programming drop downs correctly. Isuzu has no manufacturing facilities in north america. Please update your information. If this vehicle is not classified as a gm product it will reduce the failure incidence of the gm instrument panels. *nm
Instrument cluster or gauge failure
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the dashboard gauge lights began dimming. There were no warning signals prior to the incident. The vehicle was taken to the service dealer who determined that there was a short in the battery. A new battery was installed but the problem persisted. The manufacturer was notified and could not determine the problem or offer a resolution.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 isuzu ascender. The contact stated that the speedometer and RPM gauge operate intermittently. He stated that all of the other instrument panel gauges operate correctly. The vehicle has not been inspected by the dealer. The current mileage is 59,064 and failure mileage was 59,000.
Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure
English: plastic gas tank broke in the connection to the pipe or hose when entering the gasoline to the gas tank. Spanish : la coneccion del tanque con el tubo o manga por donde entra la gasolina al tanque de gasolina de isuzu ascender se rompe creando problema de derrame de gasolina si se llena el tanque. El tanque es plastico. En el dealer el tecnico indica que esto sya a sucedido varias veces con otras unidades pero que la garantia cubre siempre y cuando tenga menos de 2 anos o 24,000millas. Esto es un riego severo a la seguridad y puede crear se incendie el vehiculo. *ak
My check engine light came on and I took it in to have a diagnostic check and I was informed that my 2004 isuzu ascender had a crack in the gas tank due to faulty equipment. There are gas fumes in the car as well. I contacted the manufacturer who states that there are bulletins for this problem for the 2003 and 2004 ascenders however my vehicle will not be covered. *tr
Recalls on the 2004 model year
NHTSA has issued 1 recall campaign covering the 2004 Isuzu Ascender, affecting an estimated 26,043 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover exterior lighting:turn signal. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
286,478 vehicles 2005-05-05- 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 on august 4, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, isuzu at 1-800-255-6727, buick at 1-866-608-8080, and oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2004 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 2004 compares with the other years
Elevated risk for a 2004 — 314th riskiest of the 329 2004 vehicles we can rate. Because the ranking is against the same model year only, age cancels out of it.
Across the 4 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2004 comes out best at 57 and 2003 worst at 66, with 2004 itself at 57.
No other year of this model scores meaningfully better than 2004, so if this generation is what you want, the year is not the lever.
Within the 2003–2008 generation specifically, 2004 is the strongest year at 57 and 2003 the weakest at 66.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2003-2008 generation, 2004 Isuzu Ascender scores best at 57 and 2003 Isuzu Ascender worst at 66.
Where to spend the inspection money
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other electrical problem from about 26k, fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure from about 44k and instrument cluster or gauge failure from about 50k.
On a 2004 Isuzu Ascender with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other electrical problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
What this page cannot tell you
88 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 88 reports, 69 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 78% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Isuzu Ascender?
The most-reported failures are other electrical problem (17 reports, median 80,000 miles), instrument cluster or gauge failure (15 reports, median 80,000 miles) and fuel tank, filler or evap failure (11 reports, median 80,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2004 Isuzu Ascender problems start?
Other electrical problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 80,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 25,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 80,000 miles.
Is the 2004 Isuzu Ascender reliable?
It scores 57 out of 100 on our risk index, which is elevated — 314th riskiest of the 329 2004 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2004 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Isuzu Ascender is best?
Within the 2003–2008 generation, 2004 scores best at 57 out of 100 and 2003 worst at 66. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed