Model year guide

2004 Isuzu Ascender

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2004 Isuzu Ascender is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 7 on record.

2004 Isuzu Ascender — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2004 Isuzu Ascender at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints64
Combined14–16 mpg
Typical price$2,450

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2004 Isuzu Ascender recalls 1

Exterior Lighting:turn Signal NHTSA Campaign #05V198000 · manufacturer #05044 · 05/05/2005

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.

Fix: 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 1-80…

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2004 Isuzu Ascender common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Gasoline
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.
Visibility
Test wipers, washers, defrosters and all mirrors. Check the windshield for cracks and any camera/sensor for fogging or faults.

2004 Isuzu Ascender safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★
Side — front seat★★★★★
Side — rear seat★★★★★

Rollover risk: 19.1% — NHTSA's estimated chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash (dynamic test: no tip).

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2004 Isuzu Ascender 5 4-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2004 Isuzu Ascender MPG & running costs

Combined14–16 mpg
City14 mpg
Highway18 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$4,342
EPA size classSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$9,708 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 6 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 2004 Isuzu Ascender worth?

Low
$1,500
Typical price
$2,450
High
$4,100

From 6 comparable 2004 Isuzu Ascender listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2004 Isuzu Ascender costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$21,710
Fuel only$21,710
Per mile$0.29

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 2

Loss of Headlights Closed

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 investiga…

NHTSA #RQ17002 · Exterior Lighting · opened Apr 2017 · closed Mar 2021

FUEL PUMP MODULE LEAKS GASOLINE Closed

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 TH…

NHTSA #EA07009 · Fuel System, Gasoline · opened Jul 2007 · closed Aug 2008

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 175

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 175.

This bulletin outlines the procedures for using the Alpine Exchange Program (the "Exchange Program"). The Exchange Program must be used when any Alpine radio or other component covered by this bulletin is repaired under warranty and may also be used for radio…

Bulletin IB13-R-001G · May 2023

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural recommendations to improve dealer efficiency when submitting Parts Warranty claims. We strongly recommend dealers follow these procedures in order to avoid delays in Parts War…

Bulletin WB13-X-001B · Equipment · Aug 2022

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA) is providing the following procedural recommendations to improve dealer efficiency when submitting Parts Warranty claims. We strongly recommend dealers follow these procedures in order to avoid delays in Parts War…

Bulletin WB13-X-001A · Equipment · Aug 2022

The following is a list of the Isuzu-recommended Threebond product part numbers identified in the various Isuzu Workshop Manuals and bulletins. If a Threebond product is unavailable, we recommend that you utilize the chart below to find equivalent of similar p…

Bulletin IB09-X-002B · Equipment · Jul 2022

The Isuzu Commercial Truck of America (ICTA) Service Technical Assistance Center (TAC) provides diagnostic support to Isuzu dealer technicians repairing Isuzu vehicles in and out of vehicle warranty. A TAC case number will be issued solely for information trac…

Bulletin IB09-X-004C · Engine And Engine Cooling, Equipment, Equipment Adaptive/mobility · Jul 2022

This service bulletin provides service information on new torque specification and installation procedure for ACDelco Spin-On Oil Filters.

Bulletin 22NA009 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jan 2022

This technical bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce…

Bulletin 16NA383 · Equipment Adaptive/mobility, Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine · May 2020

This Preliminary information communicates to the technician the need to inspect the induction system for potential icing issues in very cold ambient temperatures. To allow the ice to melt so that it can be drained from the related components. That any of the l…

Bulletin PIP5540D · Engine And Engine Cooling · Feb 2019

This Preliminary information communicates information that will need to be provided to TAC to aid in diagnosing if a vehicle comes in with misfire and DTC Codes P0300 - P0308 and/or P050D

Bulletin PIP5628 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Feb 2019

This Preliminary information communicates to the technician the need to inspect the induction system for potential icing issues in very cold ambient temperatures. To allow the ice to melt so that it can be drained from the related components. That any of the l…

Bulletin PIP5540B · Engine And Engine Cooling · Dec 2018

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the ASCENDER. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Isuzu Ascender

The Isuzu Ascender is a mid-size SUV built by General Motors for Isuzu. The 7-passenger Ascender was introduced for the 2003 model year as a replacement for the Isuzu Trooper. The 5-passenger Ascender was introduced for the 2004 model year as a replacement for the Isuzu Rodeo and the Isuzu Axiom.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2004 Isuzu Ascender trims & engines on record

Trims
S 7-Passenger · S 5-Passenger
Engines
4.2L 6-cyl

2004 Isuzu Ascender vehicles on record

Other Isuzu Ascender model years

2004 Isuzu Ascender — frequently asked questions

Does the 2004 Isuzu Ascender have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2004 Isuzu Ascender. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Isuzu Ascender?

Across all 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, fuel system, gasoline.

What is the 2004 Isuzu Ascender safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2004 Isuzu Ascender crash-test ratings of frontal 3★, side 5★, rollover 4★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2004 Isuzu Ascender get?

The 2004 Isuzu Ascender has U.S. EPA estimates of 14–16 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (6 versions).

How much is a 2004 Isuzu Ascender worth?

Comparable 2004 Isuzu Ascender listings run roughly $1,500–$4,100, typically around $2,450 (from 6 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.