FaultScore

2006 Isuzu Ascender fuel system problems

14 of the 49 complaints about the 2006 Isuzu Ascender are about the fuel system — 29% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 72,000 miles.

C

14

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Fuel System, Gasoline 6 42.9%
Fuel/Propulsion System 6 42.9%
Fuel Gauge System 2 14.3%

Fuel & Propulsion across every Isuzu Ascender year

2004 17 30.9%
2005 24 43.6%
2006 14 25.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 80,000 miles Gardner, KS

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY DUE TO A BAD SENSOR. SENSOR IS IN FUEL TANK AND ESTIMATE TO FIX IS BETWEEN $600 AND $1000. ISUZU ADMITS THEY HAVE A DEFECTIVE PART AND WOULD PAY TO REPLACE IF VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 120000 MILES AND LESS THAN TEN YEARS IN SERVICE. VEHICLE HAS 80000 MILES AND TEN YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS IN SERVICE. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER.

NHTSA complaint #10904995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,000 miles Port Arthur, FL

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE FUEL TANK AND STARTING THE ENGINE, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE FUEL GAUGE METER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA complaint #10678331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,462 miles Salinas, CA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE READ EMPTY WHILE IT WAS FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER RECALL DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,462.

NHTSA complaint #10597368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Clemton, TN

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO PROPERLY TRACK FUEL IN THE VEHICLE AND DISPLAYED AS EMPTY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10534859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 61,000 miles Hollywood, FL

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING AT OVER 60 MILES IN A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ISUZU ASCENDER 2006 SUV SLOWED TO 40 MILES AND IT FELT IT WAS GOING TO JUST STOP. I FREAK OUT AND TRY TO GIVE IT GAS AND NOTHING HAPPEN. FINALLY I TRIED TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT SIDE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLE DEATH,WHILE DOING THIS I FELT IT SHIFTED AND STARTED TAKING SPEED AGAIN GOT OF THE HIGHWAY AND TOOK THE BACK ROADS TO GET HOME. I WAS A NERVOUS WRECK BY THE TIME I GOT TO MY HOUSE. THE FOLLOWING DAY WE TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR OVER A MONTH. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!! THEN MY HUSBAND DROVE THE CAR TO THE STORE ONE NIGHT AND WHEN HE WAS ALMOST GETTING BACK TO THE HOUSE THE CAR WITHOUT WARNING COMPLETELY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. HE HAD PUSH IT TO THE DRIVE WAY.THE FOLLOWING DAY THE CAR STARTED AND HE TOOK IT AGAIN TO A DIFFERENT PLACE TO HAVE IT CHECK AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THEY NEED TO CHECK THE CAR WHEN IT SUDDENLY STOPS! I AM FRIGHTEN TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN. WHY IS SO DIFFICULT TO FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT WE HAVE DONE IS NOT FINDING THE PROBLEM. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS!

NHTSA complaint #10478849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Wauwatosa, WI

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THIS VEHICLE IS A REBADGED GMC ENVOY/CHEVY TRAILBLAZER AND LIKE MANY OF THESE VEHICLES, THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR (FUEL LEVEL SENDER) NO LONGER WORKS. OTHER VEHICLES USING THIS PLATFORM (CALLED 360) ARE THE BUICK RANIER, SAAB 9-7X, AND OLDSMOBILE BRAVADO. GM SOLD ITS INTEREST IN ISUZU AND NO LONGER SEEMS TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VEHICLES IT MANUFACTURED, IN FACT, THE CLOSEST ISUZU SERVICE CENTER IS 80 MILES AWAY. ALL OF THE OTHER VEHICLES IN THIS PLATFORM HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT WHERE GM WILL AGREE TO PAY ONE-HALF THE EXPENSE (DONE AT ONE OF THEIR DEALERSHIPS) OF REPLACING THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THEY ARE NOT OFFERING TO DO SO ON THE ISUZU ASCENDER. SINCE MY FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK, I CAREFULLY TRACK MY MILEAGE SINCE MY LAST FILL-UP TO ENSURE I DO NOT RUN OUT OF FUEL. ALTHOUGH I SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE THAN ONE-HALF OF A TANK OF GASOLINE, I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH ONE OF THE BUSIEST INTERSECTIONS IN THE METRO-MILWAUKEE AREA (MAYFAIR ROAD AND NORTH AVENUE) AND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, THEN ENGINE QUIT. FORTUNATELY I AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT AND HAD ENOUGH VELOCITY TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND AND WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER MY WAY OFF OF THE STATE HIGHWAY. THE ONLY EXPLANATION I CAN DEDUCE FOR BEING OUT OF FUEL IS THAT DURING THE LAST FILL-UP, I WAS PUMPING USING THE AUTO SWITCH ON THE GAS NOZZLE WHICH TURNS OFF AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. PERHAPS THE SWITCH TURNED OFF, NOT BECAUSE OF BEING FULL OF FUEL, BUT BECAUSE THE VAPORS TRIGGERED IT. I AM MUCH MORE CAREFUL AT THIS POINT, BUT IT CLEARLY COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF ONE DOES NOT CAREFULLY MONITOR THEIR FUEL USE.

NHTSA complaint #10459392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charlotte NC, NC

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FIRST AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS OF PUTTING UNIT ON DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM. IT WAS DETERMINED - WILL FIRST THE COMPUTER COULD NOT READ MY CODES; THEN MY MECHANIC DETERMINED IT WAS FROM THE FUEL SENSOR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. REPLACED FUEL PUMP FOR 450.00 AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON AND FUEL GAUGE IS INOPERABLE. I CAN NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO MY ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. CAR DRIVE GOOD HOWEVER HAVING THESES ISSUES; NEXT MECHANIC TRIES TO LOCATE 06 CAR BOOK. LOCALLY HERE THEY ARE NOT SOLD AND IT'S QUITE DIFFICULT TO LOCATE 06 ISUZU ASCENDER CAR BOOK. THEN WITH DEALERSHIP GUIDANCE THEY DETERMINED ITS ELECTRICAL. MY COMPUTER IS MISFIRING INCORRECT DATA TO SYSTEMS. DEALERSHIP NOR MECHANIC CAN FIND PARTS BECAUSE PARTS ARE VERY HARD TO FIND AS THIS UNIT IS NO LONGER MADE. IT IS NOW APRIL 2012 AND I AM STILL WITHOUT CAR AND STILL MECHANIC IS STILL UNABLE TO LOCATE SUFFICIENT PARTS TO FIXED THE ISSUES. THIS IS EXHAUSTING. THE CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. THIS IS JUST A NIGHTMARE...

NHTSA complaint #10456748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 35,000 miles EL Paso, TX

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

WE BOUGHT THIS 06 ACCENDER AND AT ABOUT 35,000 + MILES THE FUEL SENSOR GAVE OUT ON MY VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON . IT WILL COSTME CLOSE TO 700 DLLS TO GET FIXED. I ALSO HAVE A CO-WORKER WITH AN 06 AS WELL AND IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS I AM.

NHTSA complaint #10443338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,000 miles Lilburn, GA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FIRST, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT, THIS VEHIICLE (2006 ISUZU ASCENDER LS, 7 PASSENGER) SHARES A MAJORITY OF IT'S PARTS WITH THE CHEVY TRAILBLAZER EXT AND GMC ENVOY XL. AFTER A FULL TANK OF FUEL HAS BURNED OFF TO ABOUT 3/4 TANK, THE FUEL GAGE WOULD START TO GO UP AND DOWN ERRATICALLY FROM F TO E UNTIL THE TANK WAS EMPTY OR REFILED. THIS CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS UNTIL THE GAGE WOULD NOT REGISTER AT ALL AND THE FUEL LIGHT WOULD REMAIN LIT.

NHTSA complaint #10410592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,000 miles Lilburn, GA

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

FIRST, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT, THIS VEHIICLE (2006 ISUZU ASCENDER LS, 7 PASSENGER) SHARES A MAJORITY OF IT'S PARTS WITH THE CHEVY TRAILBLAZER EXT AND GMC ENVOY XL. AFTER A FULL TANK OF FUEL HAS BURNED OFF TO ABOUT 3/4 TANK, THE FUEL GAGE WOULD START TO GO UP AND DOWN ERRATICALLY FROM F TO E UNTIL THE TANK WAS EMPTY OR REFILED. THIS CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS UNTIL THE GAGE WOULD NOT REGISTER AT ALL AND THE FUEL LIGHT WOULD REMAIN LIT.

NHTSA complaint #10410592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Colorado Springs, CO

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2006 ISUZU ASCENDER. BOUGHT NEW IN FEB '06. GAS GAUGE/FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED AT APPROX. 40,000 MILES. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE REAR AIR QUIT WORKING AT APPROX. 37,000 MILES. HAD TO REPLACE CAM SENSOR TWICE. IDLER PULLEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. MAIN COMPLAINT IS THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THIS VEHICLE IS MADE BY GM AND IS A SISTER SUV TO THE ENVOY, TRAILBLAZER, RAINIER. THIS YEAR VEHICLE UNDER ALL SISTER VEHICLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM. GM NEED TO RECALL THE SENDING UNITS. MY SUV ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT TO DATE 3/10/11. THIS IS A LEMON.

NHTSA complaint #10389759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72,000 miles Moncure, NC

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FAULTY FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT, THE FUEL GAUGE READ BETWEEN AN 1/8 AND 1/4 TANK. THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. AFTER FILLING THE TANK BACK UP THE GAUGE WOULD BE VERY SPORADIC AND NOW DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A LARGE PROBLEM WITH GM FUELS LEVELS SENDING UNITS.

NHTSA complaint #10376974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,000 miles Knoxville, TN

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

MAY 2009 ISUZI ASCENDER I TOOK TO THE DEALER THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE FUSE PANEL LOCATED UNDER THE BACK SEAT FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES. PRIOR TO THAT I HAD A BEARING IN THE ENGINE GO OUT 2008. NOW AS OF FEB 2010 MY FUEL LEVEL SENSOR HAS NOW GONE OUT. THIS IS SEVERAL ISSUES WITH A VEHICLE I PURCHASED NEW 8-2006 AND HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH IT.

NHTSA complaint #10322654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,000 miles Knoxville, TN

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 ISUZU ASCENDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED EMPTY ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR $800. THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THERE ARE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA complaint #10294489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

← Full 2006 Isuzu Ascender report