NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Subaru Ascent. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
THE WINDSHIELD HAS LOT OF LITTLE ROCK DINGS IN IT WHICH NO OTHER WINDSHIELD ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED HAD. WHEN I PUT SUBARU'S REPLACEMENT NEW WINDSHIELD ON IT COULD HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. THE DAMAGE OF THE MAJOR CRACK IS DUE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE THAT I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND I HAVE NO WINDSHIELD INSURANCE BUT THE SMALL DINGS HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE I PAY $826.65. THE MAJOR CRACK HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION AS WELL AS THE MANY SMALL DINGS ON THE HIGHWAY AND A FEW ON CITY STREETS.
WE HAD A ROCK HIT OUR DASHBOARD WHILE WE WERE PULLING COMING OFF AN ON-RAMP ONTO AN INTERSTATE AND RESULTED IN A SMALL CHIP. WITHIN AN HOUR OF DRIVING IT AFTER THE CHIP A CRACK RESULTED OUTWARD TO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE WINDOW TO THE FRAME AND DOWN TOWARDS THE HOOD TO THE FRAME. THIS QUICKLY IMPAIRED OUR VISION AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT REPAIRABLE AND WE SPENT ABOUT $950 OUT OF POCKET TO REPAIR THE WINDSHIELD AS IT HAD TO BE ORDERED THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP. ON A SIDE NOTE AFTER THE REPAIR THE RAIN SENSE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AFTER THE WINDSHIELD REPAIR AND NEITHER THE GLASS SHOP THAT DID THE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT NOR THE DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY WOULD TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS ISSUE AND WOULD NOT FIX THE DEFECTIVE ITEM. *TR
WE WERE DRIVING AND HAD A VERY SMALL ROCK CHIP IN THE WINDOW. WITHIN THE NEXT 30 MINUTES THE WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED THE ENTIRE FROM THE TOP SIDE OF THE CRACK ALL THE WAY TO THE SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND CRACKED ON THE BOTTOM ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE WINDOW. SO WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EASY ROCK CHIP REPAIR QUICKLY CHANGED TO NEEDING THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AT ALMOST $1,000. THE CHIP OCCURRED WHILE WE WERE GOING ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR JUST GETTING ON THE ON RAMP TO I-55 AT MM 100 IN SPRINGFIELD IL.
WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF JUST DRIVING OUR 2019 ASCENT , THE WINDSHIELD SEEMED TO HAVE CRACKED OVERNIGHT!! MY WIFE HAD NOTICED IT AND SAID THAT WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING THE DAY BEFORE SHE DIDN'T NOTICE IT , BUT WHEN SHE LEFT IN THE MORNING IT WAS THERE.
WINDSHIELD EASILY CRACKED < HAD TO GET REPAIR IN !ST 6MOS W/ CAR, HAS SEALED CRACK DEEP CHIP IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHEILD.
I HAVE THE SAME STEERING TROUBLE'S AS THE COMPLAINT FILED ON MAR. 03/19. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE LANE ASSIST HAS SOME STEERING CONTROL. (COMPUTER STEERING ME) THEY ALSO SHOWED ME HOW TO TURN LANE ASSIST OFF. I DID NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE IN CONTROL. NOW A FEW WEEKS INTO DRIVING WITH THE LANE CONTROL OFF, THE CAR HAS RETURNED TO CORRECTING ITSELF AND CONSTANTLY TELLS DRIVER THAT THIS SYSTEM HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. HAS SUBARU MADE A BOEING MISTAKE?
WINDSHIELD CRACKED BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AT 45MPH. STEREO SYSTEM DEFECTIVE. STEREO HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ALREADY
AFTER HAVING DRIVEN THE ASCENT FOR 30 MINUTES OR MORE, TURNED OFF VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. AFTER RENDERING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, COASTED VEHICLE DOWN SLIGHT GRADE TO SIDE OF ROAD, AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT STARTED AGAIN. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, IT WOULD NOT START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. CONTACTED SUBARU THOUGH IT'S STARLINK PROGRAM. THEY TOLD ME TO HOLD KEYLESS STARTER BUTTON FOR 30 SECONDS, THEN TRY TO START AGAIN. AFTER DOING THIS THE CAR STARTED.
WE ARE NOTICING PERIODIC ISSUES WITH THE CVT IN THIS NEW CAR. OCCASIONALLY WE GET A HIGH-PITCHED WHINE, A SOUND LIKE A BELT SLIPPING, A LOSS OF POWER, AND A SUDDEN BUMP WHEN THE CVT SEEMS TO ADJUST TO THE SITUATION AND RETURN POWER AND NORMAL DRIVING. INTERNET IS FULL OF PEOPLE REPORTING THE ISSUE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND GOT THE USUAL DEER-IN-HEADLIGHTS RESPONSE. THEY HAVE A SERIOUS ISSUE HERE. MOST RECENT EVENT I RECORDED WAS ON 8/28 11;00 AMISH ON I-5 NORTH OUT OF TACOMA TO SEATAC, DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
WHEN DRIVING OUR ASCENT ON BOTH CITY STREETS AND THE HIGHWAY WE HAVE EXPERIENCED RPMS JUMPING AND SQUEAKING/SLIPPING NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY. ITS VERY DISHEARTENING TO HAVE ISSUES WITH A BRAND NEW CAR THAT YOU'VE SPEND OVER $40K ON. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CAPTURE SOME VIDEO OF THE CONTROL PANEL AS THIS HAPPENS.
AT 16462 MILES ON ODOMETER, WHILE DRIVING ON HI WAY AT 65 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STARTED SMOKING SEVERELY FROM THE TAIL PIPES. PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF. RESTARTED SEVERAL MINUTES LATER CONTINUED TO SMOKE AND WOULD NOT MOVE. TOWED TO DEALER, THEY STATED THE PCV VALVE BROKE APART, SUBARU WANTS THEM TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE TO SEE HOW MUCH DAMAGE WAS DONE. STILL WAITING FOR THEM TO DO ANYTHING, CAR IS SITTING OUTSIDE IN THE SERVICE AREA NOT BEING WORKED ON.
WE TOOK OUR 2019 ASCENT IN BECAUSE WE WERE HEARING SOME WEIRD NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT END ROUGHLY 5000 MILES. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING RACK. THEY ASKED US TO ALLOW THEM TO ORDER A NEW STEERING RACK AND THEY WOULD CALL US AND SETUP AN APPOINTMENT TO CHANGE OUT THE RACK. ON SATURDAY THE AUG 17TH WE WENT ON A DRIVE WITH A TECHNICIAN TO SHOW HIM WHAT WE WERE FEELING IN THE TRANSMISSION. HE DROVE IT FOR PROBABLY 15 TO 20 MINUTES, SEVERAL DIFFERENT SPEEDS. HE TOO NOTICED SOME WEIRD SHIFT POINTS. ALSO COULD HEAR THE FRONT END. WE LEFT IT THERE AND CALLED THEM TODAY (19TH) TO FIND OUT THAT IT ISN'T THE STEERING RACK. IT'S THE COIL SPRINGS HITTING SOMETHING CAUSING THEM TO CHIP. THE TECHNICIAN STATED, WE WILL GET WITH THEM ON A NEW UPDATED PART AND YOU CAN PROBABLY COME IN AND SWAP OUT CARS UNTIL WE GET THE PARTS IN. MEANING, GIVE BACK SERVICE VEHICLE FOR OURS. I TOLD HIM AT THAT POINT THAT I HAVE NO ISSUES WITH THEM KEEPING IT TO REASSURE IT'S SAFE FOR OUR FAMILY TO BE IN. HE SAID OK I APPRECIATE IT I'LL BE CALLING YOU TOMORROW. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEY DID A TORQUE CONVERTER DIAL IN AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE BACK TO NORMAL. HOPEFULLY ALL IS WELL AND IT DOES IN FACT FIX THE WEIRD SHIFTING AND HESITATION AT ALL SPEEDS. ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING.
CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT RIGHT WHEEL AREA, GOING SLOW OVER SHARP BUMPS OR MODERATE SPEED OVER RIPPLED PAVEMENT. SOMETIMES MULTIPLE CHUNKS OVER A SERIES OF BUMPS. TURNING AT LOW SPEED SEEMS TO MAKE IT MORE SUSCEPTIBLE.
MY BATTERY HAS DIED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS DUE TO A LARGE CONTINUOUS INDEFINITE POWER DRAW WHEN THE REAR LIFT GATE IS OPEN. THE BATTERY WILL DIE WITH JUST AN HOUR OR TWO OF THE LIFTGATE BEING OPEN. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE PACKING THE CAR AND WHILE CAMPING. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE IT, AND SUBARU IN GENERAL, ARE ADVERTISED AS GOOD FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITY. COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG. IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. THIS COULD LEAVE A FAMILY STRANDED IN THE WILDERNESS. I'VE BEEN LUCKY TO BE WITH PEOPLE THAT HAD MORE RELIABLE OUTDOOR VEHICLES TO PROVIDE A JUMP. AND NOW I KNOW I CAN'T TRUST MY CAR TO START SO I WON'T BE USING IT FOR EXTENDED OUTDOOR TRIPS. *TR
MY NEW VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY TURNS ON ALL WARNINGS AND DISABLED ALL SAFETY FEATURES TO INCLUDE COLLISION AND BLINDSIDE MONITORS. AS INDICATED BY MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS, THE PROBLEMS WERE DIAGNOSED BY SUBARU TO BE RELATED TO A LOOSE TRANSMISSION HARNESS. SO FAR SUBARU HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO INSPECT ALL 2019 AND 2020 SUBARU ASCENT TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY. WE ARE SUPER SCARE OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE IDEA THAT IT CAN STALL IN MID DRIVING.
MY WINDSHIELD AND FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW ARE BOTH CRACKED ON MY ASCENT. THEY BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS THE 2ND CRACK AND WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT ON OUR ASCENT. THE 1ST REPLACEMENT WAS IN JANUARY 2019, JUST SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE.
THE CAR WILL EMIT WHITE HEAVY SMOKE ON START. THE WHITE SMOKE SMELLS LIKE BURNED PLASTIC/OIL. THE ISSUE WAS REPORTED TO SUBARU CORPORATE AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SERVICE FOR INSPECTION. A VIDEO WAS RECORDED AND SENT TO BOTH DEALER AND CORPORATE BUT ISSUE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE ISSUE STILL PERSISTS FOR MORE THAN 3 MONTHS AND SUBARU COULD NOT RESOLVE IT. THIS IS A CONCERN TO MY FAMILY SAFETY AND TO THE ENVIRONMENT. SECOND ISSUE WAS WITH SPRING ASSEMBLY BOTH FRONT AND BACK HAS TO BE REPLACED AS DEFECTIVE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SHIFT OUT OF THE DRIVE POSITION. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING AND SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING BACK INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD APPLY ON ITS OWN CAUSING THE CONTACT TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO THEIR DESTINATION SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6991.
ISSUE #1: TRANSMISSION. STARTING AROUND 8000 MILES, A LOUD SQUEALING SOUND WOULD OCCUR PERIODICALLY DURING AUTOMATIC SHIFTING. AT FIRST IT WAS ONLY WHILE OBTAINING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND LATER IT WOULD HAPPEN AT CITY STREET SPEEDS. THE SQUEALING SOUND WOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY A SHUTTERING FEELING AS WELL. WE LIVE 3 HOURS FROM THE DEALER AND WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE CAR WAS JUST 'GETTING TO KNOW US'. AS THIS PROBLEM PERSISTED AND WORSENED, WE WERE FINALLY BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AT 12,000 MILES AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND SAID WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THAT WAS ON 9/27/19. WE ARE AWAITING THE AVAILABILITY OF A NEW TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING A LOANER. ISSUE #2: ELECTRICAL ISSUE. TWICE ALL OF THE ENGINE WARNING/DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH ON A DIRT ROAD. THE FIRST TIME WAS AROUND 9800 MILES. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND BROUGHT THE CAR TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP (SUBARU DEALER IS 150 MILES AWAY) AND HIS COMPUTER DIAGNOSED A POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND HE REBOOTED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ALL SEEMED OK WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR A WHILE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AROUND 11,000 MILES WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT CITY STREET SPEEDS AND THE NEXT MORNING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS BACK TO NORMAL. IN TALKING TO THE SUBARU DEALER BY PHONE, THEY SAID THERE WAS PROBABLY JUST A BUG IN THE SYSTEM AND IT CAN FIX ITSELF. AT THE 12,000 MILE APPT, NO ISSUES WERE DISCOVERED WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
I AS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. A 'LOW TIRE PRESSURE ' WARMING CAME ON FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN WENT AWAY. A MINUTE LATER, MY CAR STARTED TO SWERVE AND WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. I WAS ABLE TO CROSS 3 LANES TO THE SHOULDER, WHERE I FOUND A COMPLETELY DESTROYED LEFT REAR TIRE. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 1,800 MILES ON IT. I FEEL LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.
SUSPECTED IMPACT FROM A SMALL PEBBLE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. THIS RESULTED IN A SMALL CHIP ON THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WITHIN THE TOP 1/2" OF THE GLASS. AFFORDED NO TIME TO SCHEDULE A FIX WITH A GLASS COMPANY. WITHIN LESS THAN 24 HOURS, CRACK SPREAD TO THE EDGE AND FROM UPPER RIGHT CORNER DOWN TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD (OVER 2 FOOT LONG) CRACK. THE CRACK APPEARS TO BE ONLY ON THE SURFACE OF THE GLASS. WITH PRIOR VEHICLES, A SMALL CHIP DID NOT RESULT IN A QUICK TO DEVELOP CRACK. CONCERNED ABOUT QUALITY AND DURABILITY OF SUBARU GLASS.
WHEN DRIVING CAR AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, THE CAR LOSES POWER, RPM INCREASE AND DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY ACCOMPANIED BY A SCREECHING SOUND. THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 15K MILES AND HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES WITHIN A THREE WEEK PERIOD.
WE HAD A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION OF OUR NEW 2019 SUBARU ASCENT THAT HAPPENED ON JULY 27,2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 11 AM. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY IN THE SUN. THE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95 DEGREES.WE LOADED OUR DOGS IN THE REAR OF THE SUBARU ASCENT IN METAL WIRE CRATES.WE THEN CLOSED THE HATCHBACK USING THE BUTTON AND THE MOTOR FUNCTIONED PROPERLY TO CLOSE THE HATCHBACK COMPLETELY. MY WIFE THEN GOT INTO THE DRIVER SEAT OF THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR WITH THE PUSHBUTTON START. THE STARTER CLICKED ON AND THE ENGINE TURNED OVER ONCE BUT DID NOT START. SHE THEN PRESSED THE START BUTTON AGAIN WITH NO RESPONSE WHATSOEVER FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING RANDOMLY. THE MAIN LCD SCREEN IN THE CENTER CONSOLE TURNED BLANK AND THEN REAPPEARED IN THE HOME SCREEN. NO OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WERE FUNCTIONAL. SPECIFICALLY WE COULD NOT OPEN THE REAR HATCH NOW AS IT IS ELECTRICALLY MOTOR DRIVEN AND THERE IS NO WAY FROM THE OUTSIDE TO MECHANICALLY OPEN THE HATCH. THIS IS A NEW 2019 SUBARU ASCENT THAT WAS PURCHASED APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS PRIOR AND HAS ONLY 1500 MILES ON IT.MY WIFE ATTEMPTED TO USE THE STARLINK HELP BUTTON INSIDE THE VEHICLE BUT THAT DID NOT WORK.I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES FROM THE BATTERY FOR A LITTLE OVER A MINUTE AND A HALF. I THEN TRIED RECONNECTING THE BATTERY CABLES AND RESTARTING THE CAR BUT NOTHING WORKED.THE CAR WOULD NOT START EVEN WITH JUMPER CABLES ATTACHED. NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WERE FUNCTIONAL WITH THE JUMPER CABLES ATTACHED.I HAD TO OBTAIN A BOLT CUTTER AND CUT THE CRATE APART TO BRING THE ANIMALS OUT. I NOTIFIED A MY SUBARU DEALER OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAD US BRING THE CAR INTO THEIR DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY JULY 29.THEY STATED THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND ACTUALLY TALKED TO THE SUBARU SUPPORT FROM CORPORATE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. NO FIX WAS DONE
WHEN HOLDING SPEED CONSTANT BETWEEN APPROXIMATELY 20-35 MPH, OR UNDER VERY LIGHT ACCELERATION IN THIS RANGE, VEHICLE SEEMS TO JERK, SURGE, PULSE, OR SIMILAR. IT FEELS SIMILAR TO BEING IN THE CAR WITH SOMEONE LEARNING TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND FUNCTIONED AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NAPLETON SUBARU DEALER (505 N PERRYVILLE RD, ROCKFORD, IL 61107 (877) 403-5984) ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OVERHEAD UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED AT JAMESVILLE SUBARU DEALER (3519 RYAN RD, JANESVILLE, WI 53545 (608) 743-9595) WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE STABILIZER BAR NEEDED LUBRICATION. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND TWO CASE NUMBERS WERE OPENED UNDER 144125212915 AND 1-459841535478. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,801.
Battery keeps dying.
THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM IS INCORRECTLY IDENTIFYING PARKED CARS OR CARS EXITING THE FREEWAY IN AN ADJACENT LANE AS OBSTACLES AND SLAMS ON THE BRAKES. THIS IS HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND AT SPEEDS AS LOW AS 30 MPH WHILE TRAVELING ON A CITY STREET. I'M TERRIFIED THAT I AM GOING TO BE REAR ENDED WHEN MY VEHICLE GOES FROM 70 TO ZERO MPH WHEN THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME BUT THE 'SAFETY EQUIPMENT' IS MALFUNCTIONING. I HAVE BEEN TELLING THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WITH MINIMAL RESPONSE.
INTERMITTENTLY, APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE TIME, A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT TRIGGER THE AIR BAG SIGNAL TO "ON". WHEN THIS STATE OCCURS, IT PERSISTS THROUGH THE PASSENGER EXITING THE VEHICLE AND RE-ENTERING AND THROUGH THE CAR BEING TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM MAY GO AWAY HOURS LATER OR THE NEXT DAY WHEN WE RESTART THE CAR. WE HAVE NOT WITNESSED THE AIR BAG SUDDENLY ENABLING MID-RIDE AND WE HAVE NEVER SEEN THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED. THE PASSENGER IS A FULL-SIZED WOMAN. HER CLOTHING IS TYPICALLY DRY AND THERE IS NO CELL PHONE ON THE SEAT. (WE ARE AWARE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS THAT MOISTURE AND ELECTRONICS CAN AFFECT THE SENSOR FOR THE ODS ON SUBARU VEHICLES). WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE CURRENT CASES UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN THE SUBARU FORESTER. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO OUR SUBARU DEALER (MICHAEL'S SUBARU OF BELLEVUE). WE HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR THIS FOUR TIMES IN TOTAL, AND IT HAS STAYED AT THEIR FACILITY FOR A WEEK TWICE. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THEY WILL VERIFY THAT ON ONE OF THE VISITS THE SENSOR WAS IN THE INCORRECT STATE (NOT ENABLED) WHEN WE BROUGHT IN THE VEHICLE AND THEY READ THE CODE. THEY ALSO SAW THAT THE PASSENGER EXITING AND RE-ENTERING THE VEHICLE DID NOT ENABLE THE AIR BAG, NOR DID TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON AGAIN.
CRACK IN WINDSHIELD APPEARED W/OUT USUAL SOUND OR SIGN OF DEBRIS. DEALER SAID IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, ONLY REPLACED & ALL SYSTEMS RECALIBRATED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. I HAVE DRIVEN OVER 1 MILLION MILES & HAVE NEVER SEEN A CRACK W/ NO DEBRIS OR IF ANY, SO SMALL IT MADE NO IMPACT. JUST A CRACK APPEARED LIKE IT WAS PRESSURE ON THE GLASS CAUSING THE CRACK.
OUR ASCENT HAS BEEN DYING SINCE JUNE, WHICH WAS ALMOST A YEAR FROM THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW (FIRST ASCENT SOLD BY OUR DEALER). IT HAS LOST TOTAL POWER ABOUT 7-8 TIMES NOW AND WE'VE HAD IT TOWED TO OUR SUBARU DEALER THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS A DEFECTIVE BATTERY AND GAVE US A NEW BATTERY. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALER PERSON SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND BLAMED ME FOR LEAVING ONE OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON OVERNIGHT THUS DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE THIRD TIME THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND AFTER THAT THEY SAID IT WAS SOME SORT OF A LOOSE CABLE AND THAT THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS DIED TWO MORE TIMES. THE FIRST ONE WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS CAMPING WITH THE KIDS (WHICH HAS HAPPENED BEFORE WHILE CAMPING BECAUSE OF THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF DOORS) BUT LUCKILY HE HAD A "JUMP STARTER KIT" WHICH WE HAD ACQUIRED AFTER FEW TIMES AFTER OUR CAR DIED. AND, THAT I MUST ADD THAT IT IS A TOOL THAT SHOULD COME WITH EVERY ASCENT! THE LAST TIME WAS TODAY. PROBABLY BECAUSE THE KIDS LEFT ONE INTERIOR LIGHT ON AGAIN. THEY KEEP CLAIMING IT'S MY FAULT FOR LEAVING THE INTERIOR LIGHT ON OVERNIGHT, AND THAT THE SUBARU TECHNOLOGY REPORTING SYSTEM HAS NOTHING ABOUT THIS. ISN'T THIS AN ABSURD? UNACCEPTABLE THAT A SMALL LITTLE LIGHT CAN DRAIN THE ENTIRE BATTERY POWER ONLY OVERNIGHT. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT HEADLIGHTS ON OVERNIGHT, IT'S ONLY ONE INTERIOR LIGHT... AND SOMETIMES NOT EVEN THAT, JUST THE FACT THAT WE OPENED AND CLOSED THE DOORS WAY TOO MANY TIMES (EG WHILE CAMPING). THIS IS VERY IRRITATING AND I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE THIS FIXED.
CVT APPEARS TO BE FAULTY. WHILE DRIVING, RPMS WILL JUMP UP BY 1-2K, STAY AT THAT LEVEL FOR A SECOND OR TWO, THEN DROP DOWN. WHEN IT DROPS, CAR WILL SHUDDER OR ACCELERATE. OCCASSIONALLY A SCREECHING OR GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT IS NOT PREDICTABLE. IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS IF 65 AND ABOVE; AND IT HAS HAPPENED ON CITY ROADS AT SPEEDS OF 30. IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE TRIP; OR IT MAY GO A WEEK BETWEEN EVENTS. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE IT, SAYS IF THEY CAN'T REPLICATE IT THEN THE "BEST CASE SCENARIO" FOR A DIAGNOSIS IS FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL AND FOR US TO BE STRANDED. A INTERNET SEARCH FOR "SUBARU ASCENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS" REVEALS THAT THIS IS A RARE PROBLEM, BUT SEEMS TO DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT ASCENTS BUILT IN AUGUST OF 2018. SUBARU ALLEGEDLY IS REPLACING THESE TRANSMISSIONS ONCE PROBLEM IS DIAGNOSED, BUT IF IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM THEN THEY SHOULD REPLACE THEM ALL PROACTIVELY.
THE WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY FORMED A CRACK NEAR THE EYESIGHT CAMERAS THAT EVENTUALLY SPANNED THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD AFTER A FEW DAYS. WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE AREA. NO IMPACT OCCURRED. IMMEDIATELY THE EYESIGHT STOPPED WORKING AS WELL.
EVERY WEEK OR TWO THE CAR FAILS TO START. WHEN THE IGNITION BUTTON IS PUSHED, THE VEHICLE GAINS POWER BUT DOES NOT TURNOVER AND START. YOU NEED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, LOCK THE VEHICLE AND UNLOCK THE VEHICLE AND GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS UP TO 7 TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL START. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT 3 SEPARATE TIMES FOR UP TO 2 WEEKS AT A TIME AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPLICATE OR FIX THE PROBLEM.
WE ARE HEARING A THUMPING OR KNOCKING NOISE IN THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WELL AREA. WE NOTICE THIS NOISE WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION ON A ROUGH ROAD WHILE DRIVING, TURNING, OR BRAKING. THE DEALERSHIP WE PURCHASED OUR CAR FROM CHECKED ALL RUNNING GEAR PARTS UNDER THE CAR, AND STEERING COMPONENTS, TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY VISIBLE PROBLEMS. AFTER A TEST DRIVE BY MECHANIC AND ANOTHER SERVICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE, THEY COULD HEAR THE NOISE, BUT WE'RE UNABLE TO FIND ITS SOURCE. WE ARE WONDERING IF ANY OTHER OWNERS OF A 2019 ASCENT HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM?
WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AROUND 65 MPH, TINY PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD, CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD. WE HAD IT IMMEDIATELY REPAIRED BY A PROFESSIONAL THE NEXT DAY. VEHICLE SAT IN A GARAGE OVERNIGHT, NEVER USED AFTER THE REPAIR AND THE NEXT DAY, 12 INCH LONG CRACK IN WINDSHIELD, NOT REPAIRABLE AT THIS POINT. ALSO, NEVER EVEN MADE ONE PAYMENT ON THE VEHICLE BEFORE THIS OCCURRED AND DIDNT EVEN HAVE 1K MILES.
WITHIN 5000 MILES TRANSMISSION JUMP, REAR GEAR NOT WORK AND THE RAB LIGHT, DEALER TOLD ME HE MUST REPLACE! I FIND A LOT OF STORY ON WEBSITE, PEOPLE HAVE SAME ISSUE AND SAME AMOUNT OF MILEAGE
ALMOST 9500 MILES, RAINING OUTSIDE WIFE DRIVING NORMAL SPEED (HIGHWAY DRIVING) AND EYESIGHT STOPPED WORKING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE STILL RAN. SECONDLY TOOK TO LOCAL SUBRAU DEALERSHIP FOR 10,000 SERVICE THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND DID SERVICE. WIFE LEFT DEALERSHIP AND NOTICED CAR PULLING TO LEFT AFTER TIRES ROTATED. RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP , THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL FEATHERING OF TIRES. WORRIED EYESIGHT AND ENGINE CAN BE AFFECTED WITH RAIN. ALSO AT A FEW HUNDRED MORE MILES WE NOW SMELL BURNING OIL ON AND OFF OUTSIDE OF CAR. WE HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED HIGH REVVING MOTOR WITH NO FOOT ON GAS PEDAL.(STATIONARY WHEN SMELLING BURNT OIL SMELL AND MOTOR REVVING. ALSO ONCE HIGH REVVING WHILE MY 17 YEAR OLD WAS CITY DRIVING. LOVE TO DRIVE THE CAR, HOPE IT HOLDS UP!
WE ARE NOW ON OUR THIRD WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT. SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE - WE HAVE HAD THE WINDSHIELD CRACK FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT IS EXTREMELY FRAGILE. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS CARS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS! YEAR AGO WE USED TO LIVE DOWN THE ROAD FROM A GRAVEL PIT AND EXPERIENCED A LOT OF LOOSE GRAVEL FROM TRUCKS AND OTHER VEHICLES - AND NEVER SAW ANY CRACKED WINDSHIELDS. EVERY REPAIR IS ALMOST $1,000! WE REPLACED THE FIRST ONE ONLY TO HAVE THE NEW WINDSHIELD CRACK 2 WEEKS LATER. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THIS IS OUR FIRST NEW CAR AND IT IS COSTING US MORE THAN ANY OF OUR USED CARS EVER HAS. SUBARU IS IGNORING US AS NONE OF MY EMAILS OR PHONES CALLS HAVE BEEN RETURNED.
WHEN TRUNK OR DOORS ARE OPEN MORE THAN AN HOUR BATTERY WILL DRAIN TO THE POINT WHERE THE ENGINE IS UNABLE TO START. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WITH MY VEHICLE AND I HAVE HEARD REPORTS FROM OTHER ASCENT OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL THE ISSUE IS CAUSED BY THE DOOR SENSORS REMAINING ON AS LONG AS THE DOOR IS OPEN EVEN IF THE ENGINE AND ACCESSORIES ARE TURNED OFF. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY BOTH TIMES IT HAPPENED, PARKED IN GARAGE. ALL LIGHTS AND OTHER ELECTRONICS WERE TURNED OFF, ONLY DOOR WAS LEFT OPEN.
THE BATTERY DRAINS ALL THE TIME LOCKING THE REAR HATCH. YOU CAN NOT ACCESS THE CAR FROM THE REAR. IF DOGS ARE CRATED IN THE REAR THEY ARE STUCK & THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS. I HAD TO CLIMB THROUGH THE REAR SEAT UNHOOK SEVERAL ANCHORS THAT HOLD THE CRATES DOWN, TRY TO MANEUVER ONE SIDE WAYS SO AS TO GET THE DOOR TO OPEN TO GET THE DOG OUT. IF IT WAS HOT OUT OR AN EMERGENCY, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ISSUE. IT TOOK ABOUT 20 MIN. TO GET THIS DONE. THERE IS NO OVERRIDE ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THE DEALER SAID ITS THE WAY IT IS. UNTIL THE BATTERY GETS JUMPED OR CHARGED, YOU CAN'T GET IN THE REAR HATCH.
DARK GRAY-BLUE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST ON START-UP, LASTING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. LARGE PLUMES WITH STRONG NOXIOUS ODOR. SMOKE AND FUMES HAVE TRIGGERED SEVERAL SEVERE ASTHMA ATTACKS. NOTED ON MOST DAYS, SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL 2019. FUEL EFFICIENCY IS FAR LOWER THAN THE 21-27 MPG CLAIMED BY SUBARU. ACTUAL AVERAGE IS 14 MPG.
RAW GAS SMELL WHEN VEHICLE IS AT IDLE OR AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR A BIT AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE SMELL COMES THRU THE VENTS AND FILLS THE GARAGE AFTER I PARK THE VEHICLE. GAS MILEAGE IS ALSO BEING EFFECTED IT SEEMS, AND IS LOW.
AFTER 4 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, IN APRIL 19 THE BATTERY DIED WHILE AT A CAMPING TRIP. FELLOW CAMPERS TRIED TO BOOST THE BATTERY TO NO AVAIL. I HAD LIMITED CELL SUPPORT. ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE CAME AND TOWED THE ASCENT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND HIGH CURRENT DRAWN FROM THE AWD SYSTEM BUT SAID THAT BESIDE A COMPLETELY DEAD BATTERY EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. THEY PROVIDE THE SAME BATTERY TYPE. IN MARCH 2020 THE CAR WOULDN'T START. CONTACTED SUBARU ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, JUMPED THE CAR. IN JUNE 2020 WHITE GETTING READY FOR A CAMPING TRIP, AFTER PACKING THE CAR, WHICH INVOLVE LEAVING THE REAR HATCH OPEN AND DOOR CONSTANTLY OPENS AND CLOSED THE CAR WOULDN'T START. USING A PORTABLE BACKUP BATTERY I WAS ABLE TO JUMP THE CAR AND GO ON MY TRIP. WHILE CAMPING I KEPT THE ENGINE RUNNING WHILE I WAS UNLOADING THE CAR. DID HE SAME WHEN I LOADED THE CAR BACK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU ASCENT. WHILE DRIVING 70-80 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DCH SUBARU OF RIVERSIDE (LOCATED AT 8069 INDIANA AVE, RIVERSIDE, CA 92504, (951) 428-2314) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,200. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I leased a 2019 Subaru Ascent (VIN: [XXX] ), which is equipped with the EyeSight driver-assist system. In the Spring of 2019, while driving in a parking lot at night with low visibility and snow, the vehicle struck a pole. Despite the imminent collision, the EyeSight system failed to engage Pre-Collision Braking or provide any audible/visual warning to alert me of the obstacle. The system did not disengage or indicate it was unavailable due to weather; it simply failed to function, resulting in a collision. Following this incident, I immediately contacted Subaru of America to report the failure. At that time, Subaru representatives denied any defect existed and stated the system was not at fault. I have recently learned that this vehicle is part of the [XXX], et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc. class action 9[XXX]), which addresses defects in the Pre-Collision Braking and Lane Keep Assist systems. Crucially, I was never notified of this class action or the associated defect by Subaru. I received no mail, email, or other communication alerting me to this safety risk or my eligibility for repair/reimbursement. I only discovered this information via a third-party news source after the settlement claim deadline of September 27, 2025, had passed. Upon contacting the Settlement Administrator and Subaru of America in January 2026, I was told that because the administrative deadline has passed, no remedy is available. Subaru is effectively refusing to address a known safety defect on a confirmed affected VIN solely due to a missed deadline that I was never informed of. I am filing this complaint to document the failure of the EyeSight system and Subaru’s failure to properly notify lessees/owners of known safety defects. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
OUR WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND WE HAD TO REPLACE IT NOT TOO LONG AFTER PURCHASING. WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OUR HEATER LOCKING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN IT OFF OR OUR DRUNK LOCKING AND WE CANT OPEN IT WE ARE UNABLE TO UNLOCK IT.... WE PUT IN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT A GRINDING NOISE WHEN WE BREAK SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. I NOTICED IT WHEN I FIRST DROVE IT AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL. WHEN THE CAR TAKES OFF THERE IS A SHAKE AND STALL BEFORE IT MOVES. ALSO WHEN DRIVING IT FEELS LIKE IT JOLTS AND THEN GOES AGAIN ALSO A COMPLAINT....
AT 6700 MILES, THE BRAKES ARE ROUGH AND GIVES THE CAR A VERY BUMPY RIDE.
I ATTEMPTED TO START MY SUBARU ASCENT AND IT WOULD NOT START. I CONTACTED SUBARU'S TOWING AND THEY CAME AND JUMPSTARTED THE CAR. THE TOWING COMPANY INFORMED ME THAT SUBARU'S ASCENT BATTERIES ARE DEFECTIVE AND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO JUMP A NUMBER OF THEM. I DROVE TO WORK. THE NEXT MORNING, I WOKE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED SUBARU'S TOWING SERVICE, AND THEY CAME OUT AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TESTED THE BATTERY, BUT THE BATTERY DID NOT EXHIBIT FAIL CODES. SUBARU WOULD NOT REPLACE THE BATTERY, DESPITE THE TWO FAILURES. SINCE THIS TIME, I'VE HAD MULTIPLE BATTERY FAILURES AND SUBARU CONTINUES TO DENY MY REQUEST FOR REPLACEMENT.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that occasionally at start-up and while driving up an incline, the vehicle would hesitate upon depression of the accelerator pedal without warning. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V955000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was 30. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
THE SUBARU ASCENT WAS PURCHASED AUGUST 2018 (ABOUT 7 MONTHS AGO) AND THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 14,000 MILES. THE CVT TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AROUND MARCH 16TH, 2019, CAUSING INTERMITTENT VIBRATION AND LOSS OF POWER WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS WOULD OCCUR AT BOTH LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS, AND WOULD OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CAR WOULD STRUGGLE INTERMITTENTLY TO MAINTAIN SPEED. INITIALLY THE PROBLEM WAS SPORADIC, BUT WITH EVERY DAY GREW MORE FREQUENT. AFTER BEING TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TO BE EVALUATED, THE DEALER REPORTED THAT WHILE THE TECHNICIAN WAS TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE, COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION OCCURRED AND THE CAR WAS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. THE DEALER HAS ORDERED A NEW TRANSMISSION TO REPLACE THIS FAILED ONE. TOTAL TIME FROM ONSET OF PROBLEM TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS ABOUT 2 WEEKS WITH REGULAR DAILY DRIVING.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026