general problems of the 2020 Subaru Ascent - part 1

I purchased this vehicle from northwest Chevrolet in mckenna, wa on [xxx] and they did not disclose to me that there were open recalls prior to my purchase. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Vehicle: 2020 Subaru Ascent issue: cold weather software glitch if you are operating an Ascent or possibly other Subarus with the cvt in temperatures below -20f be certain to have either a small wrench or the appropriate size socket to loosen the ground clamp on the battery ground cable with you so you can employ what I call the magic windows fix wherin one completely DE-powers the system and reboots it. With all the ridiculous interconnections, if the cvt temperature sensor thinks the tranny is too cold the cars operating system looses it mind and goes completely bonkers. Subaru obviously did no cold weather testing. We have had 2 failures in cold weather. It only happens at temperatures well below the-20f range. The first case happened last year while driving after being stopped for a couple of hours. Everything seemed normal and then suddenly several warning lights came on and all of the safety systems and the eyesight system shut down. The car ran and drove, but none of the associated systems would work. No traction control. No cruise control. Several other systems. The only solution was to disconnect the battery and get this rolling computer to reboot. This was a temporary fix as the condition repeated itself although the car was driveable but with none of the safety systems operational. This year we were out in cold weather, -25 to -32. We went to a place to have lunch and when I went to restart the car the app failed to do so. So I put on all my gear and went out to start it manually. It would not start and all the warning lights were on and the radiator fan was running full tilt at -25f with the car off. I tried twice to get it going by pulling the battery cable to get it to reboot. Evidently when this happens you must leave the battery disconnected long enough (about 5 minutes) for all the capacitors in the electronics to drain. Once restarted, the car drove normally but we did not shut it down for any reason for the rest of the day.

Although the NHTSA form does not include a transmission category, this complaint concerns a critical transmission-related defect in my 2020 Subaru Ascent, which caused oil migration into the wiring harness and contamination of the engine control module (ecm). This complaint concerns a critical transmission-related defect in my 2020 Subaru Ascent. The vehicle has been inoperable since June 2025 due to a failure of the transmission secondary pressure sensor. This failure caused oil to migrate into the wiring harness and ultimately contaminated the engine control module (ecm), rendering the vehicle undrivable. Authorized Subaru dealership huberger Subaru in colorado springs documented the following: - replacement of the transmission secondary pressure sensor - replacement of the engine wiring harness - check engine light returned after repair - confirmed oil contamination of the ecm despite repeated repairs and part replacements, the vehicle remains out of service for over seven months, with no confirmed timeline for resolution. Subaru of America has not provided meaningful updates or a clear repair plan, and corporate representatives have failed to respond to emails and phone calls. The extended downtime and lack of repair constitute a safety concern, as the vehicle could fail while in use under certain conditions. Additionally, $400 was improperly withdrawn from my account in July 2025 for rental reimbursement during the warranty repair period and has not been refunded. I am seeking prompt resolution, including repair or replacement of the vehicle, reimbursement for the rental charge, and any appropriate actions from Subaru to address this safety-related defect.

Lug nut studs fail frequently. Have replaced 3. An additional failure identified today during routine tire rotation. Safety issue as wheel can separate from vehicle while driving.

There is a significant crack in the inside rear panel of my panoramic sunroof, and no apparent or visible point of impact. The crack is spreading and needs to be replaced or I fear the glass will shatter. There is no evidence of the crack on the exterior, only on the interior. Car is out of warranty but only has 23k miles and is 4 years old. Took the car to the dealership, and they wanted to charge $4000 to fix. Contacted Subaru of America and they refused to fix. Have been on many Ascent/Subaru forums online and it appears there are multiple complaints about these cracks.

Unknown.

Possible transmission issue. The transmission was replaced in February by university Subaru in columbia, missouri. I have made a second appointment as the vehicle is still having the same issue shifting gears or going uphill. During a drive where there was a small incline of 10 degrees when the vehicle somewhat jumped or as if it skipped a beat. I had stopped in traffic and when the other cars started to move, I started to drive forward, and the car jumped. A gap in the acceleration. I am scheduled to take it in on the 17th of April. I will follow-up with you.

Reporting a serious incident with my 2020 Subaru Ascent at 21k miles. On October 16th, a burning plastic smell and white smoke from the floorboard forced an immediate stop; I had to call the fire department for safety. The vehicle's battery has been replaced thrice, and the radio system frequently resets. Despite a Subaru recall fix in February meant to prevent such issues, the problem persists, raising major safety concerns. With 20+ years in electrical engineering, I've noted consistent electrical issues with this car. I urgently request NHTSA intervention for an immediate and thorough investigation, holding Subaru accountable for ensuring vehicle safety.

Cvt transmission skips in high gear and shudders randomly while driving down the road. Randy marion in hickory nc is where we purchased and replaced the rear transfer clutch and insists the problem has been corrected. It is not. Our regular mechanic and moderna Subaru of boone nc both agree the transmission is bad. It has been sitting at the dealership for 2 months while all parties argue over who is responsible for repair. (original selling dealership, Subaru of America, 3rd party warranty) meanwhile I have no car but am expected to make payments. There are no warning lights or indicatator lamps to show an issue which is even more scary. I do not feel safe driving the vehicle without repair as the stutter and slipping between gears can cause hesitation that could cause an accident or worse. We did not test drive the vehicle at high gear and that was our mistake, but I drove it on a trip 2 days after purchasing and it had transmission issues the entire time. Dropped back off at dealership Monday morning and have been dealing with headaches since then.

The car has a blue smoke from tail pipe * oil smell when turned on and last for 20 seconds.

The driver door window gasket cracked and is hanging loose inside the door, letting air to get air while the vehicle is in operation. I would expect this after 10 years of use, but the vehicle is about 3 years old.

Drive chain could compromised but there is lack of parts to fix issue which could prove costly to the transmission. Need to know what I can do to fix before it becomes a problem.

The car drains the battery prematurely overnight.

Battery life issue.

The windshield is fragile- there have been 2 broken windshields in the last 3 months- one from a minor ding and one that is not confirmed as to why the crack started (dealer says a ding- we did not hear or see a ding prior to the crack popping into place as we were driving). In both cases the cracks extended to over 50% of the windshield rapidly and suddenly while driving. The sudden nature and force/sound of the cracking causes distracted driving and creates panic in the car. Both windshields have been replace so inspection is not available. The problem has been reported to the dealer and replaced by the dealer. There were no symptoms or warning of the cracks- I have never seen windshields be destroyed so easily.

It has been six months and I have not received any communication from Subaru since the recall was announced. Submitting a complaint that the known recall has not been addressed in a timely manner.

I was informed of the recall of my 2020 Ascent and my Subaru dealership gave me a 2021 Ascent loaner car. But it is going on 2 months and no information when my car will be fixed. At this point time I don't want my car anymore if they can't fix it.

First, we received the recall letter after the allowed deadline. We were told that the recall would be fixed by may from Subaru. The recall says it can cause an increase risk of a crash. We bought this car primarily due to their high safety rating as a way to transport our new born child. She is now two. We have minimized and avoided taking long trips on the car. But with summer coming up and no fix in place, I think this justifies "unable to repair in a reasonable amount of time". Currently I am fighting to get an alternate source of transportation. They initially agree to pay $50 for a rental. But with rental prices that only covered half. They do not offer a loaner. I am getting bounced back and forth between Ascent dealer and the Subaru corporation. As of now, nothing has been done. We have a trip scheduled in a few weeks. We don't feel safe using this vehicle. What can be done to remediate this?.

My car did not start and the anti-theft light came on the dashboard (the one with the car and lock symbol). I know battery issues have been a known problem with my Subaru model and I bought the car in oct 2019 so it's been less than 3 years. The battery should not be dying this quickly. I had to get a jump start to get the car on. After a few hours, I tried starting it again and it did not work. I was told I'd need to get my battery replaced.

2020 Subaru Ascent that I purchased in November of 2019 had original brand new battery replaced in July of 2020 the “ new battery “ is now defective and car needs to be jump started. Defective battery or defective electrical system?.

The windshield spontaneously cracked, for no apparent reason. It was not hit by anything. The car was sitting still and the windshield just cracked. I have babied this car. It only has 15,000 miles on it, kept in a garage, no ice or snow build up, rarely driven in bad weather.

Front windshield cracked for no reason.

Recall id 21v-955 affecting the drive chain. Vehicle is showing signs of this (vibrations while driving). My families safety, two toddlers ages 2 and 4 are at risk. I am not comfortable driving this vehicle and it is my only car. Dealership cannot do anything as there are no parts to fix it. I need an immediate fix which is not happening.

Recently, we experienced another problem with our 2022 Subaru Ascent limited. I am asking that this issue be diagnosed and corrected. On January 21, 2022, within about 15 seconds of starting the car, the engine shut off while still parked for no apparent reason. The car was able to be restarted, however the multi-function display went blank, and the starlink multimedia touchscreen displayed only the starlink logo. I attempted a reset by depressing the “home” button, but nothing happened. Neither the radio nor any other features would function. The car was then driven several miles and shut off. Then, after restarting it, the normal touchscreen and multi-function display operated correctly, including the radio. I remain concerned however that unless this issue is diagnosed and corrected, such a shutdown could occur again in the future, possibly when driving the car, which could result in a serious accident. We have had recent problems with this car involving its electrical system. The excessive battery drain caused by the power rear gate resulted in a dead battery, producing only 8 volts. (the car had to be jump-started on two separate occasions). Subaru pacific replaced the prg module (per TSB 07-155-19r), and installed a new soa821b600 enhanced flooded battery (per soa’s October 1, 2021 memorandum). We do not know how or if the recent unexpected engine shutdown was related to these events, but we expect that Subaru should be able to determine the cause of this failure and find a remedy.

My vehicle windshield made a popping noise and a crack appeared on the front window, which was about 4 inches long, but the crack continues to grow as the vehicle is driven. The crack appeared on Dec 30 2021.

When the fan is on there is a strong smell of gasoline in the vehicle. This happens whether the vehicle is in motion or is idling. The smell of gas fumes is very noticible if the fan for the heater/ac is pulling air from outside the vehicle. When the fan system is re-ciruclating the air from just the cabin, there is no smell. This is a very noticble smell and we have to drive with our windows open. My children are not able to be in this vehicle due to this smell. This is our family vehicle and daily driver. I have to drive this vehicle to work. This vehicle we have called about to multiple dealerships. They want to charge us over $300 dollars, but no one has ever heard of anything like this according to the dealers. The online forums say a completely different story. No warning lights or messages have happened. There has been no change to my gas mileage. We are current on all maintence. We have replaced the cabin and engine air filters, and we have replaced the gas cap to see if this would make a difference. It has not. There is no gas leak to the ground that is noticeable. But there is a faint gas smell in the engine area when the vehicle is running.

I drove the vehicle Tuesday October 26th 2021 and the radio was on, but no sound coming from speakers. I found this odd as no changes were made to settings and dismissed this as something I would take a look at when home and not driving. The car was parked and turned off in the garage from Tuesday October 26th until Friday October 29th 2021. My husband went to run errands Friday October 29th and the car was dead- couldn't get the battery to charge with jumper cables or even put the car in neutral to have it towed. We called a tow truck Saturday morning October 30 2021 and the tow driver jumped the car to start- it started up fairly quick and was able to attach to the truck to be towed to byers Subaru in columbus ohio. The technician told me the battery died as a result of leaving the keys in the car when it was not being used. I asked why the stereo speakers appeared not to work and I was told that was likely an update issue and unrelated to the battery being dead. I asked that they take a second look at the car and keep another day till Tuesday November 2nd 2021 so they did and then texted me there are no issues with the car and refused to replace the battery or address the stereo issue.

Battery on 2020 Subaru Ascent with 4000 miles has drained in a short time ( a week) twice. Left my wife and I stranded in utah mountains in winter. Found someone who jumped it for us. Thought it was a one time issue. Just occurred again after 9 days of not driving it. Had to call the Subaru assistance line to get help. Functioning again after the jump. We are in our 70"s and this issue could leave us or anyone else in a bad situation if help is not close by.

My driver’s side window cracked while sitting in driveway after 7ish pm Saturday night, June 5th, 2021. My car was sitting outside from roughly 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm with windows down and then I put up the windows as I was going to move into the garage. I got out of the car and was side tracked with neighbors for approximately a half hour. I went to move the car into the garage about 7:45 pm and my window was cracked about a foot. It has since spread the length of the window. (see picture attached) I called Subaru as a window should not do this. A resolution specialist is suppose to call me back, but who knows when that will happen. I need to get it fixed as it is not safe and I don’t want it to shatter into my lap.

15000 miles and battery completely dead and left me stranded. Vehicle was parked overnight and would not turn on. Had to get towed to dealership.

The hood shakes alot. I've taken it in a couple of times. They say it's in the design. I fear that the hood is going to come up some day and cause an accident. It lifts and shakes to the side. Even a passenger noticed it and was scared after seeing it. I'm stuck with the car, but am afraid when on the road. I bought it brand new. Have had it almost 4byears. Only have 27,000 miles on it. I'm afraid to drive it!.

Driver side window malfunctions intermittently. When raining, slow to go down or up, also skips as it goes up and down.

Pretty much from day 1, Ascent smells of gasoline in the cabin after parking the car either inside or outside, shade or shine, hot or cold, day or night, flat or not surface. . After having parked it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a quick trip or a long one, it can still happen after parking. Fumes come out of the vents up front. The concerning part is we have a toddler, which I suspect the NHTSA would have an issue breathing in hydrocarbons, let alone any passenger. It doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does it lasts a solid five minutes or so. Mentioned to Subaru at time of cvt recall, not even mentioned they checked it out on my paperwork. I even waited to say anything until our car was broken in and all possible lube/other off-gassing components to stabilize.

In Feb my car battery was dead in morning after sitting in garage turned off and no doors or lights on. I had it jumped and took it to the dealer and they tested battery and it was fine. The second time it happened a week later same scenario I took it in and they tested battery and said it was bad battery. So the dealer replaced it and it and it was fine. The third time now today it has happened again except this time my car was beeping at me like if the unlock key fob button had been hit but doing it every few seconds. So I went and found both key fobs and they weren't being depressed so I tried to unlock door myself with key fob and nothing happened and red light on fob blinked every time I touched it but I wouldn't hear anything happening with car so I tried to click tailgate button and nothing happened. So I then went to turn the car on and realized the battery was dead again. So we jumped it and let it run for twenty minutes and dealer wants us to take it back but they are saying they haven't heard if this issue when I search online it seems like this is a known issue.

Driver's side mirror vibrates on freeway, causing blurred visibility of vehicles and traffic.