Table 1 shows one common engine and engine cooling related problems of the 2021 Subaru Ascent.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling problems |
While driving my Subaru Ascent, a check engine warning light appeared on the dashboard. Shortly afterward, I noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. I immediately pulled over and turned the vehicle off. Within moments, flames began coming from under the hood. The fire spread rapidly, and within 5-10 minutes the entire vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. The fire originated from the engine compartment. The vehicle was a total loss. Subaru of America was notified on 12/23/2025, but no follow-up or update on investigation has been responded. The vehicle was always serviced with Subaru. This sudden, traumatizing and catastrophic failure with no prior warning.
The transmission on our 2021 Subaru Ascent is slipping and failing to accelerate, rpms reving, and every issue indicator notification light is on. We took the car to our mechanic, then to the Subaru dealership service dept for diagnosis. A full transmission replacement is required plus associated repairs for a cost of $14,543. 98. Service estimate attached. This repair is more than 2/3 of the value of the vehicle. This make/model and transmission type have documented problems and Subaru has previously issued an extended warranty on other model years for this same transmission issue. We are trying to communicate with the Subaru customer service but have had limited response due to the holidays and have not had a resolution yet in the past month.
Vehicle smells of fuel inside the cabin and when parked in the garage. To date the dealer is unable to diagnose the problem. 60k miles.
Oil leak from engine constantly from front differential, rec cvt pump reseal with new trans seal, pump is leaking causing drips ; drain plug is also leaking. Need to replace front and rear pads & rotors at 35k miles which is unheard of. Accessed by suberu dealership.
Transmission needed a full replacement.
The transmission of my 2021 Ascent regularly slips or shutters when trying to accelerate time to time(not always). Loud noises when shifting from low speed. Went to dealership but they said car working perfectly.
I found a lot of oil leaking from the oil filter cup and that would splash all around the filter area. I brought the car at the dealership and they have replaced the filter but when I checked after few days ( smoke was coming out of the hood) there was oil all over again. I bought an aftermarket filter and I installed it myself. No one drop of oil found. So I believe this a is a safety concern because the oil might catch on fire with the heat of the engine. I believe a defective oil filter design or a bad technician training or both are causing the problem.
Unknown. I am smelling gasoline in the cabin of the car. A lot of fumes fill my garage when I start the car. The car sometimes accelerates when I put it in park, resulting in more fumes. Fuel efficiency is lower than expected as well.
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated while driving at 65 mph, the vehicle shut down completely. A message indicating that the vehicle had unexpectedly stopped, and to check the vehicle as the remote start had failed was displayed. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road safely and waited until the vehicle cooled down. The contact restarted the vehicle and continued driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that no issues were found. However, the failure reoccurred several times while driving. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that they could not assist as the dealer diagnosed that no issues were found. The failure mileage was 300.