Equipment Problems of Subaru Ascent - part 1

While driving the passenger door window behind the driver burst, then began falling into the car. The safety issue would have occurred if one of my grandchildren were sitting there. Also, the startling event of it just bursting and possible causing a jerk in the car. The dealer said that they have not heard of this and would not repair under warranty (brand new car, purchased in September). Police investigated and saw nothing that would have caused an outside force to break the window. No warnings.

See all problems of the 2025 Subaru Ascent 🔎.

2022 Subaru Ascent. Noticed progressive strong odor in the car. After rain had significant fluid accumulation in the front passenger ceiling, inside front passenger door (sloshing), and wet carpets on the floor on the passenger side. Serviced by Subaru dealer water specialist who reported (1) clogged moonroof drains and "popped off connector" leading to flooding of the entire front passenger ceiling; (2) detached vapor barrier in the passenger door allowing water to collect inside the door and drain into the car; (3) significant concern for mold based on the extent of damage and odor accumulating over time. Told by dealer the drains could be unclogged and they'd repair the popped off connection with a zip-tie fastener since it was not tight enough before, re-affix the vapor barrier in the door, but otherwise their expressed safety concern related to the extent of suspected mold and the poor effects that would have on the health of us and our children. Told the mold was unlikely to fully remediate despite usual efforts, as it creates a fibrous web that is very difficult to ever fix, and the recommendation was that we probably not drive the car again. Told no water damage of any etiology is covered under any Subaru warranty. Dealer refused at first to give documentation about the service or recommendations. Later gave but left off mold documentation - we requested they add it back on, if we choose to sell or trade in the vehicle later we refuse to do so without the mold and associated health risks being public knowledge for a future owner of this vehicle. We also reported that our Subaru eyesight (collision avoidance system) had been intermittently shorting out, online reports show this can be related to drain floods. No report/update thus far by Subaru on this, also not included in report. We filed a complaint with Subaru of America but have not been called back despite two weeks of repeated calls to them for an update.

See all problems of the 2022 Subaru Ascent 🔎.

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).

See all problems of the 2020 Subaru Ascent 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2021 Subaru Ascent 🔎.

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.

When driving below 5 mph—forward or reverse—with the rear passenger door fully open, the only alert is a small “door ajar” icon on the dash. This icon is the same drawing, whether the door is completely open or semi-latched, so the driver has no way to know the extent of the hazard. Without an additional warning, an fully open door can strike pedestrians, poles, garage, or other vehicles, and any passenger seated beside it is needlessly exposed to injury.

See all problems of the 2024 Subaru Ascent 🔎.

2021 Subaru Ascent (VIN#***). Water found dripping down both second row seatbelts on multiple occasions during or following heavy rain, accumulated into mold growth on the carpet in front of second row seats to the front of the 3rd row seats (cargo area dry, front footwells dry). Authorized Subaru dealer technician report (dated 10/29/25 and 12/3/25 copy pasted into email) explicitly documents 'condensation build up on the interior of roof (seat belt area)' due to unlocated water intrusion. The dealer attributes this to 'leaf debris' in the front cowl area and rear hatch hinge despite the leak occurring at the rear c-pillar (and notably cargo area and front footwells showed no moisture making this physically impossible). Despite confirmed moisture exposure to critical passive restraint systems, the dealer relays that the manufacturer has issued a verbal-only warranty denial (stating no addl records exist aside from the initial technician report) and suggest the only repair be carpet replacement, with refusal of confirmation of the source of the leak and no proposal of replacing the 2nd-row seatbelt retractors nor provide a written safety guarantee. The vehicle is covered by an active 8yr/120,000-mile Subaru gold plus added security plan (agreement #*******, started on 8/2/21), yet the manufacturer is refusing to honor the contract for the defect or the resulting biohazard ('mold spouts' documented by their technicians on carpeting and into the foam). This unaddressed moisture creates an unreasonable risk of internal corrosion and failure of the seatbelt g-sensor/locking mechanisms on both sides. Also as an immunocompromised owner (due to medication for multiple sclerosis to such an extent that requires monthly ivig infusions), the documented mold is a significant health hazard. Vehicle has only 15,166 miles. Correspondence with dealer and soa as well as agreement# are available on request. Date of incident was when taken to dealership (events in summer/fall 2025).

The battery is draining so quick that the car doesnt start at all. The battery drained completely in 3 days and it’s happening more often.

See all problems of the 2019 Subaru Ascent 🔎.

Trunk would not open. Only way to open was to pop open the internal latch access port and switch the latch open with a screw driver. Trunk would not open with key fob, rear handle, or buttons on driver side dashboard.

All of a sudden my vehicle accelerated after placing it in reverse with my foot on the brake. There was a screeching sound and I immediately shifted into (at least) park. In attempting to exit my garage again, it repeated the same events. I parked the car and never did leave my residence. No dash lights etc. I am afraid to now drive this vehicle. This occurred several days before this mentioned event, but responded ok the 2nd time. In may of 2025 I actually crashed into a car across the street from this happening. Others are definately at risk. This actually occured twice during my 1st year of ownership, but was overlooked until now. I intend to take it to my dealer and have my vehicle inspected. There were no warning lamps etc.

As a veteran and spouse of an active duty service member, we are currently fulfiling our overseas tour in south korea. We were notified of the recall of our Subaru Ascent and made contact with Subaru via email for guidance on how to proceed as we are not within the continental united states. My email to them was as follows: our family is currently stationed overseas in south korea. Our family has been stationed here the past two years and will be completing an additional duty of two more years here in service of our country. I previously contacted Subaru addressing the concern of the recall for our ptc heater ground bolt which has been found to be unsafe and can lead to the vehicle catching on fire. It was disheartening to be told we could not be offered assistance as Subaru only services those in the u. S. Subaru prides itself as providing one of the safest vehicles for families on the market which is why we chose Subaru. What can be done to assist us? I look forward to hearing back soon. ? Subaru responded with: thank you for reaching out to Subaru of America. Regrettably since we do not have a reciprocal agreement with korea we would not be able to assist with the repairs until you return to the states. I do apologize as there would be no other loopholes that we will be able to provide to have the repair done. If fyou have any further questions, you can always give us a call back or email back in as well. Hope you have a good day ahead. We will not be able to ship our vehicle until all recalls have been fixed especially as this specific recall does come with a noted safety risk by Subaru and is as follows: this potential condition may result in the melting of the ground terminal and surrounding components when the ptc heater is in operation, increasing the risk of a fire. I am submitting a claim to acquire assistance as to how to proceed. -thank you.

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.

The lane assist failed by over correcting while I have my hands on the steering wheel. It over corrects to the center lane when you are driving with normal behavior. This can cause a collision if it were to over correct while a car was there, this is also easily reproducible in my car.

The passenger-side mirror on my Ascent has been damaged and removed since March 2025. I paid for the part on April 8, 2025 and was told it would arrive in a few weeks. As of July 1, 2025, the part has been delayed until August. The mirror is critical for visibility and safe operation. My wife drives this car daily with our infant. Subaru has refused to provide a rental, and the car is unsafe. I’ve contacted Subaru corporate with no resolution, despite my continued persistence in contacting them through visits to their dealership in plano, TX and several emails.

See all problems of the 2023 Subaru Ascent 🔎.

The driver side rearview mirror shakes and vibrates under normal driving conditions. This is distracting and nauseating to the driver. This is a safety issue because this mirror is used for checking for vehicles before changing lanes.

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.

Driver side mirror shakes whe driving. It's difficult to see with it.

Unusual wear on tires - 7/32 at 8000 miles, 5/32 at 15000 miles, advised to replace all tires at 15000 miles. Existing recall wrh-23 covering vehicles manufactured between Dec 2022 and Jan 2023. My vehicle shows manufacturing date of March 2023 but I believe may be part of the same issue. See below Subaru of America, inc. (Subaru) is initiating a new safety recall and stop sale for certain 2023 model year Ascent vehicles equipped with 20-inch wheels. Description of the defect and safety risk the vehicles included in this recall/stop sale may be equipped with tires that were damaged during the wheel mounting and assembly process. A misaligned bead guide arm on the tire mounting equipment may have caused excessive stress on the tire bead during mounting, possibly causing damage to the internal structure of the tire. Internal damage to the tire bead may lead to structural failure of the tire and rapid tire deflation, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy for all potentially affected vehicles, Subaru retailers will remove and replace all four tires with new ones at no cost to the customer. All removed tires should be rendered unusable and be disposed of according to local regulations. Affected vehicles a total of 4,409 u. S. Subaru Ascent vehicles will be affected by this recall, as listed below: 2023 Ascent (w/20” wheels) December 1, 2022 – January 5, 2023 not all vehicles in the production date range listed above are affected by this recall. Coverage must be confirmed by using the vehicle coverage inquiry function on Subarunet. Com prior to repair. This information is now available.

Transmission needed a full replacement.

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.

In my new 2024 Ascent, there's a vibration in the driver side mirror that gets worse as speed increases. It's a minor issue, but it's disappointing for a brand new car to have this problem. The Subaru dealer hasn't taken any action despite being informed about it, and the vibration persists.

Lift gate began malfunctioning going up and down on its ownthen dropped suddenly onto spouse's head. Now the lift gate does not open properly.

On may 12, 2024 I placed my vehicle in park. As I exited, it rolled back. The door knocked me down and the car rolled over my left leg, injuring my lower leg, ankle, and foot. Problem has not been reproduced. Vehicle has not been inspected. I phoned the dealer, who denied any knowledge of the problem.

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.

The driver's door mirror, has excessive shaking. Bought it to the Subaru dealer where it was purchased, they tried to replace it and the mirror was still shaking. Shop manager informed me her notified soa, no fix at this time. Was informed because of slight change to body style and mirror size it has this issue on the 2024 models. It causes the inability to use the mirror clearly on that side of the vehicle. It causes a bit of dizziness for me trying to decipher what I'm looking at. It is a useless but important item on the car for driving. There was no invoice given for the first date of service on 4/01/2024.

Driver side mirror vibration, per dealer and manufacturer, this is a known issue with no fix released yet.

While using carplay, it acts as if it disconnects the call, but still shows on my phone screen. It has happened numerous times, and I have found that if I switch it to phone and back to carplay it will work again. It has not been a solution to the problem as it only works for that one time. I believe that makes having the handsfree options pointless if I have to figure out what is happening while I am driving and talking on the phone with carplay.

The wireless car play phone connection randomly drops and is a known issue with Subaru. This a potential safety issue due to dropping calls mid calls that are hands free and encourage the driver to grab the mobile phone change it from air play to phone and then back to air play to fix it. Or take it off car option requiring the drivers attention to be diverted. Also this issue drops the navigation embedded into the radio unit on the car which could again create a safety issue distracting drivers and causing accidents. This needs to be addressed immediately and Subaru has no fix available.

After 3 years the battery died completely and the car was unable to start, I replaced the battery with aaa and the next the day, it also died again. I was able to jump start the battery the next day and continued to use the vehicle. I have the battery for about a month and again the battery on the vehicle had drained where I was unable to start the car but I was able to jump start the car with a battery jump starter. There has been 3 occasions of battery just draining and I have a new battery installed. I called Subaru and they mentioned that there could be an issue with the back latch no closing which could drain the battery, however, the have confirmed that the back door does completely close and lock or it will just automatically come back up. I feel there is something wrong with the electrical system and aaa has confirmed with me the the alternator or the battery is functional.

I was sitting in a long line of stopped cars. I looked in my mirrors to move to the right lane. I made sure no vehicles were coming. I pressed on the accelerator to move, and nothing happened. In a panic I quickly repeated pressing the accelerator and nothing happened. The third time the car finally moved forward. I was terrified that someone would come along quickly in the right lane a hit my car. I also had a passenger that was speechless about the incident. Now I feel unsafe to drive the car. This has happened one time previously, but I thought it was a fluke. Also, like many other comments the transmission shudders sometimes but not often. I waited to buy a new 2022 Ascent limited because I read where the transmission issue had been fixed. Mentioned it to the service advisor and he laughed it off.

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.

The vehicle is stated to get 20 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg combined according to the monroney label that I have when I purchased the vehicle new in October 2023. I am only seeing about 15 -17. I drive mostly in the city. I took a highway trip once and got about 20 mpg after resetting the meter and a fresh fill up. I hear of other people in online forums getting a little better mpg but they have to drive it very carefully. Like never letting the rpm's get over 200, slow starts and coasting a lot. To me this is not normal driving. I am expecting at lease 20 mpg in the city with normal driving, not driving like an old grandma. So I believe that Subaru has misrepresented their information on the monroney label. I am ok with you inspecting the vehicle. No warming lights on indicating a problem.

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.

My 2019 Subaru Ascent windshield cracked from no apparent reason while driving on freeway. There was a loud bang sound and there is a circular crack quite symmetrical in the middle of the windshield. The diameter of the circular crack was ~2 inches wide. There is no hairline fracture. In recollection, it didn't feel like there was any rock or particle that ricocheted off the windshield. It felt more like it cracked on its own.