Starter Problems of Subaru Ascent

My barely 2-year car continues to have electrical issues. It refused to start for the 4th or 5th time over the last several months. . . Twice in the past week. One, particular instance from this past week, I drove about a mile to my local library to do curbside pickup. I turned off my car while I waited 2 minutes forthe librarians to deliver my books. I had my two small children in the car. My car would not start back up. I didn't see this as a problem as a few months ago I purchased a portable jump starter because I have been having so many issues with my fairly new car. Well, I couldn't access my jumper because it was in my trunk which can only be opened when the car has power. It, of course, was raining, sleeting and snowing while all this was happening and my children were screaming and crying. Thankfully, one of the librarians had noticed I was having a problem and was able to give me a jump. This is probably the 4th or 5th instance in the past 6 months. However, this is the first time when my car was started and then wouldn't restart. Usually the instance occurs in my driveway. Frustrated, I made an appointment at my local Subaru dealership for the following day, (February 19) to see what the heck was going on, they said they did a diagnostic and came up with everything being normal. I went home and a few hours later my family and I decided to take a long weekend out of town. The car was packed, kids were in their carseats and my car would not start. Paying $50k+ for a car that won't even start is beyond frustrating. I know someone who has the same car and has been having the exact same issues. Please let me know if you have any advice for me or any suggestions of next steps I should take.

See all problems of the 2019 Subaru Ascent 🔎.

On 24th December vehicle in motion on a highway whining noise observed and transmission disengages, rpm increased. In a few seconds transmission error message flashed in console, in addition check engine light comes on and all driver aids disabled, struggled to take control and pull off highway safely. Vehicle 20 months old less than 20,000 miles. Second instance of transmission failing after wuv07 recall completed in January 2020. !st instance of transmission failure in city streets @35mph similar behavior transmission light, check engine light and drivers aids disabled, incorrectly diagnosed by master technician as valve body failure after the wuv07 recall the fuel efficiency also dropped. A couple of days prior to 24th December contacted Subaru of America about a shudder noticed observed while driving. Enclosed image has repairs related to transmission, in addition during the 2nd repair the starter also failed and starter was also replaced. In conclusion two unsafe transmission failures in motion after wuv07 recall.

I bought the car in oct 2018. From that time until to end of 2019 I had a couple of cases of battery discharge that I did not take seriously thinking that it was me left lights on overnight or kind of. 12/29/2019 the car did not start at a grocery shop. I had to call uber for my family and spend 3 hours in the cold car in freezing temperature waiting for the roadside assist service. Eventually the car was towed to the dealership. They did not find anything wrong with the electrical system but changed the battery. After that I bought a jump starter that I had to use it many times during 2020. In oct 2020 when I found out that the battery was dead in the morning just another time I got the car to the dealership again. Thay tested everything and said that the car and the battery are ok. I find the situation unacceptable. It's not a minor. Just imagine that you can find yourself in the middle of nowhere with kids on board out of reach of cellular network in a dead car. If the temperature is freezing you are in a serious trouble. Recently I've found out that it's not my car only. A friend of mine owns outback 2017 that has a similar problem. The internet is full of stories about dead batteries in outbacks and assents. It's sad that Subaru doesn't acknowledge the problem. They must investigate and open a recall to fix it.

If not started for several days it seems sluggish to start. A 10 day period this month of not starting resulted in inability to start. I called Subaru starlink and was sent a tow truck driver to give me a "jump". , which worked. I was told by tow truck driver that the alternator seemed to be function---by the diagnostics on his battery jump starter. Then he reported he has had to jump numerous newer Subaru vehicles. Later that day, with the vehicle parked in my garage, I briefly-- several minutes, a high pitched whine/electric like, coming from the passenger rear corner near wheel wheel wher the fuel intake is located. That sound stopped shortly later. I have started my Subaru daily or every day to ensure it will start. I suspect some electrical item may be draining the battery--- which already seems undersized for all the newer electrical items in newer vehicles. Could tha fuel system be at fault? I had heard about a fuel pump recall/issue. I am not trusting this vehicle to start---as expected. This is a safety issue.

Battery has died three times since owning. Died in garage over night 3 on separate time and no I did not leave the doors open or lights on. I had to jump the car the first time. The second time it was a week later and did the same. I had to purchase a lithium battery jump starter because I didn't have access to another car and to give me peace of mind. The third time was a few days later when I was unloading the car , took groceries into the house and came back to pull car into garage and it was dead. I went to the dealership and they gave me a run around stating I had left the either a door open or lights on. Which really ticked me off. Purchased new 3/30/2020.

See all problems of the 2020 Subaru Ascent 🔎.

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.

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.