2019 Subaru Ascent Owner Complaints

Complaint Summary
The 2019 Subaru Ascent has 538 reported complaints.
- Top issues involve electrical system and power train.
Reliability Score
Reliability Score
Based on 538 complaints
Most Frequent Issues
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
155 28.8%
POWER TRAIN
78 14.5%
VISIBILITY/WIPER
66 12.3%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
57 10.6%
ENGINE
46 8.6%
Quick Insights
The top category is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, accounting for 28.8% of all complaints.
Owners have reported issues across 40 distinct vehicle systems.
Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.
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What owners keep reporting on the 2019 Subaru Ascent
The 2019 Subaru Ascent has 538 owner complaints in this dataset. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM is the most common complaint category, representing about 29% of the reports shown here.
Most common complaint categories
The top complaint groups for the 2019 Subaru Ascent are ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (155), POWER TRAIN (78), VISIBILITY/WIPER (66).
Are these complaints a serious red flag?
Potentially. 270 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.
What should buyers inspect on a used 2019 Subaru Ascent?
Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.
Detailed Complaint Log
Showing 24 of 24 systems
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
73 Reports29% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL (RADIO/BLUETOOTH) ISSUES SINCE 2 WEEKS AFTER TAKING POCCESSION. BEEN IN FOR REPAIR 4 TIMES . NO RESOLVE LOOSE STEERING IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT AN APPROX.SPEED OF 65 MPH IN WINDY CONDITIONS ON NOV.3 2018 GARDEN STATE PKWY THE WIND ENCAPSULATED THE VEHICLE CAUSING INABILITY TO CONTROL. VEHICLE MOVED RELENTLESSLY SIDE TO SIDE MAKING A WHITE KNUCKLE EXPERIENCE. SIDE WINDOW LANE DEPARTURE LIGHTS WERE ALMOST ON CONSTANTLY. FELT LIKE THE WIND WAS LIFTING CAR FROM GROUND. HAD TO PULL INTO 2 REST STOPS AS STRESS OF TRYING TO CONTROL VEHICLE WAS UNPREDICTABLE AND STRESSFUL. AS FOR ELECTRONIC ISSUES DEALER REPLACED AMPLIFIERS AND PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS NEW RADIO/PHONE UNIT ORDERED BUT NOT INSTALLED DUE TO MY FILING LEMON LAW
1/23/2019
I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND THE DASH- STARTED FLASHING AND EVERYTHING AT ONCE STARTED SHUTTING OFF AND THEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED ON ITS OWN. VERY SCARY WHILE IN TRAFFIC- I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK FOR OVER 3 HOURS. DIALS: AT OIL TEMP FLASHES, ALL ELECTRONIC THINGS IS ALL OFF AND LIT. TRANSMISSION AND BRAKING ISSUES- ALL AT ONCE. CITY STREET BRADDOCK RD AND I PULLED OFF AT KINGS PARK SHOPPING CENTER IN FRONT OF WELLS FARGO AND CVS, STATIONARY.
2/11/2019
VISIBILITY/WIPER
42 Reports17% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE RIGHT LANE AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 65 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WITH NO WARNING, NO EXTERNAL IMPACT, NO OTHER VEHICLES NEAR BY, AND WITHOUT PRIOR IMPACT TO WINDOW.
8/11/2018
I RECENTLY NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD HAS THOUSANDS OF MILLIONS OF GLARING SPECKS/DOTS WHEN FACING THE SUNLIGHT IN EARLY MORNING OR LATE AFTERNOON. THE WINDSHIELD BECOMES SO BLURRY AND EXTREMELY ANNOYING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I FACE LIGHTS EVEN NIGHT TIMES WITH ONCOMING VEHICLES KINDA OF GLARE. I CLEANED WITH MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS NOT GOING AT ALL, ONE ANGLE CAN BE SEEN VERY GREY COLORED DOT. TOOK TO DEALER AND ALSO AGREED WITH THIS. NOT SURE WHAT ARE MY NEXT STEPS, BUT I WANT THIS NHTSA LOOK AT SERIOUSLY. MY CAR IS JUST ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND 2K MILES ON IT AS OF NOW.
10/27/2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
28 Reports11% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, MY WIFE STARTED THE CAR AND BACKED OFF A PARKING LOT. WHEN SHE PRESSED THE BRAKE AND FELT WIRED - THE BRAKE COULD NOT BE PRESSED DOWN AND FELT LIKE IT'S JAMMED SOMEHOW. THE CAR DID NOT STOP EVEN SHE SWITCHED THE CAR TO PARKING! IT EVENTUALLY STOPPED AFTER HIT A PARKED CAR BEHIND. BECAUSE THE SPEED WAS VERY LOW SO THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS. BUT AFTER RESTARTED THE CAR, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON - RAB, EYE SIGHT, AT OIL TEMP, LOW TIRE PRESSURE, AND THE SUN ROOF AND SUN SHADE NOT WORKING.
5/31/2019
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?
7/14/2019
ENGINE
22 Reports9% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
DRIVING ON FREEWAY CHECK ENGINE CAME ONLINE SUDDENLY. EYESIGHT TURNED OFF. CAR BECAME UNSTABLE, COULD NOT GO PAST 60 MPH. KIDS IN FREKING OUT. VERY UNSAFE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT. I DID ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOLLOWED THESE FORUMS HTTPS://WWW.ASCENTFORUMS.COM/FORUM/137-SUBARU-ASCENT-COMPLAINTS-ISSUES-PROBLEMS/1981-CHECK-ENGINE-LIGHT-11.HTML APPARENTLY EARLY SUBARU MODELS HAD 2 BOLTS MISSING IN THE ENGINE AIRTIGHT COMPARTMENT. ATLEAST 2 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED. I HAVE DRIVEN SO MANY MILES SUBARU AS NOT ISSUED A TSB AND A RECALL. I WAS PLANNING TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AS THIS A UNSAFE THING TO DO. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. I HOPE YOU COULD ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY AND HONESTY W/ SUBARU. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED. DID SUBARU DELIBERATELY HID THIS FROM CONSUMERS? PLEASE CHECK THIS FORUM THREAD AGAIN HTTPS://WWW.ASCENTFORUMS.COM/FORUM/137-SUBARU-ASCENT-COMPLAINTS-ISSUES-PROBLEMS/1981-CHECK-ENGINE-LIGHT-11.HTML
10/11/2018
I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND THE DASH- STARTED FLASHING AND EVERYTHING AT ONCE STARTED SHUTTING OFF AND THEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED ON ITS OWN. VERY SCARY WHILE IN TRAFFIC- I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK FOR OVER 3 HOURS. DIALS: AT OIL TEMP FLASHES, ALL ELECTRONIC THINGS IS ALL OFF AND LIT. TRANSMISSION AND BRAKING ISSUES- ALL AT ONCE. CITY STREET BRADDOCK RD AND I PULLED OFF AT KINGS PARK SHOPPING CENTER IN FRONT OF WELLS FARGO AND CVS, STATIONARY.
2/11/2019
POWER TRAIN
22 Reports9% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
OUR ASCENT STARTED HAVING A SQUEAL AND RPM JUMP AROUND 6000 MILES. THE CAR WOULD ONLY MAKES THIS NOISE ON ACCELERATION AND WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO LOCK UP UNTIL THE CHAIN/BELT WOULD RESEAT AND THE RPM RETURN TO NORMAL. IT THROWS NO WARNING CODES BUT HAPPENS RANDOMLY BUT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN. WAS TOLD IT WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE, BUT SUBARU HAS REPLACED SOME AND THEY ARE DOING SAME THING. THEY TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT LIKE IT IS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS TO FILE A CLAIM WITH SUBARU TO TRY TO GET THEM TO INITIATE A FIX FROM THE SUBARU ENGINEERS. TOTALLY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT 65-70 AND THEN IT STALLS OUT BEFORE IT FIXES ITSELF.
1/9/2019
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.
3/30/2019
SERVICE BRAKES
18 Reports7% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND THE DASH- STARTED FLASHING AND EVERYTHING AT ONCE STARTED SHUTTING OFF AND THEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED ON ITS OWN. VERY SCARY WHILE IN TRAFFIC- I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK FOR OVER 3 HOURS. DIALS: AT OIL TEMP FLASHES, ALL ELECTRONIC THINGS IS ALL OFF AND LIT. TRANSMISSION AND BRAKING ISSUES- ALL AT ONCE. CITY STREET BRADDOCK RD AND I PULLED OFF AT KINGS PARK SHOPPING CENTER IN FRONT OF WELLS FARGO AND CVS, STATIONARY.
2/11/2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU ASCENT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INDICATOR DISAPPEARED AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. KOCOUREK SUBARU (2600 N. 20TH AVE, WAUSAU, WI) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,300. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
3/4/2019
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
8 Reports3% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
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.
5/1/2019
GASOLINE VAPORS IN CABIN AND AROUND CAR. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED, GASOLINE VAPORS ARE ACCUMULATING AROUND CAR. WE EXPERIENCE STRONG GASOLINE VAPORS IN OUR ENCLOSED GARAGE AFTER DRIVING (APPEARING 10-15 MINUTES AFTER TURNING CAR OFF). ALSO, AFTER DRIVING FOR EVEN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THEN TURNING THE CAR OFF, THEN STARTING AGAIN, GASOLINE VAPORS ENTER THE CABIN THROUGH THE VENTS (IF NON-RECIRCULATING). DEALER CONFIRMED WE GASOLINE MIXED WITH OUR MOTOR OIL (DEALER CHANGED THE OIL, BUT DIDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM). WHILE THIS IS ALARMING ENOUGH, THE SMELL CONTINUES. THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN AND MY HOME GARAGE IS NOT HEALTH/SAFETY RISK FOR MY FAMILY BREATHING IN, BUT SINCE SUBARU DOESN'T KNOW A CAUSE, COULD IT BE A RISK FOR A FIRE. MY FAMILY SHOULDN'T BE DRIVING IN A BRAND NEW CAR THAT IS INTRODUCING GASOLINE VAPORS UNDER NORMAL OPERATION. OTHERS ON MESSAGE BOARDS ARE COMPLAINING OF SIMILAR ISSUES WHICH COULD POINT TO A BIGGER PROBLEM. THANK YOU!
5/11/2019
SUSPENSION
4 Reports2% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
WITHIN MY FIRST TWO WEEKS (200-300 MILES) OF OWNING THE VEHICLE I WAS TOLD BY STEVENS CREEK SUBARU THAT THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN. ANOTHER FAILED STRUT. SO BY DEDUCTION, IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE BUT THAT HASN'T STOPPED SUBARU FROM PUTTING ME BACK IN IT, FULLY AWARE THAT THE STRUT HAS FAILED VERIFIED AT 20,000 MILES BUT PROBLEM STARTED 12,000 MILES AGO. IN MOTION THIS IS A PROBLEM EVERYWHERE. SAFETY ISSUE. SUBARU IS NOT MAKING ME DRIVE FOR ALMOST A MONTH WITH A FAILED STRUT, WAITING ON PARTS. LET'S TALK ABOUT BRAKES NEXT... SO THEY REPLACED THE FRONT PADS WITH "SPECIAL" BRAKES, HAND DELIVERED FROM JAPAN. WHY? WHAT ARE THESE "SPECIAL" PADS AND HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT? I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THESE? ARE THEY SOFTER? WILL THEY WEAR OUT FASTER? I'M NOT HONESTLY THRILLED THAT THEY RESURFACED THE ROTORS. AGAIN... BRAND NEW CAR... BRAND NEW ROTORS... NOW THEY HAVE EXTRA "WEAR" AS A RESULT OF THE BAD BRAKES FROM THE FACTORY AND THEY WILL WEAR OUT FASTER. WOULD HAVE PREFERRED THEM TO BE REPLACED. THIS ONLY ADDS ADDITIONAL OUT OF WARRANTY COSTS TO ME IN THE END. ESPECIALLY IF THE NEW PADS ALSO WEAR QUICKER. SAFETY WE JUST BLINDLY APPLIED THE ECU FIRMWARE UPGRADE WITH NO PRE-DRIVE TEST TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM. WHICH WAS WHY THE CAR WAS LEFT OVERNIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE INITIALLY. SO WE HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION OF THE ISSUE JUST THAT WE FLASHED THE FIRMWARE. FROM MY TESTS THE PAST TWO MORNINGS IT SEEMS BETTER AND POSSIBLY RESOLVED BUT AGAIN, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROPERLY DOCUMENTED AND TESTED AND WAS NOT. THE SURGING ENGINE CONDITION / TRANSMISSION GEAR RATIO HUNTING PROBLEM WAS NEVER VERIFIED BY THE DEALER. THEY BLINDLY FLASHED THE FIRMWARE AND ALSO DIDN'T ROAD TEST AFTER THE FACT. THERE ALSO STILL AN UNDIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY THERE'S MANY MORE THINGS WRONG WITH MY CAR BUT YOUR FORM LIMITS ME TO THREE AT A TIME.
3/13/2019
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.
8/19/2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
4 Reports2% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
WE TOOK POSSESSION OF THIS VEHICLE OCTOBER 2019, BRAND NEW ORDER. EVER SINCE WE HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE WE HAVE QUESTIONED SEVERAL DEALERS REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS PLACEMENT. WHEN YOU DRIVE ON NON LIT ROADS YOU CAN ONLY SEE ABOUT 6 FEET IN FRONT OF YOU. ANYONE WALKING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AN ANIMAL, BROKEN DOWN VEHICLE, THE STREET YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO TURN ON; YOU DO NOT SEE UNTIL YOU ARE RIGHT ON TOP OF THE OBJECT. WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON IN ORDER TO SEE WHAT IS AHEAD OF US. THE LOW BEAMS ENGAGED SEEM TO HAVE A WALL ABOUT 6 FEET OUT THAT YOU CAN NOT SEE BEYOND THAT AREA. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE AIMED PROPERLY AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN OR WILL DO ABOUT IT. WHEN DRIVING IN A LIGHTED AREA IT IS NOT AS BAD; WHEN DRIVING DOWN BACK UNLIT ROADS WITH TRAFFIC COMING AT YOU OR TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF YOU THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TERRIBLE. WE LIVE IN A RURAL AREA WITH VERY LITTLE STREET LIGHTING AND I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HITTING SOMETHING BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHT DO NOT ILLUMINATE ENOUGH TO SEE OBJECTS IN THE ROAD. WE ASKED OUR SALES PERSON ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS AND HE WENT OUT AND TESTED OUR CONCERN, HE TOLD US TO SAY SOMETHING TO THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT WHEN WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR ITS FIRST INSPECTION. WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE ASKED AT THE NEXT DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I AM AT A LOSS ON HOW TO CORRECT THIS.
1/6/2020
AT ONLY 17.6K MILES, THE BATTERY IN MY 2019 SUBARU ASCENT WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED OVERNIGHT, FOR NO LOGICAL REASON. I CALLED SUBARU ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO GIVE ME A JUMP AND I LET IT RUN FOR 33 MINUTES THEN TOOK IT FOR A 10 MIN DRIVE. THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN THE NEXT MORNING. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY OVERNIGHT AND UNTIL THE 10 MIN DRIVE. DURING THIS TIME THE TAILGATE WOULD PERSISTENTLY BEEP, TRYING TO OPEN.
12/13/2020
AIR BAGS
3 Reports1% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
AIRBAG SENSOR FAULT.
10/14/2018
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.
11/12/2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
3 Reports1% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE SET, THE REAR DOORS CAN NOT BE OPEN FROM THE REAR DOOR HANDLE. THE CHILD PROOF LOCK IS NOT SET. YOU HAVE TO PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE FRONT DOORS SO THE REAR PAX CAN EXIT. TO ME THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IN AN EMERGENCY WHEN EVERYONE NEEDS TO EXIT QUICKLY, ONE HAS TO REMEMBER TO UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM THE FRONT DOOR UNLOCK SWITCH TO LET THE REAR PAX OUT. SUBARU TELLS ME THAT IT'S NORMAL, AND I THINK IT SHOULD NOT BE NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. THE DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY ONCE THE VEHICLE STARTS MOVING. I PUT TODAYS DATE AS WHEN THIS HAPPENS SINCE THERE IS NO "ALL THE TIME".
1/21/2019
TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH WHEN A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF OUR CAR AND WE HIT IT WITH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE CRUSHING THE FRONT END. ALL AIR BAGS IMMEDIATELY DEPLOYED AND THE FRONT END BEGAN SMOKING PROFUSELY. WITHIN MINUTES OF GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE IT BURST INTO FLAMES AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BURNED UP. CONCERNED THAT THESE VEHICLES WILL BURST INTO FLAMES DURING A FRONT END COLLISION AT HIGH SPEEDS.
11/29/2019
STEERING
3 Reports1% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL (RADIO/BLUETOOTH) ISSUES SINCE 2 WEEKS AFTER TAKING POCCESSION. BEEN IN FOR REPAIR 4 TIMES . NO RESOLVE LOOSE STEERING IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT AN APPROX.SPEED OF 65 MPH IN WINDY CONDITIONS ON NOV.3 2018 GARDEN STATE PKWY THE WIND ENCAPSULATED THE VEHICLE CAUSING INABILITY TO CONTROL. VEHICLE MOVED RELENTLESSLY SIDE TO SIDE MAKING A WHITE KNUCKLE EXPERIENCE. SIDE WINDOW LANE DEPARTURE LIGHTS WERE ALMOST ON CONSTANTLY. FELT LIKE THE WIND WAS LIFTING CAR FROM GROUND. HAD TO PULL INTO 2 REST STOPS AS STRESS OF TRYING TO CONTROL VEHICLE WAS UNPREDICTABLE AND STRESSFUL. AS FOR ELECTRONIC ISSUES DEALER REPLACED AMPLIFIERS AND PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS NEW RADIO/PHONE UNIT ORDERED BUT NOT INSTALLED DUE TO MY FILING LEMON LAW
1/23/2019
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK SLIGHTLY ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER FOR WHAT I AM ASSUMING ARE SMALL IMPERFECTIONS IN THE ROAD. NOW THAT I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 6 WEEKS, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS
4/18/2019
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3 Reports1% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
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.
7/26/2019
WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AROUND A TRUCK ON A HIGHWAY, THE CAR REFUSED, FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL AND EVERY LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP. MY SPEED WAS PROBABLY AROUND 60MPH, WHEN I TRIED TO QUICKLY GET AROUND THIS TRUCK. IT WAS FULL OF FURNITURE THAT I FELT WAS LOADED IN AN UNSAFE MANNER. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE CAR HAS DONE THIS AND THE CVT CHAIN SLIP WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IN A RECALL N DECEMBER. THIS TIME SUBARU SAID IT WAS A LEAKY GASKET IN THE INTER COOLER??
6/29/2020
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
3 Reports1% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
HAD TWO CHIPS IN THE WINDSHIELD, ONE CRACKED AND HAD TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD. 24 HRS LATER HAD ANOTHER CHIP AND ANOTHER WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. I ONLY DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY ONCE PER WEEK AND DON'T DRIVE MUCH BECAUSE I WORK FROM HOME. I USED TO DRIVE 60 MILES ON THE FREEWAY EVERY DAY FOR SCHOOL AND WORK WHEN I OWNED A SUBURA IMPREZA (2007) AND OUTBACK (2014) AND NEVER ONCE HAD A CHIP IN THOSE 5 YEARS UNTIL I PURCHASED ASCENT. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE NEW SUBARUS USE A THINNER GLASS DUE TO THE NEW EYE SIGHT FEATURE AND YOU DO NOT GET THE OPTION TO PURCHASE A THICKER GLASS WINDSHIELD. *TR
6/20/2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, ASSISTANCE WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,100.
6/22/2020
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
2 Reports1% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL (RADIO/BLUETOOTH) ISSUES SINCE 2 WEEKS AFTER TAKING POCCESSION. BEEN IN FOR REPAIR 4 TIMES . NO RESOLVE LOOSE STEERING IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT AN APPROX.SPEED OF 65 MPH IN WINDY CONDITIONS ON NOV.3 2018 GARDEN STATE PKWY THE WIND ENCAPSULATED THE VEHICLE CAUSING INABILITY TO CONTROL. VEHICLE MOVED RELENTLESSLY SIDE TO SIDE MAKING A WHITE KNUCKLE EXPERIENCE. SIDE WINDOW LANE DEPARTURE LIGHTS WERE ALMOST ON CONSTANTLY. FELT LIKE THE WIND WAS LIFTING CAR FROM GROUND. HAD TO PULL INTO 2 REST STOPS AS STRESS OF TRYING TO CONTROL VEHICLE WAS UNPREDICTABLE AND STRESSFUL. AS FOR ELECTRONIC ISSUES DEALER REPLACED AMPLIFIERS AND PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS NEW RADIO/PHONE UNIT ORDERED BUT NOT INSTALLED DUE TO MY FILING LEMON LAW
1/23/2019
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.
8/10/2019
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
2 Reports1% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU ASCENT. WHILE DRIVING 14 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE EYESIGHT PRE-COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEM; HOWEVER, IT FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,400.
3/20/2019
PURCHASED A NEW 2019 SUBARU ASCENT IN FEBRUARY 2019. AFTER HAVING IT HOME A FEW DAYS NOTICED A CHIP WITH A SMALL CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD ON THE BOTTOM DRIVERS SIDE CORNER NEAR THE BLACKED OUT AREA, WHICH I DID NOT SEE WHEN I TOOK THE CAR. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO SHOW THEM. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW WINDSHIELD. A MONTH LATER I WROTE A LETTER TO THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE OR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF MY LETTER. A YEAR LATER THE SMALL CRACK TURNED INTO A VERY LARGE CRACK AND ULTIMATELY I HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD IN MARCH, 2020, AND PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE ON MY INSURANCE POLICY.
1/13/2021
WHEELS
2 Reports1% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
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!
5/16/2019
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.
7/27/2019
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
2 Reports1% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF DRIVING IT OFF THE LOT. I WAS JUST DRIVING IT AND I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK...AND THEN WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE CRACK WENT THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD.
12/11/2020
PURCHASED A NEW 2019 SUBARU ASCENT IN FEBRUARY 2019. AFTER HAVING IT HOME A FEW DAYS NOTICED A CHIP WITH A SMALL CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD ON THE BOTTOM DRIVERS SIDE CORNER NEAR THE BLACKED OUT AREA, WHICH I DID NOT SEE WHEN I TOOK THE CAR. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO SHOW THEM. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW WINDSHIELD. A MONTH LATER I WROTE A LETTER TO THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE OR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF MY LETTER. A YEAR LATER THE SMALL CRACK TURNED INTO A VERY LARGE CRACK AND ULTIMATELY I HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD IN MARCH, 2020, AND PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE ON MY INSURANCE POLICY.
1/13/2021
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
1 Report0% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU ASCENT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY TO THE POINT WHERE THE TIRES SCREECHED ACROSS THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY INTO THE DISTANCE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AFTER MINIMAL PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. FURTHERMORE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RUMBLING VIBRATION UNDERNEATH THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY GAS STATION AND CONTACTED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CARR SUBARU (11635 SOUTHWEST CANYON RD, BEAVERTON, OREGON 97006, (503) 672-3370) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EYESIGHT ASSIST SAFETY FEATURE MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: 1-34973274988. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 700.
8/9/2018
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1 Report0% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, MY WIFE STARTED THE CAR AND BACKED OFF A PARKING LOT. WHEN SHE PRESSED THE BRAKE AND FELT WIRED - THE BRAKE COULD NOT BE PRESSED DOWN AND FELT LIKE IT'S JAMMED SOMEHOW. THE CAR DID NOT STOP EVEN SHE SWITCHED THE CAR TO PARKING! IT EVENTUALLY STOPPED AFTER HIT A PARKED CAR BEHIND. BECAUSE THE SPEED WAS VERY LOW SO THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS. BUT AFTER RESTARTED THE CAR, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON - RAB, EYE SIGHT, AT OIL TEMP, LOW TIRE PRESSURE, AND THE SUN ROOF AND SUN SHADE NOT WORKING.
5/31/2019
STRUCTURE
1 Report0% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
THE HOOD OF THE CAR POPPED UP TWICE WHEN DRIVING INTO A HEAD WIND ON THE HIGHWAY. IT SUDDENLY POPS UP AN INCH OR TWO AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO OPEN. THIS HAPPENED ON OUR FIRST TRIP ON THE INTERSTATE. I TOOK IT IN - THE DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG - AND ADJUSTED THE BUMPERS. THE NEXT TRIP DRIVING 65 INTO A CROSS WIND IT POPPED UP AGAIN. WE HAD TO STOP BOTH TIMES TO CLOSE THE HOOD AND WERE RELIEVED IT DID NOT COME ALL THE WAY UP. I WONDER IF THE LATCH IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THE DESIGN TO HANDLE A STRONG WIND. *TR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO WITHDRAW COMPLAINT STATING THAT THE LATCH DID NOT COME UNDONE. THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE FLEXED UP AFETR BEING BLOWN BY STRONG WIND. *JS
4/7/2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
1 Report0% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT ASKED HER SON TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTAC'S SON JUMPED THE BATTERY AND THE VEHICLE RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE BEING DIAGNOSED AT WHITE BEAR SUBARU. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO WHITE BEAR SUBARU (3505 HIGHWAY 61 N, VADNAIS HEIGHTS, MN 55110) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,000.
9/11/2020
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
1 Report0% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF DRIVING IT OFF THE LOT. I WAS JUST DRIVING IT AND I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK...AND THEN WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE CRACK WENT THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD.
12/11/2020
SEATS
1 Report0% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK APPROXIMATELY 09:10 PM(25901 RIVERWOODS RD, METTAWA, IL 60045) NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN AUTOMOBILE FIRE I-94 1 MILE SOUTH OF ROUTE 176(EXIT 16(/ROCKLAND ROAD). AFTER NO MORE THAN A MINUTE ON THE INTERSTATE, I NOTICED SOME SMOKE AND PULLED IMMEDIATELY OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (AROUND 1.5-2.0 MILES FROM WORK) AND AROUND 5 MIN INTO DRIVE FROM DEPARTURE FROM ADDRESS LISTED ABOVE. WAS FORTUNATE THAT OFFICER M ZAWIEROWSKI WAS DRIVING BY AND ABLE TO ASSIST AND CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. WHEN OFFICER STATED WENT BACK TO CAR NOTICED THAT CAR LOCKED UP ALL DOORS AND STATED HOW FORTUNATE YOU (WIFE) WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE. THE ONLY WARNING WAS SMELL AND SMOKE, MINUTE LATER CAR WAS BURNING AND WITHIN SHORT TIME HEAT AND SMOKE WAS SEVERE THAT STATE POLICE CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT
1/15/2021
Data and Methodology
Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.
What are the most common owner complaints for the 2019 Subaru Ascent?
Are complaints about the 2019 Subaru Ascent a serious warning sign?
How should buyers use complaint data for the 2019 Subaru Ascent?
Are complaints about the 2019 Subaru Ascent severe?
Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.
Subaru Ascent: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?
Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.
- Complaint entries
- 538
- Top-topic view
- 5 grouped topics shown
- Primary source
- NHTSA ODI owner complaint records
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