2020 Subaru Ascent Owner Complaints

IN AM TAILGATE FOUND OPENED (BY ITSELF), BATTERY DEAD , 3 JUMP STARTS OVER 24HRS BATTERY STILL NOT RECHARGING AFTER 6 HRS CONTIN. OPERATION, NOW CARPLAY AND BLUTOOTH MICROPHONE NOT WORKING, MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE RE THIS, NO MANUAL TAILGATE OPENING, AND NO WORKING BATTERY SHUT OFF OF TAILGATE OR ITS LIGHT IN SOFTWARE

10/20/2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER DROPPING HER DAUGHTER OFF AT DAYCARE, THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, PUSHED THE PUSH TO START BUTTON, SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, THE BATTERY TERMINALS WERE DISCONNECTED AND THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF. AFTER APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE, THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINALS WERE RECONNECTED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED UP INDEPENDENTLY. ROADSIDE SERVICE WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE TOWED HYMAN BROS SUBARU, 11960 MIDLOTHIAN TURNPIKE, MIDLOTHIAN, VA 23113, (804) 893-8900, TO BE DIAGNOSED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

1/9/2020

I PURCHASED MY ASCENT ON NOVEMBER 29, 2019. BY DECEMBER 8, I HAD TWO CRACKS IN THE WINDSHIELD. I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN, AND WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 45MPH WHEN BOTH OF THESE CHIPS OCCURRED. ONE WAS (ACCORDING TO SAFELITE) TOO SMALL TO REPAIR. THE OTHER ONE WAS REPAIRED ON 12/10. BY JANUARY 2, THE CRACK THAT WAS REPAIRED HAS REAPPEARED. SAFELITE DOES NOT GUARANTEE THEIR WORK, AND NOW I WILL HAVE TO SPEND A FORTUNE AND USE MY DEDUCTIBLE TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD ON A BRAND NEW VEHICLE.

1/6/2020

THERE ARE SO MY SMALL PITS AND CHIPS IN MY WINDSHIELD. I HAVE LESS THAN 6000 MILES ON THE CAR, AND OWNED IF FOR LESS THAN 6 MONTHS. I NOTICED THE FIRST CHIP IN THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP BUT THOUGHT IT WAS BAD LUCK. SINCE THEN I AM FACING WELL OVER A DOZEN, AND THEY ARE INCREDIBLY DISTRACTING. THERE IS NO WAY THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I'VE NEVER HAD A ROCK HIT THE CAR. ITS JUST THE FINE GRANULES THAT COME WITH DRIVING. THIS IS HORRIBLE!

2/2/2020

WE ARE ON OUR SECOND SUBARU ASCENT, FIRST ONE BOUGHT BACK FOR THE SAME ISSUE. UPON STARTING THE CAR, THE CABIN WILL FILL WITH A STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL (NOT EXHAUST). THE CAR WILL ALSO FILL WITH THE SMELL IF RUNNING WHILE PARKED, REMOTELY STARTED, ETC. THE SMELL IS ALSO NOTICEABLE WHEN TURNING OFF THE CAR AND ON THE OUTSIDE OF IT.

9/25/2019

I HAVE HAD MY 2020 SUBARU ASCENT FOR A MONTH AND ALREADY HAVE HAD TWO WINDSHIELD CRACKS DUE TO VERY SMALL PEBBLES. THESE WINDSHIELDS CRACK TOO EASILY!

12/6/2019

JERKY ACCELERATION BETWEEN 35-50 MPH. CVT "SWITCHING GEARS" UP AND DOWN. NOTICED AT 600 MILES. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY , WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN THE JOLT SNAPS MY HEAD BACK. BRAKES CONTINUE TO SQUEAL AFTER 600 MILES.

3/16/2020

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE ENTIRE CAR STARTED VIBRATING AND FELT WOBBLY WHEN I GOT ABOVE 20MPH. PULLED OVER TO CHECK TIRES AND UNDER THE CAR, NO OBVIOUS ISSUES FOUND. TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON THE CAR, SAME ISSUE ABOVE 20MPH. THE CAR WAS STRUGGLING TO GET UP THE TOW RAMP AND SMELLED AN ACRID ODOR THAT BOTH I AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER NOTICED. MADE TERRIBLE SOUND WHEN SHIFTING FROM P THROUGH R TO D. THIS ALL HAPPENED ON PAVED ROADS GOING BACK HOME. THE CAR NOW HAS 150 MILES ON IT, BOUGHT IT 3 DAYS PRIOR NEW.

3/31/2020

JERKY ACCELERATION BETWEEN 35-50 MPH. CVT "SWITCHING GEARS" UP AND DOWN. NOTICED AT 600 MILES. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY , WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN THE JOLT SNAPS MY HEAD BACK. BRAKES CONTINUE TO SQUEAL AFTER 600 MILES.

3/16/2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING A COUNTRYWIDE ROAD TRIP AT 70 MPH THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND SHIMMIED WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE GOING DOWNHILL ON A STEEP GRADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER GROOVE SUBARU (5300 S. BROADWAY, ENGLEWOOD, CO 80113, (720) 279-9409). THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO SEEK A COMPREHENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC TEST BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHEN HE RETURNED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTHORIZED DEALER NEAR HIS RESIDENCE TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500.

12/23/2020

WE ARE ON OUR SECOND SUBARU ASCENT, FIRST ONE BOUGHT BACK FOR THE SAME ISSUE. UPON STARTING THE CAR, THE CABIN WILL FILL WITH A STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL (NOT EXHAUST). THE CAR WILL ALSO FILL WITH THE SMELL IF RUNNING WHILE PARKED, REMOTELY STARTED, ETC. THE SMELL IS ALSO NOTICEABLE WHEN TURNING OFF THE CAR AND ON THE OUTSIDE OF IT.

9/25/2019

ODOMETER: 1,289 MILES VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, DROVE 3 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND CHECK COOLANT INDICATOR CAME ON. OPENED HOOD TO SMOKE AND SERPENTINE BELT HAD SHREDDED. COOLANT WAS SPRAYED ALL OVER UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED SERPENTINE BELT AND APPEARS BATTERY LIGHT AND OVERHEATING WAS CAUSED FROM BELT FAILURE.

10/9/2019

WE ARE ON OUR SECOND SUBARU ASCENT, FIRST ONE BOUGHT BACK FOR THE SAME ISSUE. UPON STARTING THE CAR, THE CABIN WILL FILL WITH A STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL (NOT EXHAUST). THE CAR WILL ALSO FILL WITH THE SMELL IF RUNNING WHILE PARKED, REMOTELY STARTED, ETC. THE SMELL IS ALSO NOTICEABLE WHEN TURNING OFF THE CAR AND ON THE OUTSIDE OF IT.

9/25/2019

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION - CAR WENT THROUGH AUTOMATIC CAR WAS WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND IN NEUTRAL. AFTER WASH WAS COMPLETED CAR WAS PLACED IN DRIVE AND I VERY LIGHTLY TOUCHED ACCELERATOR PEDAL. CAR LURCHED FORWARD AS THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR WAS FLOORED. REMOVED FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR, ENGINE WAS CONTINUING TO RACE AS CAR CONTINUED TO PICK UP SPEED AND HEADED OUT ONTO BUSY HIGHWAY. THE EXIT FROM THE CAR WASH WAS PERPENDICULAR TO THE HIGHWAY QUICKLY I STEPPED AS FORCEFULLY AS POSSIBLE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SUBSEQUENTLY BROUGHT CAR TO A STOP. A VERY CLOSE CALL.

1/22/2020

I GOT IN MY CAR AND TOOK THE SUN SHADE OUT OF MY WINDSHIELD AND FOUND A LARGE CRACK ACROSS IT. THE LAST TIME IT WAS DRIVEN (2 DAYS AGO) THERE WAS NO CRACK. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

5/18/2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OCEAN SUBARU OF FULLERTON (1100 S EUCLID ST, FULLERTON, CA 92832), AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED BY A ROCK AND WAS TO CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,340.

6/22/2020

FOUND AROUND 1 INCH OF WATER SETTING UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT OF OUR 2020 SUBARU ASCENT TOURING, WITH ONLY 2500 MILES ON IT, AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR DAYS WITH RAIN STORMS. WIFE NOTICES A SLOSHING SOUND WHILE SHE DROVE IT 1 MILE AND BACK HOME. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY KEPT IT, BUT COULDN'T INITIALLY FIND THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE HAD A COMPLAINT OF A WATER LEAK PRIOR, WITH NO DEALER ACTION. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF LOOKING, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A MISSING OR POORLY INSTALLED GROMMET ON THE FIRE WALL AROUND THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS, WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO FLOW INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CARPET AND PUTTING IN A NEW WIRING HARNESS, WHICH WOULD INDICATE A POTENTIAL FOR MOLD AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES DUE TO POOR GROMMET INSTALLATION ON THE FIREWALL. IF THIS VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SITTING OUTSIDE, THE ISSUE WOULDN'T OF BEEN FOUND FOR A LONG TIME, CAUSING MOLD AND POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL FIRES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL SAVE LIVES AND KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY, IF THEY CHECK THEIR FIREWALL GROMMETS FOR POOR INSTALLATION.

7/6/2020

MY VEHICLE IS FAIRLY NEW 7 MONTHS TO BE EXACT. WHEN IT WAS 4 MONTHS OLD I'VE STARTED TO NOTICE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE WINDOW PANELS THAT ARE METAL. WHEN I WENT IN FOR OIL CHANGE SERVICE THEY DENY THAT THERE IS RUST AND JUST OFFERED TO POLISH IT. AT 7 MONTHS THE WINDSHIELD HAS CHIPS AND CRACKS WHICH IS ODD WITHOUT A REASON.

1/4/2021

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT 11/29 AT 9:45PM WHERE I HIT A COW. I WAS DRIVING 55 ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY THAT I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH. THE COW WAS STANDING IN THE ENTIRE LANE OF TRAVEL AND I WAS ABLE TO VEER INTO THE OTHER LANE SLIGHTLY AND TOOK THE IMPACT ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHERE I DID NOT HAVE ANY PASSENGERS. THE SUBARU WAS TOTALED AND I'M NOW HAVING SEVERE WHIPLASH SYMPTOMS. I AM REPORTING THIS AS THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND EVERYONE WHO HAS SEEN THE VEHICLE SAYS THEY THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE. ADDITIONALLY, I DO NOT REMEMBER MY COLLISION ALERTS BEEPING NOR THE SUBARU BRAKING FOR ME WHICH HAVE WORKED IN THE PAST. I ONLY REMEMBER HITTING THE COW AND THEN BEING COMPLETELY STOPPED WHERE WE HAD THE IMPACT.

12/11/2020

Sudden unwanted rapid acceleration toward a building from parking lot causing head on collision: - Manual brakes failed - Automatic brakes did not engage - Airbags did NOT deploy after hitting an immovable object head on at least twice - Driver seatbelt did not lock - Starlink was not activated / notified - No collision warning was sounded (moot) Both driver and front passenger were severely injured and taken by ambulance to ER.

12/9/2021

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT 11/29 AT 9:45PM WHERE I HIT A COW. I WAS DRIVING 55 ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY THAT I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH. THE COW WAS STANDING IN THE ENTIRE LANE OF TRAVEL AND I WAS ABLE TO VEER INTO THE OTHER LANE SLIGHTLY AND TOOK THE IMPACT ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHERE I DID NOT HAVE ANY PASSENGERS. THE SUBARU WAS TOTALED AND I'M NOW HAVING SEVERE WHIPLASH SYMPTOMS. I AM REPORTING THIS AS THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND EVERYONE WHO HAS SEEN THE VEHICLE SAYS THEY THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE. ADDITIONALLY, I DO NOT REMEMBER MY COLLISION ALERTS BEEPING NOR THE SUBARU BRAKING FOR ME WHICH HAVE WORKED IN THE PAST. I ONLY REMEMBER HITTING THE COW AND THEN BEING COMPLETELY STOPPED WHERE WE HAD THE IMPACT.

12/11/2020

Sudden unwanted rapid acceleration toward a building from parking lot causing head on collision: - Manual brakes failed - Automatic brakes did not engage - Airbags did NOT deploy after hitting an immovable object head on at least twice - Driver seatbelt did not lock - Starlink was not activated / notified - No collision warning was sounded (moot) Both driver and front passenger were severely injured and taken by ambulance to ER.

12/9/2021

A CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND SPIDERED DOWN THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD. IT HAPPENED 2 WEEKS AFTER OWNING MY NEW CAR. I'M STILL UNSURE ON WHY IT CRACKED 🤦‍♀️ THERE ISN'T A CHIP MARK OR ANY START POINT. IT'S WORRIED HOW IT JUST STARTED CRACKING. AND SINCE IT'S OVER A 1,000 TO FIX IT. IT IS STILL CRACKED. AND ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES THE EYE NO LONGER WORKS. I LOVE MY CAR BUT HATE HOW NOTHING NEEDING THE EYE WORKS.

11/27/2020

When applying brakes to 2020 Subaru Ascent limited (10,325 miles) the car shudders. Being an aircraft mechanic for over 45 years I knew the brake rotors were warped. I Took car to Subaru of Kennesaw GA. 7-13-2021. They opened work order SuCS159697. They resurfaced the rotors on front brakes and installed new pads. My safety concern is if brake rotor originally installed are warping and now you are removing the width of the rotor making it thinner and more likely to heat and warp sooner. When i questioned the maintenance technican about this concern he stated this was Subaru policy to resurface. Extreme heat to brakes could cause brake failure.

7/14/2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT WAS UNABLE TO BE EXTEND FAR ENOUGH BACKWARDS FOR THE SEAT BELT TO BE USED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO HIS HEIGHT AND WEIGHT A STANDARD SEAT BELT WAS NOT ADEQUATE TO SECURELY FASTENED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. FAILURE MILEAGE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

2/7/2020

VEHICLE EYESIGHT SAFETY SYSTEM (ADAPATIVE CRUISE CONTROL), LANE DEPARTURE AND ANTI COLLISION SYSTEMS DEACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BACKUP CAMERA FAILED WHILE IN REVERSE.

2/18/2020

NEW 2020 SUBARU ASCENT LIMITED. HEARD CLUNKING OR WEIRD SOUND FROM FRONT SUSPENSION/STRUTS ON BUMPY ROAD OR POTHOLES. *TR

4/6/2020

A LARGE CRACK SUDDENLY APPEARED ON THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2020 ASCENT, AND EXPANDED RAPIDLY OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW HOURS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN JANUARY 2020. SUBARU WILL NOT COVER THE WINDSHIELD UNDER WARRANTY. THE COST TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND RE-CALIBRATE THE EYESIGHT SENSORS IS OVER $1,000 THROUGH SAFELITE. I'M CONCERNED THAT HAVING AN OUTSIDE COMPANY RE-CALIBRATE THE SENSORS WILL VOID THE WARRANTY, AND THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY CLARIFICATION. MY DEALERSHIP CANNOT REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD (AS THEY'VE INDICATED THIS MUST BE DONE BY A THIRD PARTY), AND CANNOT RE-CALIBRATE THE SENSORS FOR OVER A WEEK. THERE IS NO REASON FOR MY WINDSHIELD TO HAVE SUCH A LARGE CRACK, AS THERE ARE NO CHIPS VISIBLE AND I DO NOT RECALL ANYTHING STRIKING MY WINDSHIELD RECENTLY. *TR

5/26/2020

A CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND SPIDERED DOWN THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD. IT HAPPENED 2 WEEKS AFTER OWNING MY NEW CAR. I'M STILL UNSURE ON WHY IT CRACKED 🤦‍♀️ THERE ISN'T A CHIP MARK OR ANY START POINT. IT'S WORRIED HOW IT JUST STARTED CRACKING. AND SINCE IT'S OVER A 1,000 TO FIX IT. IT IS STILL CRACKED. AND ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES THE EYE NO LONGER WORKS. I LOVE MY CAR BUT HATE HOW NOTHING NEEDING THE EYE WORKS.

11/27/2020

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT 11/29 AT 9:45PM WHERE I HIT A COW. I WAS DRIVING 55 ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY THAT I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH. THE COW WAS STANDING IN THE ENTIRE LANE OF TRAVEL AND I WAS ABLE TO VEER INTO THE OTHER LANE SLIGHTLY AND TOOK THE IMPACT ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHERE I DID NOT HAVE ANY PASSENGERS. THE SUBARU WAS TOTALED AND I'M NOW HAVING SEVERE WHIPLASH SYMPTOMS. I AM REPORTING THIS AS THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND EVERYONE WHO HAS SEEN THE VEHICLE SAYS THEY THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE. ADDITIONALLY, I DO NOT REMEMBER MY COLLISION ALERTS BEEPING NOR THE SUBARU BRAKING FOR ME WHICH HAVE WORKED IN THE PAST. I ONLY REMEMBER HITTING THE COW AND THEN BEING COMPLETELY STOPPED WHERE WE HAD THE IMPACT.

12/11/2020

MY VEHICLE IS FAIRLY NEW 7 MONTHS TO BE EXACT. WHEN IT WAS 4 MONTHS OLD I'VE STARTED TO NOTICE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE WINDOW PANELS THAT ARE METAL. WHEN I WENT IN FOR OIL CHANGE SERVICE THEY DENY THAT THERE IS RUST AND JUST OFFERED TO POLISH IT. AT 7 MONTHS THE WINDSHIELD HAS CHIPS AND CRACKS WHICH IS ODD WITHOUT A REASON.

1/4/2021

THE AUDIO DIED TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE ENTIRE CAR DYING COMPLETELY. WE CHARGED THE BATTERY, AND MOST OF THE CAR BEGAN WORKING EXCEPT FOR A FEW RANDOM ELECTRICAL AREAS. SEEMS TO BE A SHORT SOMEWHERE. I HAVE UNDER 10,000 MILES AND A DEAD BATTERY... HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC.

4/7/2021

The base for the infant car seat was installed by a car seat technician and the latch continued to come loose while driving. ( would move more than an inch) this car seat would look like it was never installed. When we contacted the manufacturer they stated they would need a receipt of purchase and a video of the car seat problem. And provided no advice on how to fix the problem.

6/3/2022