2024 Subaru Ascent Owner Complaints

The driver-side mirror vibrates and shakes excessively on rough roads or at highway speeds, making it difficult to use, especially at night. In contrast, the passenger-side mirror is stable at all speeds with minimal to no shaking. The dealer's service department confirmed the problem and replaced the mirror but was unable to fix it, stating that nothing else can be done. The driver-side mirror has had this issue since the car was delivered from the dealer.

6/18/2024

Driver’s side mirror demonstrates excessive shaking as compared to passenger side. Housing has been replaced but no change. Visually difficult for me to use that mirror at times.

7/12/2024

Driver side mirror has vibration that increases with speed. At highway speeds, it is difficult to safely see the lane next to you, especially if there is a vehicle behind you with their headlights on. The vehicle's mirror glass and housing were replaced and the vibration remains. There is no observable vibration with the passenger side mirror. Was advised by a local dealership that there is no more they can do to eliminate the vibration.

4/29/2024

The driver-side mirror vibrates and shakes excessively at highway speeds, making it difficult to use, especially at night. In contrast, the passenger-side mirror is stable at all speeds with minimal to no shaking. The dealer's service department confirmed the problem and worked on finding a solution. Solution still ha snot been found. The driver-side mirror has had this issue since the car was purchased.

7/2/2024

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.

4/16/2024

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.

7/2/2024

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.

7/12/2024

Eye sight freezing when car purchased brand new. I was told that this was a known Issue. Radio freezing and then resuming at blaring volume, I was told that this was a known issue and Subaru was waiting for an update. Burning smell from car when purchased, notified dealer, smell did not go away. I was told that this was normal. Starling freezing and not working, this was a service that I paid for, I was told that this was a known issue and was waiting for an update. On 6/9/2024 I was driving, while entering a tunnel, and using the adaptive cruise, the car did not track the car in front of me. I braked, this did not stop the adaptive cruise (according to Subaru) and the car collided with the car in front of me after the emergency braking system failed to also stop the car in time. Starling did not call to check on us for 30 minutes (did alert 911) but no call was made to my phone, as per the paid service, and the airbag exploded and we were covered in brown substance. I had asked to return the vehicle before any of these events, as I felt that there was an issue with it, as was told to begin the North Carolina Lemon Law process.

8/19/2024

My 2024 Subaru Ascent started experiencing brake issues in early January. The car would shake heavily and make noise when braking, despite having only 10,500 miles. Concerned, I contacted Subaru of America and was advised to take it to a dealership for an inspection. On 1/31/25, the dealer inspected the brakes and determined that the front rotors and brake pads needed to be replaced. Subaru of America confirmed that the dealer would order new parts for the front brakes. A few days later, I received an email from the dealership stating that the new rotors and brake pads had arrived, and they scheduled me for service on 2/14/25. However, after waiting at the dealership for three hours, I was informed that instead of replacing the rotors as initially promised, they had simply resurfaced them. The explanation given was that these were already “upgraded” rotors. This raises serious concerns for me—if these rotors were already upgraded, why did they fail before 10,000 miles? This is a clear safety issue, and I am increasingly worried that both Subaru of America and the dealership are not properly addressing the situation. I was supposed to receive brand-new rotors, yet I am now left with resurfaced ones, which does not give me confidence in my vehicle’s safety. I need a proper resolution to this issue. Potentially Subaru America should issue a safety recall for these breaks.

2/17/2025

My vehicle has lost EYESIGHT TOO MANY TIMES while Am driving ON HIGH WAY SO STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, ADATER,CRUISE CONTROL SIGN APPEARS TOGETHER .JUST A SECOND MY FAMILY HAD ALMOST DIED DUE TO VACATION TIME IN AUGUST,2025.I CANT BELIEVE THAT IS BRAND NEW SUBARU ASCENT TOURING 2024 I PURCHASED FROM MARCH ,2024. We found SUBARU DEALERSHIP AT LAS VEGAS ,NA But TECHNICIAN OF THERE RESPONDED TO ME THAT : THEY DONT KNOW EXHAUST BUTTON NUMBER and THEY ARE NOT SURE MY CAR STILL SAFE OR NOT SAFETY WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, (MY FAMILY HAS 7 peoples from [XXX] OLD TO [XXX] OLD ,WE HAD TO SLEEP AT GAS STATION OVER 2 NIGHTS WITH OUT ELECTRONIC,..) THEY ANSWERED TO ME THAT : THEY CAN NOT FIX IT. Their ANSWER MADE ME SCARED BECAUSE WE NEED TO A CAR GO BACK HOME .WE CAN NOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE ,I DECIDED TRADE IT TO CHEVROLET TO PURCHASE OTHER BRAND NEW CAR on AUGHUST 9,2025 TO BACK HOME. I wanted to SUBARU MANUFACTURE MUST BE RESPONSIBLE TO MY NEW EXPENSES VEHICLE like insurance higher, LOAN INTEREST HIGHER. The Car only 14,823 miles, I spoke to SALESMANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP and Requested Refund but He did not have resolve to Me and keeping quiet until now.IF MY WHOLE FAMILY DIE FROM SUBARU CORPORATION FROM THEIR TECHNOLOGY ERROR,WHO WILL RETURN OUR LIFE? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

9/8/2025

Eye sight freezing when car purchased brand new. I was told that this was a known Issue. Radio freezing and then resuming at blaring volume, I was told that this was a known issue and Subaru was waiting for an update. Burning smell from car when purchased, notified dealer, smell did not go away. I was told that this was normal. Starling freezing and not working, this was a service that I paid for, I was told that this was a known issue and was waiting for an update. On 6/9/2024 I was driving, while entering a tunnel, and using the adaptive cruise, the car did not track the car in front of me. I braked, this did not stop the adaptive cruise (according to Subaru) and the car collided with the car in front of me after the emergency braking system failed to also stop the car in time. Starling did not call to check on us for 30 minutes (did alert 911) but no call was made to my phone, as per the paid service, and the airbag exploded and we were covered in brown substance. I had asked to return the vehicle before any of these events, as I felt that there was an issue with it, as was told to begin the North Carolina Lemon Law process.

8/19/2024

Uncommanded maximum braking with simultaneous high-voltage and low-voltage shutdown. Vehicle is not safe in Florida with puddles or any types of ongoing obstructions vehicle shuts down in the middle of traffic if it perceives you do not match Google maps

12/4/2025

My vehicle has lost EYESIGHT TOO MANY TIMES while Am driving ON HIGH WAY SO STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, ADATER,CRUISE CONTROL SIGN APPEARS TOGETHER .JUST A SECOND MY FAMILY HAD ALMOST DIED DUE TO VACATION TIME IN AUGUST,2025.I CANT BELIEVE THAT IS BRAND NEW SUBARU ASCENT TOURING 2024 I PURCHASED FROM MARCH ,2024. We found SUBARU DEALERSHIP AT LAS VEGAS ,NA But TECHNICIAN OF THERE RESPONDED TO ME THAT : THEY DONT KNOW EXHAUST BUTTON NUMBER and THEY ARE NOT SURE MY CAR STILL SAFE OR NOT SAFETY WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, (MY FAMILY HAS 7 peoples from [XXX] OLD TO [XXX] OLD ,WE HAD TO SLEEP AT GAS STATION OVER 2 NIGHTS WITH OUT ELECTRONIC,..) THEY ANSWERED TO ME THAT : THEY CAN NOT FIX IT. Their ANSWER MADE ME SCARED BECAUSE WE NEED TO A CAR GO BACK HOME .WE CAN NOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE ,I DECIDED TRADE IT TO CHEVROLET TO PURCHASE OTHER BRAND NEW CAR on AUGHUST 9,2025 TO BACK HOME. I wanted to SUBARU MANUFACTURE MUST BE RESPONSIBLE TO MY NEW EXPENSES VEHICLE like insurance higher, LOAN INTEREST HIGHER. The Car only 14,823 miles, I spoke to SALESMANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP and Requested Refund but He did not have resolve to Me and keeping quiet until now.IF MY WHOLE FAMILY DIE FROM SUBARU CORPORATION FROM THEIR TECHNOLOGY ERROR,WHO WILL RETURN OUR LIFE? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

9/8/2025

My 2024 Subaru Ascent developed a recurring clunk/thump noise from the steering system during low-speed turning (10–15 mph) and when turning the wheel at a stop. The noise was present daily and worsened over time. I took the vehicle to two Subaru dealerships. Sterling Subaru dismissed the steering noise completely and stated they could not duplicate it. Dulles Subaru also initially dismissed the issue. Only when I returned to pick up the vehicle and insisted on demonstrating the noise did their technician acknowledge it. They compared my vehicle to another Ascent on the lot and confirmed the noise was abnormal. Dulles then replaced the steering gear box assembly (steering rack) under warranty. This confirms there was a mechanical defect in the steering system. Before this repair, I also reported excessive inner-edge wear on both front tires. The technician documented “excessive wear on both front inner tires” and recommended replacing all four tires and performing an alignment. Inner-edge wear on both front tires is not caused by lack of rotation—it is consistent with misalignment or steering geometry deviation, which matches the confirmed steering defect. Subaru America has refused to replace the damaged tires even though the tire manufacturer (Falken) stated in writing that irregular wear caused by a mechanical defect is the vehicle manufacturer’s responsibility. Safety concern: A defective steering rack caused abnormal steering behavior and front-end geometry issues, which led to rapid inner-edge tire wear. If unnoticed, this can result in loss of steering control or a tire failure at highway speeds. Both dealerships initially dismissing the issue is also concerning. I am filing this report so NHTSA can track potential steering-related defects and resulting tire safety issues on the 2024 Subaru Ascent. I can provide service records, photos, and Subaru correspondence upon request.

11/13/2025

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.

11/10/2025

Uncommanded maximum braking with simultaneous high-voltage and low-voltage shutdown. Vehicle is not safe in Florida with puddles or any types of ongoing obstructions vehicle shuts down in the middle of traffic if it perceives you do not match Google maps

12/4/2025

Eye sight freezing when car purchased brand new. I was told that this was a known Issue. Radio freezing and then resuming at blaring volume, I was told that this was a known issue and Subaru was waiting for an update. Burning smell from car when purchased, notified dealer, smell did not go away. I was told that this was normal. Starling freezing and not working, this was a service that I paid for, I was told that this was a known issue and was waiting for an update. On 6/9/2024 I was driving, while entering a tunnel, and using the adaptive cruise, the car did not track the car in front of me. I braked, this did not stop the adaptive cruise (according to Subaru) and the car collided with the car in front of me after the emergency braking system failed to also stop the car in time. Starling did not call to check on us for 30 minutes (did alert 911) but no call was made to my phone, as per the paid service, and the airbag exploded and we were covered in brown substance. I had asked to return the vehicle before any of these events, as I felt that there was an issue with it, as was told to begin the North Carolina Lemon Law process.

8/19/2024

The 360 surround view camera system on my Subaru Ascent consistently displays a misaligned, distorted, and altered image of the vehicle's surroundings. Objects in proximity to the vehicle, including nearby cars, curbs, and obstacles, appear shifted from their actual positions, creating a false sense of clearance. This misrepresentation of the vehicle's environment makes it extremely easy to run into objects or curbs that are shown incorrectly in the camera feed. The distortion in the 360 camera’s view compromises the accuracy of its intended purpose, which is to aid in parking and close-quarters maneuvering safely. I have already experienced multiple close calls due to this issue and believe it poses a significant safety risk, especially in tight parking spaces, low visibility conditions, or when relying on the camera for backing up. The feature is marketed as a safety tool, yet its inaccurate display creates a hazard rather than preventing one. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this problem, as it compromises driver safety and can lead to property damage or accidents due to incorrect visual information provided by the vehicle's system. Attempts to Resolve: I have brought this issue to the attention of the Subaru dealership, but they have not provided a solution. The camera system remains misaligned and unreliable. Safety Concerns: The misleading camera display creates a high risk of collisions with objects or pedestrians, especially when backing up or parking in areas with limited space. This poses a serious safety hazard, particularly when drivers rely on the system's accuracy to avoid obstacles.

10/18/2024

The vehicle was being driven on a public road, going roughly 45mph. I felt a very harsh studder/clunk and completely lost responsiveness from the accelerator. There was no throttle response even pumping the pedal all the way to the floor. I was able to coast to a parking area and make a safe stop. Once I was stopped, I turned the car off, back on again, and it got me the rest of the way home. This was the most severe instance of the problem, but both primary drivers of the car have experienced the accelerator going unresponsive at different times. Since this was a severe safety related concern, we took the car in for service at the dealer, but were told they were unable to reproduce the problem and did not make any repairs. We provided the dealer with a video we captured toward the end of the latest incident, but they haven't been able to find any cause. There were multiple warning lights on the dash, but no codes were stored. We did have another warning light for a brake system error, but there was no code stored and the dealer was unable to located the source of a voltage anomaly in the parking brake system. We've taken it in to another dealer service center for additional diagnostics but the original shop is refusing to provide the complete details of any diagnostics and corrections they have made, so we don't have the original data that was pulled from the car.

1/13/2025

My 2024 Subaru Ascent started experiencing brake issues in early January. The car would shake heavily and make noise when braking, despite having only 10,500 miles. Concerned, I contacted Subaru of America and was advised to take it to a dealership for an inspection. On 1/31/25, the dealer inspected the brakes and determined that the front rotors and brake pads needed to be replaced. Subaru of America confirmed that the dealer would order new parts for the front brakes. A few days later, I received an email from the dealership stating that the new rotors and brake pads had arrived, and they scheduled me for service on 2/14/25. However, after waiting at the dealership for three hours, I was informed that instead of replacing the rotors as initially promised, they had simply resurfaced them. The explanation given was that these were already “upgraded” rotors. This raises serious concerns for me—if these rotors were already upgraded, why did they fail before 10,000 miles? This is a clear safety issue, and I am increasingly worried that both Subaru of America and the dealership are not properly addressing the situation. I was supposed to receive brand-new rotors, yet I am now left with resurfaced ones, which does not give me confidence in my vehicle’s safety. I need a proper resolution to this issue. Potentially Subaru America should issue a safety recall for these breaks.

2/17/2025

Have had two fuel level senders fail in one year of ownership. The dealer/manufacturer has replaced the first one, and a second replacement is pending. The failure shows inaccurate fuel levels including a full tank reading as 1/4 or less full. Subsequent refueling does not change the level reading. If the car thinks it is out of fuel, it may cease to operate (even if there is fuel in the tank).

3/30/2025

The drivers side mirror has a constant vibration that causes visibility issues. Has done it since we bought it new.

6/20/2025

The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Ascent equipped with Falken Tires, Tire Line: ZIEX, Tire Size: 245/50/R20, DOT Number: IRAKH. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH and attempting to make a turn, the rear tire experienced a blowout. The tires were the original tires. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The tire manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 11,200.

8/8/2025

When the passenger cool seat is turned on, a loud vibration like sound can be heard. My assumption would be a fan. I’m unsure if this could lead to any other issues such as electric problems or cause a fire.

9/5/2025

My vehicle has lost EYESIGHT TOO MANY TIMES while Am driving ON HIGH WAY SO STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, ADATER,CRUISE CONTROL SIGN APPEARS TOGETHER .JUST A SECOND MY FAMILY HAD ALMOST DIED DUE TO VACATION TIME IN AUGUST,2025.I CANT BELIEVE THAT IS BRAND NEW SUBARU ASCENT TOURING 2024 I PURCHASED FROM MARCH ,2024. We found SUBARU DEALERSHIP AT LAS VEGAS ,NA But TECHNICIAN OF THERE RESPONDED TO ME THAT : THEY DONT KNOW EXHAUST BUTTON NUMBER and THEY ARE NOT SURE MY CAR STILL SAFE OR NOT SAFETY WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, (MY FAMILY HAS 7 peoples from [XXX] OLD TO [XXX] OLD ,WE HAD TO SLEEP AT GAS STATION OVER 2 NIGHTS WITH OUT ELECTRONIC,..) THEY ANSWERED TO ME THAT : THEY CAN NOT FIX IT. Their ANSWER MADE ME SCARED BECAUSE WE NEED TO A CAR GO BACK HOME .WE CAN NOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE ,I DECIDED TRADE IT TO CHEVROLET TO PURCHASE OTHER BRAND NEW CAR on AUGHUST 9,2025 TO BACK HOME. I wanted to SUBARU MANUFACTURE MUST BE RESPONSIBLE TO MY NEW EXPENSES VEHICLE like insurance higher, LOAN INTEREST HIGHER. The Car only 14,823 miles, I spoke to SALESMANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP and Requested Refund but He did not have resolve to Me and keeping quiet until now.IF MY WHOLE FAMILY DIE FROM SUBARU CORPORATION FROM THEIR TECHNOLOGY ERROR,WHO WILL RETURN OUR LIFE? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

9/8/2025

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.

11/10/2025