2023 Subaru Ascent problems
The Subaru Ascent is a mid-size crossover SUV produced by Subaru. In some markets, it is sold as the Subaru Evoltis. It is the largest automobile Subaru manufactures. The seven or eight-seat passenger SUV, with the design based on the VIZIV-7 concept, made its debut at the LA Auto Show on November 28, 2017. The Ascent became available in the third quarter of 2018. Like its American-built predecessor, the Tribeca, the Ascent is not available in Japan.
History
The Ascent was originally introduced as a concept car at the 2017 New York International Auto Show in April, where it was also announced that Subaru would be producing the vehicle at its Lafayette, Indiana Subaru of Indiana Assembly Plant. Production began in late 2017 alongside the current Subaru Impreza. It was to be the flagship Subaru vehicle in North America, and replace the Subaru Tribeca (previously the B9 Tribeca), which was discontinued after the 2014 model year. Subaru Japan had their own three-row crossover called the Subaru Exiga that was available from 2008 until its discontinuation in 2018. In terms of exterior design, it was akin to a 3-row Outback as is the Ascent to the Forester.
The first spy photographs of Subaru Ascent development mules surfaced in late summer 2016. Although the Ascent was spotted testing in 2017 with an expected mid-2017 on-market date, the sale date was pushed back to early summer 2018.
Subaru initially announced the Ascent would be sold in the Philippines as the Evoltis starting from 2020. Its release was delayed numerous times owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, and eventually was introduced in the Philippines in May 2021. Only the Touring model is available. The Evoltis name is also used in Israel and several South American markets. Although some sources reported the Evoltis name would be used for the first battery electric vehicle sold by Subaru, that vehicle, which was co-developed with Toyota, was announced in September 2021 as the Subaru Solterra instead.
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Common 2023 Subaru Ascent problems
Based on the complaints from owners of the 2023 Subaru Ascent, several common problems have been reported:
- Service Brakes: Some owners have experienced noisy braking systems, which could indicate underlying issues with the braking components. Noisy brakes can affect the driving experience and may point to potential safety hazards if not addressed promptly.
- Wheels: Complaints regarding wheels on the 2023 Subaru Ascent have been raised by owners. While specific details are not provided, issues related to wheels can encompass concerns such as alignment problems, tire pressure issues, or even structural defects that affect the vehicle's performance and safety.
These reported problems with the 2023 Subaru Ascent highlight potential areas of concern for owners. Addressing these issues promptly and ensuring proper maintenance can help maintain the safety, performance, and reliability of the vehicle.
What are the downsides of a Subaru Ascent?
A list of some of the most common issues Ascent owners have to deal with.
- Denso Fuel Pump Failure. The impellers inside of Denso branded fuel pumps may have been excessively exposed to a drying agent during manufacturing. ...
- CAN System Parasitic Drain on the Battery. ...
- Cracked Windshields. ...
- Subaru EyeSight Problems.
Does Subaru Ascent have reliability issues?
The 2023 Subaru Ascent has a predicted reliability score of 81 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.
Does Subaru Ascent have transmission problems?
Subaru's 2022 Ascent SUV has been experiencing transmission problems that have led to multiple complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The complaints range from shuddering when accelerating from a stop to transmission slipping and lunging forward.
Is the Subaru Ascent expensive to maintain?
Subaru Ascent Maintenance
Maintenance and repair costs for a Subaru Ascent will amount to $2,198 after 5 years. Expenses include scheduled maintenance, normal wear and tear items and expected repairs. These estimates exclude any free warranty work performed.
What is the most common problem with the Subaru Ascent?
Those from the 2019 to 2021 model years are rumored to spontaneously crack this is one of of the most frequent structural issues with the SUV. According to the nhtsa.
Does Subaru Ascent have CVT problems?
Common Subaru Ascent CVT Issues
The most commonly reported CVT issues in Subaru Ascent include: Shuddering or Jerking: This occurs when the CVT is in use, and the car starts to shake or jerk.
Is Subaru Ascent a reliable car?
The 2023 Subaru Ascent has a predicted reliability score of 81 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.
Who are the competitors of the Subaru Ascent 2023?
2023 Subaru Ascent
The Subaru suite of Driver-Assist Features along with top IIHS Safety Ratings put the Ascent above competitors like Acura MDX, BMW X5, Infiniti QX60 and the Audi Q7. 75.6 cubic feet of cargo room allows you to haul more than these and the Lexus GX460.
2023 Subaru Ascent car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Subaru Ascent problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Service brakes problems
- Visibility/wiper problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Air bags problems
- Tires problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2023 Subaru Ascent vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 2023 Subaru Ascent
The NHTSA has received 27 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2023 Subaru Ascent. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 2023 Subaru Ascent vehicles.
2024-09-15
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-14
- VIN: 4S4WMAWD5P3
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: 2023 Subaru Ascent Touring. Front windshield easily cracked from minor rock strikes 3 times within 20 months. Replacement with Subarus OEM glasses twice already within 3 months. Now a new crack needs repair or potential replacement. Defective windshield that cannot withhold minor impact is clearly serious safety concern, increased stress on owner and burden on insurance, and impact to vehicle structural integrity for repeated replacements, and depreciation of vehicle value.
2024-09-10
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-10
- VIN: 4S4WMAWD3P3
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: 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
2024-09-02
AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-28
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 4S4WMAWD0P3
- Components: AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: There was a SUDDEN and UNINTENDED acceleration without the driver input while braking to park going approximately 1 - 2 MPH. Our safety was at risk. The vehicle was not in our control. A police report was generated. Rather than stopping we crashed into the apartment building causing significant damage to both the apartment and our vehicle. There were no warnings, no automatic braking to avoid the collision, the air bags did not deploy. The total damages are still being determined by the dealer and insurance company.
2024-08-22
AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-04
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 4S4WMASD0P3
- Components: AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: unknown defects in some vehicles that could cause sudden and unintended acceleration without driver input Yes, our safety was at risk. The vehicle was clearly not in our control. A police report was generated. The car plowed through the garage no control to brake The damages are being inspected by insurance. There were no waring lights that I could see
2024-08-12
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-08
- VIN: 4S4WMAED2P3
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Windshield is delicate and very easily chipped. Windshield has three different chips from 4000 miles of paved road driving. Small chips have quickly spread into long cracks across the windshield.
2024-05-23
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-12
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- VIN: 4S4WMAND9P3
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: 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.
2024-01-30
SEATS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-10-07
- VIN: 4S4WMAED8P3
- Components: SEATS
- Summary: The heated seats do not heat. They are luke warm and you can barely feel any heat. I took the vehicle to my local Subaru dealer and they determined there was no issue. Was told the seats are not suppose to get hot. So what is the point of heated seats then? There are several online groups for Subaru where owner discuss issues with their vehicles and give advice. There are many customers who are complaining about the same thing. (Seat being luke warm). Then there are other customers who say their seats get super hot on the same model vehicle. I contacted Subaru of America, told them about the issue and the complaints in the online groups about the issue. They only advised me to go to a different dealer and be retested. Obviously in certain vehicles the heated seats are defective because some people say they are super hot and some say they barely get warm. I just can't get anyone at Subaru to admin there is an issue and take corrective action. I am ok with you inspecting the vehicle. no warming lights on indicating a problem. The vehicle was bought new October 2023 and the seats have always been this way. I feel that the seats are defective in some manner and that alone is a safety risk. All that energy that is suppose to be heating the seats and isn't has to be going somewhere and could lead to a fire or electrical shock.
2024-01-30
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-10-07
- VIN: 4S4WMAED8P3
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: 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.
2024-01-28
SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-25
- VIN: 4S4WMAKD6P3
- Components: SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: The auto brakes are not accurate because it triggers them in unsafe situations.
2024-01-03
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-01
- VIN: 4S4WMAWD7P3
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: Brakes have been replaced once and serviced once afterwards. The vehicle now needs the brakes serviced again. This will be the third time taking the vehicle in for this problem. I am unsure if the vehicle is safe to drive. The only trip I am now planning is back to the dealership to have the brakes done. Again.
2023-11-29
LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-02
- VIN: 4S4WMAWD6P3
- Components: LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: Subaru Eyesight will turn off randomly while driving or while parked (turn the vehicle off, unlock the door, sit for a minute or two and when restarting the vehicle, eyesight indicator is orange - off. Example - getting fuel at a full service gas station. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection. Our safety is put at risk. Once Eyesight is off it will not reset/restart, so you are driving without the number one Subaru safety feature. We can reproduce the error. The Dealer just looked at the codes and said it was normal operation. We reported the error to Subaru Customer care and we have a case number. Subaru Customer care is going to contact the Dealer. There is a small red "i" indicator light in the dash that will light up after Eyesight fails. There are no warnings of the failure. We understand rain, snow and fog will impact Eyesight. We had a 2020 Subaru that Eyesight only shutdown when expected (heavy rain, snow, fog) and would restart once we were in the clear, but now we are told that sunlight and windshield condensation affects Eyesight's functionality. We were also told by Customer care that the cameras where changed on the 2023 Ascent model.
2023-11-21
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-11-18
- VIN: 4S4WMAUD7P3
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: Tire blew out at 70 mph on interstate with no warning and no debris on roadway. (245/50R20). Police officer aided us after we changed the spare to re-enter interstate safely due to high traffic speed. Beginning of a road trip so bought a new tire when we found a town & shop disposed of destroyed tire though we do have a photo. Heavy traffic and difficult to get to shoulder safely as vehicle began fishtailing as we maneuvered onto the gravel shoulder. Extremely frightening. Had to put spare on next to cars flying by just next to the rear passenger tire that blew. Vehicle only 3 months old and with less than 10k miles.
2023-10-28
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-10-22
- VIN: 4S4WMAWD7P3
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: Right around the 10,000 mile mark I started noticing a shake when braking. I was pretty concerned about this as the car only has the mentioned 10,000 miles. I took it to the dealership where I bought the car. They were able to fix the problem by replacing the rotors and break pads. I was informed that the rotors were warped and had hot spots. The vehicle no longer shakes when braking, but I’m worried that it will happen again in another 10k miles. It may be an issue with the size of the brakes compared to the weight of the vehicle. This causes the rotors to heat up more than intended which leads to warping and hot spots.
2023-09-12
WHEELS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-08-15
- VIN: 4S4WMAED4P3
- Components: WHEELS
- Summary: I have owned the car new since July 1, 2023. About a month into ownership the TPMS light came on. My wife was close to a tire shop so they checked all the pressures and all were fine. The light started coming on with regularity, any drive over about 25 miles would trigger it 99% of the time and it would reset shortly. Took to dealer they saw the faults in memory but did not know why they were being set. Cleared and reset the modules. The light was back a few days later and then on September 10 and 11 was on full time so I set an appointment. By the time I got the dealer the light had cleared. they found similar codes but they were not useful. The dealer wanted me to agree to pay for diagnostics if the "warranty company" turned down the claim. The warranty company being Subaru of America. I declined to pay for a safety issue being diagnosed on a brand new car. I have notified Subaru of America of my concern and have not received a response at this time. Looking at the Subaru forums on-line it appears that this TPMS issue is quite widespread. It is also apparent that Subaru is not willing to fix its safety issues without my agreeing to pay as well.
2023-07-22
WHEELS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-07-16
- VIN: 4S4WMARD7P3
- Components: WHEELS
- Summary: On 7/16/2023 I was driving my 2023 Subaru Ascent on I-95 when the tire PSI warning alerted me to low tire pressure on my rear driver side tire (Falken 245/50/R20 - tires were on the vehicle when purchased in April 2023). I immediately turned on my hazard lights, lessened my speed, and carefully made my way to the shoulder hoping to exit the highway for assistance. The tire pressure dropped from 34 to 0 in a matter of seconds (I watched the PSI monitor in the dash display). I barely made it to the shoulder. A AAA technician [XXX] from A-Z Towing) changed my tire and noted that the tire may be defective after inspecting the tire, given the sidewall damage and no other obvious tire damage to cause the flat and that I had less than 4k miles on the vehicle. Internet searches yielded a recall for my exact vehicle and tires, my exact experience with sudden loss of tire pressure; yet my VIN was not included in the recall. I am concerned that the recall is not expansive enough and there may be other vehicles with defective tires driving unaware because their VIN was not identified. The recall may need to be more expansive and inclusive. I have an appointment with Subaru Hunt Valley today and have been in contact with Subaru of America - case [XXX] . Thus far, Subaru is not acknowledging my experience as part of the recall. I am fearful to drive my new car in that I worry the other three tires will rupture spontaneously. This is not the safety I expected when purchasing a new Subaru. I was on I-95 traveling at 55mph in the rain in the second from left lane when the tire PSI alert sounded. Thankfully, I acted immediately out of an abundance of caution and concern, since there was no reason for my tire to suddenly lose pressure it was alarming. I could have caused an accident and have been severely injured. I do not feel safe driving my vehicle knowing it has three other tires susceptible to the same issue. (Also filed complaint as to tires.) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2023-07-22
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-07-16
- VIN: 4S4WMARD7P3
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: On 7/16/2023 I was driving my 2023 Subaru Ascent on I-95 when the tire PSI warning alerted me to low tire pressure on my rear driver side tire (Falken 245/50/R20 - tires were on the vehicle when purchased in April 2023). I immediately turned on my hazard lights, lessened my speed, and carefully made my way to the shoulder hoping to exit the highway for assistance. The tire pressure dropped from 34 to 0 in a matter of seconds (I watched the PSI monitor in the dash display). I barely made it to the shoulder. A AAA technician [XXX] A-Z Towing) changed my tire and noted that the tire may be defective after inspecting the tire, given the sidewall damage and no other obvious tire damage to cause the flat and that I had less than 4k miles on the vehicle. Internet searches yielded a recall for my exact vehicle and tires, my exact experience with sudden loss of tire pressure; yet my VIN was not included in the recall. I am concerned that the recall is not expansive enough and there may be other vehicles with defective tires driving unaware because their VIN was not identified. The recall may need to be more expansive and inclusive. I have an appointment with Subaru Hunt Valley today and have been in contact with Subaru of America - case #[XXX] s far, Subaru is not acknowledging my experience as part of the recall. I am fearful to drive my new car in that I worry the other three tires will rupture spontaneously. This is not the safety I expected when purchasing a new Subaru. I was on I-95 traveling at 55mph in the rain in the second from left lane when the tire PSI alert sounded. Thankfully, I acted immediately out of an abundance of caution and concern, since there was no reason for my tire to suddenly lose pressure it was alarming. I could have caused an accident and have been severely injured. I do not feel safe driving my vehicle knowing it has three other tires susceptible to the same issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2023-07-12
SEATS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-06-28
- VIN: 4S4WMAWD1P3
- Components: SEATS
- Summary: Front passenger seat in Subaru Ascents do not have means of raising and lowering seat height. Consequently, shorter passengers are faced with either sitting very low in front passenger seat or having to use a pillow or cushion to raise them up on seat. Not sure how this can affect front passenger safety, but it is certainly something worthy of investigating. Subaru said that this feature is not available on their Ascents, but is available on their smaller and less expensive Outbacks.
2023-07-04
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-07-04
- VIN: 4S4WMAWD1P3
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: The windshield on my Subaru Ascent is prone to cracking, vehicle of less than 3,000 miles has a 3in crack in windshield putting our safety and the safety of others at risk.
2023-06-13
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-06-01
- VIN: 4S4WMARD7P3
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: The brake pedal is too high for people of average height, especially women, to use properly. Our feet slip underneath the brake when using it. When our heels are on the floor, our toes barely touch the brake pedal, and going from the gas to brake pedals smoothly is impossible with our heels on the car floor. Holding our right legs up above the floor causes extreme hip pain, as well as inaccuracy when transferring between the gas and brake pedals. The fact that the brake pedal is so far forward of the gas pedal also causes inaccuracy when switching from gas to brake. My shoes have gotten caught on the brake pedal many times in the transition, costing me valuable time in depressing the brake. I contacted the Subaru dealership and they said the entire brake pedal and arm would have to be replaced and they didn’t know how to do that. I would have paid for it. I contact Subaru Corporate and they left me a voicemail but then didn’t answer any of the times I called back. I am having to get hand controls installed in order to drive safely. It’s costing thousands. Subaru needs to acknowledge this is a huge problem and change the design of its brake pedal going forward, as well as offer replacement brake pedals for those of us who already own Ascents. Please see the Subaru Ascent Forum for others’ complaints. Thank you.
2023-06-10
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-04-04
- VIN: 4S4WMAWD2P3
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: (1) PASSENGER seat airbag status light has been and still is intermittent. This fact is documented with dated pics attached. (4/4/23 and 8/6/23) (2) When the passenger airbag light is off, the airbag will not deploy putting my wife at serious risk. (She is the usual occupant at 98 lbs and 5ft 3inch) (3) Problem/issue has been observed and confirmed by local dealer. (4) Manufacturer has been advised of the issue and three attempts at resolution. (calibrating, seat bottom replacement, and software updating), see attached last service report. Note comment: "V E H I C L E I S PERFORMING AS DESIGNED" (5) There are no other warnings, messages, or symptoms other than the light intermittency. (6) Additionally, we drove a loaner car from dealer while problem resolution was attempted. See pic dated June 5. This vehicle showed similar behavior with airbag light. Draw your own conclusions.
2023-06-03
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-26
- VIN: 4S4WMAUD2P3
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
- Summary: Only 3500 miles on new 2023 Subaru ASCENT and it won"t start. I have had to give it a boost four times already, anytime I need to use it. I check to make sure there are no lights left on. Just staying parked from one day to the next and it won"t start. I have an appointment at the dealer service dept. at 1:45 pm o June 5th, 2023, for them to hopefully resolve the problem. I'll have to give it boost to start the car and drive 125 miles to the dealer. Hope the car makes it there. On your website, the 2019, 2020and 2021 models had a recall for the battery draining because of faulty wiring. We would think the manufacture Sabaru would have taken care of this problem on the newer models.
2023-05-15
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-12
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 4S4WMAKD8P3
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: I attempted to make a U-turn with the steering wheel fully turned to the left. When I accelerated, the car took off and went straight into the curb. It did so by “plowing” or what is referred to as severely undesteering - which forced the front right face of the wheel into the curb, breaking the wheel off. The vehicle continued accelerating for another 50 feet (as can be seen in the photographs) when the engine gradually and audibly died down and came to a stop. The brakes were no longer functioning properly at that time while sinking to the floor as they did immediately after the first impact. In the four months and 2300 miles that I’ve been driving that car, I’ve noticed surging a number of times during warm up and also while the CVT is “shifting.” I also constantly have to modulate the gas pedal to keep the vehicle at a consistent speed. RPMs drop and surge in an inconsistent manner. Also, when the wheel is turned completely to the left lock, (which is how my crash occurred) and upon acceleration, there is a bang/grinding sound from the front left axle. Lastly, I noticed at least one other incident where it seemed like the turbo would not disengage when lifting off the throttle. In other words, it lagged in response to the throttle by about two full seconds before the engine began decelerating.
2023-05-02
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-02
- VIN: 4S4WMAUD2P3
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: I own a Subaru 2023 Ascent ([XXX]) that I purchased in December 2022. Since I got the car, the car has been nothing but a headache and has been full of issues. The car was making a squeaking noise from the break from the day we got it. I took it to the dealer (within a month, 600 miles), and after a few times going to them, they suggested it had poor brake pads. As per their recommendation, the dealer changed the brake pads. After driving another 1000 miles, the bolt of calipers came off in the middle of the road, and the car started making stuttering noise. Luckily the breaks were still functioning, so I could drive back to the dealer. I took it back to the dealer, and they told me they could fix the car once and for all. After another 2000 miles today, the car brakes failed again when I dropped the kids. I almost hit the tree in front of me, but luckily no one got hurt. I called the roadside assistance as the car was undrivable. The dealer told us that a bolt of brakes came off on the driver's side. They are currently working on fixing the breaks. This incident has made us scared and questions the car's unreliability. This car is supposed to be the safest, and that was the reason we bought this in the first place. This incident has shocked us so much that we are scared of driving it, and it's prudent for us to return the car. We are looking for an immediate solution related to returning the car and giving us our full money back. Appreciate you looking into our issue. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
2023-02-16
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-02-16
- VIN: 4S4WMARDXP3
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: Falken ZIEX ZE001 A/S rear right tire. We were driving on the 14 freeway when suddenly the car began shaking and warning lights started going off. My husband kept the wheel steady and I saw our tire come off in a solid piece onto the freeway! We had not hit anything. We made it four lanes over to the right shoulder safely to see that we had no tire left! We waited for assistance and got the spare put on thank God as we had our child in car with us. We called our mechanic at Subaru and returned an hour to him to replace the tire. After several hours we drove past the same spot and the tire that had come Off was laying completely intact on the shoulder of freeway. No obvious cuts in it except it was off the wheel/rim. This is a brand new vehicle with just 2500 miles on it.
2023-02-10
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-01-22
- VIN: 4S4WMAUD5P3
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: Just bought my Ascent last 12/31/22. With less than 600 miles, while driving with my heater on, I noticed there was a crack on windshield lower center portion, about 5" in length. There was no object that hit the windshield that I saw or heard.
2023 Subaru Ascent recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 3 recalls for different components of the 2023 Subaru Ascent.
2023-09-21
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
- Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
- Consequence: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRN-23.
2023-06-01
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
- Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Ascent vehicles. The left or right front lower control arm may have an improperly tightened ball joint castle nut which can result in retention pin failure and separation of the ball joint from the lower control arm.
- Consequence: Ball joint separation while the vehicle is in motion can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the lower control arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 30, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRJ-23.
2023-04-07
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Ascent vehicles equipped with 20-inch wheels. The internal tire bead may have been damaged during the wheel mounting process.
- Consequence: A damaged tire may experience a sudden loss of air pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will replace all four tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 6, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-23.
Negative 2023 Subaru Ascent car reviews
Positive 2023 Subaru Ascent car reviews
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This is a fantastic vehicle for the price! It's comfortable, safe, refined, and has plenty of power. While it may not be suitable for off-road adventures, it handles well on rougher 'urban' terrain and snow. Plus, the all-wheel drive is simply awesome!
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It's great to see that you have chosen a vehicle that offers plenty of room, conveniences, and luxury style. It's a fantastic choice!
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I'm so glad to hear that you love your Ascent! It's great to have a car that you enjoy. I understand that you're having some trouble with the third row seat being a bit narrow. Have you considered any solutions for this issue? Overall, I'm happy to hear that you're enjoying your Ascent!
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I'm so glad to hear that you love the color, the way it rides, and all the safety features it has. It's great to know that there's plenty of room and plenty of luxury features too!
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Chose between Volvo XC90 and Ascent. We had an XC90 before that we loved. It was a great road car and handled rough roads in Big Bend National Park. However, we may already love the Subaru more.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2023 Subaru Ascent problems:
Anyone had major issues on their 2023 Ascent so far? : r ...
https://www.reddit.com/r/SubaruAscent/comments/14gecli/anyone_had_major_issues_on_their_2023_ascent_so/
Jun 22, 2023 ... We just bought a 2023 Subaru ascent as well. I also liked it better than the competitors. From what I'm reading, they've worked out a lot of ...
Subaru Ascent Complaints, Issues And Problems | Subaru Ascent ...
https://www.ascentforums.com/forums/subaru-ascent-complaints-issues-and-problems.137/
Subaru Ascent Complaints, Issues And Problems · 2023 Ascent - front end feels loose, drifting, lagging,pulling · 2019 Ascent P2751 · 2019 CVT Replacement Again.
Rant Post - 2023 Ascent Touring : r/SubaruAscent
https://www.reddit.com/r/SubaruAscent/comments/12m27o9/rant_post_2023_ascent_touring/
Apr 14, 2023 ... From your description of problems, it sounds like you want a top tier luxury car. Subaru makes quirky cars with optional premium levels and ...
2023 Ascent Brake Failure | Page 4 | Subaru Ascent Forum
https://www.ascentforums.com/threads/2023-ascent-brake-failure.19222/page-4
Jun 23, 2023 ... I've owned Subarus for decades and rode in them as family cars long before that. I also know how to diagnose car problems. When I say there's a ...
2023 Subaru Ascent Problems | Kelley Blue Book
https://www.kbb.com/subaru/ascent/2023/common-problems/
How reliable is the 2023 Subaru Ascent? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 months.
Other years of Subaru Ascent
Are you having problems with your 2023 Subaru Ascent?
Grayson Dietrich 2024-10-27
Hey there! I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying your 3 row SUV. It's great to know that it has decent power for an H-4 turbo of its size. Although, I understand that the CVT transmission might feel a bit weird and take some getting used to. Overall, it doesn't sound too bad at all!
Harold Bernier 2024-07-28
The 2023 Ascent Onyx Edition has not met our expectations in terms of fuel efficiency. Despite being advertised to have an average of 20-26 mpg, we have only been able to achieve a maximum of 18.7 mpg after several mindful trips. While the vehicle itself is nice and has great features, it is disappointing that it did not live up to its advertised fuel efficiency.
Kolby Gusikowski 2024-06-12
I made the mistake of trading in my reliable 2022 Outback Wilderness with 17700 miles for a 2023 Ascent. Unfortunately, the new vehicle has been experiencing issues from the start. Despite the dealership's attempts to diagnose and reset the system, the same problems persisted. I am disappointed with my decision to switch to the Ascent, but I am confident that the dealership will resolve the issue and provide me with a satisfactory solution. In the meantime, they have offered me a free rental car. I look forward to getting back on the road with a reliable vehicle.
Woodrow Schmitt 2024-01-12
The vehicle encountered was not up to the mark. The rear seats and engine design were of poor quality. The flat four engine had issues with oil leakage and seal holding. The seats were manual and not user-friendly. The cargo area was not spacious enough as claimed. The voice recognition and Tom Tom navigation system were not up to the mark. In comparison, the Audi system provided better alternate routes and warnings. The Subaru's success in the market is due to brilliant marketing and a loyal following. However, the vehicle itself is not up to the mark.