2020 Subaru Ascent other reported problems

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I am submitting this complaint regarding a known exhaust manifold/flex pipe failure affecting my 2020 Subaru Ascent Touring (VIN: [XXX] ). My vehicle was diagnosed by a Subaru dealership with a “broken flex pipe on the header” causing excessive exhaust noise and exhaust leak concerns. Repair estimate was slightly over $2,000. After researching the issue, I discovered numerous reports from other Subaru Ascent owners describing identical failures involving cracked exhaust manifold welds and failed flex pipe sections. Subaru has also issued TSB 09-106-23 involving exhaust manifold weld cracking and redesigned replacement components for this issue. Symptoms began in the low 70,000-mile range and progressively worsened before formal diagnosis at approximately 83,000 miles. This appears to be a widespread defect involving emissions/exhaust components. Many owners online report loud cold-start exhaust noise, cracked manifold welds, failed flex pipe sections, exhaust fumes/smells, and expensive manifold replacement repairs. My concern is both the widespread nature of the defect and Subaru’s handling of complaints regarding the issue. Initially, Subaru denied assistance because the vehicle has a branded title. After documentation was provided showing federally mandated emissions-related coverage/extensions were active for this VIN regardless of title status, the denial basis changed to mileage. After explaining symptoms began prior to the mileage threshold, Subaru then cited lack of dealership service history after my ownership despite the vehicle being regularly maintained by a local mechanic. I am requesting NHTSA review whether this exhaust manifold/flex pipe defect represents a broader reliability and emissions-related defect trend affecting Subaru Ascent vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11739638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Water intrusion occurred inside the vehicle, resulting in extensive mold contamination throughout the interior, including the seats, front and rear carpets, and a child’s car seat. The source of the water intrusion has not been identified. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Subaru retailer, which confirmed in writing that water was present inside the vehicle and that mold was covering interior surfaces, including the child’s car seat. The only diagnostic test performed was a car wash to check for a sunroof leak, which did not replicate the issue. The retailer indicated that further diagnostic work would require significant interior disassembly and cleaning at the owner’s expense before the source of the leak can be determined. The manufacturer was contacted regarding this issue and declined assistance, citing “lack of required maintenance.” The specific maintenance and its relationship to the water intrusion have not been identified, and the source of the leak has not yet been diagnosed. The retailer also stated that technicians would not enter the vehicle due to the extent of the mold contamination. As a result, standard recall repairs have not been performed while the vehicle remains in this condition. A dealership technician also documented in a recorded inspection that water was present beneath the carpet, that the source of the leak could not be identified without further disassembly, and that the extent of mold contamination created an unsafe working environment. This condition creates a potential health and safety concern due to mold exposure inside the passenger cabin, particularly for a child occupant. In addition, excessive interior moisture has caused window fogging, which may impair visibility while driving. No warning lights or prior indicators were observed before the issue was discovered. The problem has been confirmed by a Subaru retailer. The vehicle remains available for inspection.

NHTSA complaint #11728801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Although the NHTSA form does not include a transmission category, this complaint concerns a critical transmission-related defect in my 2020 Subaru Ascent, which caused oil migration into the wiring harness and contamination of the Engine Control Module (ECM). This complaint concerns a critical transmission-related defect in my 2020 Subaru Ascent. The vehicle has been inoperable since June 2025 due to a failure of the transmission secondary pressure sensor. This failure caused oil to migrate into the wiring harness and ultimately contaminated the Engine Control Module (ECM), rendering the vehicle undrivable. Authorized Subaru dealership Huberger Subaru in Colorado Springs documented the following: - Replacement of the transmission secondary pressure sensor - Replacement of the engine wiring harness - Check engine light returned after repair - Confirmed oil contamination of the ECM Despite repeated repairs and part replacements, the vehicle remains out of service for over seven months, with no confirmed timeline for resolution. Subaru of America has not provided meaningful updates or a clear repair plan, and corporate representatives have failed to respond to emails and phone calls. The extended downtime and lack of repair constitute a safety concern, as the vehicle could fail while in use under certain conditions. Additionally, $400 was improperly withdrawn from my account in July 2025 for rental reimbursement during the warranty repair period and has not been refunded. I am seeking prompt resolution, including repair or replacement of the vehicle, reimbursement for the rental charge, and any appropriate actions from Subaru to address this safety-related defect.

NHTSA complaint #11714081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

i purchased this vehicle from Northwest Chevrolet in McKenna, Wa on [XXX] and they did not disclose to me that there were open recalls prior to my purchase. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11710309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Vehicle: 2020 Subaru Ascent Issue: Cold weather software glitch If you are operating an Ascent or possibly other Subarus with the CVT in temperatures below -20F be certain to have either a small wrench or the appropriate size socket to loosen the ground clamp on the battery ground cable with you so you can employ what I call the magic Windows fix wherin one completely de-powers the system and reboots it. With all the ridiculous interconnections, if the CVT temperature sensor thinks the tranny is too cold the cars operating system looses it mind and goes completely bonkers. Subaru obviously did no cold weather testing. We have had 2 failures in cold weather. It only happens at temperatures well below the-20F range. The first case happened last year while driving after being stopped for a couple of hours. Everything seemed normal and then suddenly several warning lights came on and all of the safety systems and the eyesight system shut down. The car ran and drove, but none of the associated systems would work. No traction control. No cruise control. Several other systems. The only solution was to disconnect the battery and get this rolling computer to reboot. This was a temporary fix as the condition repeated itself although the car was driveable but with none of the safety systems operational. This year we were out in cold weather, -25 to -32. We went to a place to have lunch and when I went to restart the car the app failed to do so. So I put on all my gear and went out to start it manually. It would not start and all the warning lights were on and the radiator fan was running full tilt at -25F with the car off. I tried twice to get it going by pulling the battery cable to get it to reboot. Evidently when this happens you must leave the battery disconnected long enough (about 5 minutes) for all the capacitors in the electronics to drain. Once restarted, the car drove normally but we did not shut it down for any reason for the rest of the day.

NHTSA complaint #11704751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Lug nut studs fail frequently. Have replaced 3. An additional failure identified today during routine tire rotation. Safety issue as wheel can separate from vehicle while driving.

NHTSA complaint #11627689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Driver side window malfunctions intermittently. When raining, slow to go down or up, also skips as it goes up and down.

NHTSA complaint #11614712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

There is a significant crack in the inside rear panel of my panoramic sunroof, and no apparent or visible point of impact. The crack is spreading and needs to be replaced or I fear the glass will shatter. There is no evidence of the crack on the exterior, only on the interior. Car is out of warranty but only has 23K miles and is 4 years old. Took the car to the dealership, and they wanted to charge $4000 to fix. Contacted Subaru of America and they refused to fix. Have been on many Ascent/Subaru forums online and it appears there are multiple complaints about these cracks.

NHTSA complaint #11610270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other/I am not sure

I have the Graco Turn2Me car seat installed rear facing on the driver's side of the middle row (captain's chairs) of my vehicle. The car seat is installed with the seat belt due to my daughter's weight (36 pounds, so we were not able to use the latch). The car seat has been adjusted to the appropriate recline based on the installation method and weight of my child. There is an appropriate amount of space between the back of the driver's seat and the car seat itself. The car seat was installed by a CPST, following all rules of installation as laid out by both my vehicle manual and the car seat installation guide (graco). The issue is that despite the perfect installation, over time (meaning a few trips), the base of the car seat becomes loose as the child gets in and out of the car seat. The car seat is then no longer securely installed in the car. This particular model rotates, so that the child can be easily loaded and harnessed into the car seat while facing outwards. While the seat is facing outwards, it also tips backwards, essentially lifting a majority of the base off of the base of the seat of the car. I have reinstalled this car seat several times following all guidelines, and despite an initially correct install, within a few trips the base becomes loose and the entire car seat is tilted. Based on a quick internet search, this is a very common problem with this make and model car seat, especially when installed using the seat belt, rear facing. I do not feel that it is at all safe for my child to be in this car seat and it should be recalled immediately by Graco. No parent should have to uninstall/reinstall a car seat in a car after a few trips because it is coming lose. Photos attached show how tilted the car seat has become in the car (despite initially being installed securely). For some reason I was unable to upload videos but can share those as well showing how loose the base has become despite a proper install.

NHTSA complaint #11591483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Unknown

NHTSA complaint #11587535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Possible Transmission issue. The transmission was replaced in February by University Subaru in Columbia, Missouri. I have made a second appointment as the vehicle is still having the same issue shifting gears or going uphill. During a drive where there was a small incline of 10 degrees when the vehicle somewhat jumped or as if it skipped a beat. I had stopped in traffic and when the other cars started to move, I started to drive forward, and the car jumped. A gap in the acceleration. I am scheduled to take it in on the [XXX] of April. I will follow-up with you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11582487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CVT transmission skips in high gear and shudders randomly while driving down the road. Randy Marion in Hickory NC is where we purchased and replaced the rear transfer clutch and insists the problem has been corrected. It is not. Our regular mechanic and Moderna Subaru of Boone NC both agree the transmission is bad. It has been sitting at the dealership for 2 months while all parties argue over who is responsible for repair. (Original selling dealership, Subaru of America, 3rd party warranty) meanwhile I have no car but am expected to make payments. There are no warning lights or indicatator lamps to show an issue which is even more scary. I do not feel safe driving the vehicle without repair as the stutter and slipping between gears can cause hesitation that could cause an accident or worse. We did not test drive the vehicle at high gear and that was our mistake, but I drove it on a trip 2 days after purchasing and it had transmission issues the entire time. Dropped back off at dealership Monday morning and have been dealing with headaches since then.

NHTSA complaint #11558771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The driver door window gasket cracked and is hanging loose inside the door, letting air to get air while the vehicle is in operation. I would expect this after 10 years of use, but the vehicle is about 3 years old.

NHTSA complaint #11533447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The car has a blue smoke from tail pipe * oil smell when turned on and last for 20 seconds

NHTSA complaint #11532912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The hood shakes alot. I've taken it in a couple of times. They say it's in the design. I fear that the hood is going to come up some day and cause an accident. It lifts and shakes to the side. Even a passenger noticed it and was scared after seeing it. I'm stuck with the car, but am afraid when on the road. I bought it brand new. Have had it almost 4byears. Only have 27,000 miles on it. I'm afraid to drive it!

NHTSA complaint #11530066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Drive chain could compromised but there is lack of parts to fix issue which could prove costly to the transmission. Need to know what I can do to fix before it becomes a problem.

NHTSA complaint #11499057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The car drains the battery prematurely overnight

NHTSA complaint #11491707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Battery life issue

NHTSA complaint #11486908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Since purchasing our 2020 Subaru Ascent, the transmission slips, resulting in a lengthy wait time until it revs to the next gear, and then there is a palpable "jolt" as the transmission appears to move into the next gear. In addition, when I press the gas pedal to accelerate, there is a definite hesitation before the car actually accelerates. Previously, we had brought the car in to the Subaru dealership for service regarding this issue, but Subaru indicated that there has not been a problem and they did not open the transmission to look at it. We are also concerned about transmission-related problems given the recent recall of the 2020 Subaru Ascent. We know this has a CVT transmission but in this case we know that this problem is not normal. (We have family members and friends with CVT transmissions.) We are bringing the 2020 Subaru Ascent in again this week, pointedly indicating these concerns with the transmission. Please advise.

NHTSA complaint #11483888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Pretty much from day 1, Ascent smells of gasoline in the cabin after parking the car either inside or outside, shade or shine, hot or cold, day or night, flat or not surface.. after having parked it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a quick trip or a long one, it can still happen after parking. Fumes come out of the vents up front. The concerning part is we have a toddler, which I suspect the NHTSA would have an issue breathing in hydrocarbons, let alone any passenger. It doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does it lasts a solid five minutes or so. Mentioned to Subaru at time of CVT recall, not even mentioned they checked it out on my paperwork. I even waited to say anything until our car was broken in and all possible lube/other off-gassing components to stabilize.

NHTSA complaint #11480174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The windshield is fragile- there have been 2 broken windshields in the last 3 months- one from a minor ding and one that is not confirmed as to why the crack started (dealer says a ding- we did not hear or see a ding prior to the crack popping into place as we were driving). In both cases the cracks extended to over 50% of the windshield rapidly and suddenly while driving. The sudden nature and force/sound of the cracking causes distracted driving and creates panic in the car. Both windshields have been replace so inspection is not available. The problem has been reported to the dealer and replaced by the dealer. There were no symptoms or warning of the cracks- I have never seen windshields be destroyed so easily.

NHTSA complaint #11473354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I was informed of the recall of my 2020 Ascent and my Subaru dealership gave me a 2021 Ascent loaner car. but it is going on 2 months and no information when my car will be fixed. At this point time I don't want my car anymore if they CAN'T FIX IT.

NHTSA complaint #11472122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

It has been six months and I have not received any communication from Subaru since the recall was announced. Submitting a complaint that the known recall has not been addressed in a timely manner.

NHTSA complaint #11469163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

When the fan is on there is a strong smell of gasoline in the vehicle. This happens whether the vehicle is in motion OR is idling. The smell of gas fumes is very noticible if the fan for the heater/ac is pulling air from outside the vehicle. When the fan system is re-ciruclating the air from just the cabin, there is no smell. This is a very noticble smell and we have to drive with our windows open. My children are not able to be in this vehicle due to this smell. This is our family vehicle and daily driver. I have to drive this vehicle to work. This vehicle we have called about to multiple dealerships. They want to charge us over $300 dollars, but no one has ever heard of anything like this according to the dealers. The online forums say a completely different story. No warning lights or messages have happened. There has been no change to my gas mileage. We are current on all maintence. We have replaced the cabin and engine air filters, and we have replaced the gas cap to see if this would make a difference. It has not. There is no gas leak to the ground that is noticeable. But there is a faint gas smell in the engine area when the vehicle is running.

NHTSA complaint #11467418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

First, we received the recall letter after the allowed deadline. We were told that the recall would be fixed by May from Subaru. The recall says it can cause an increase risk of a crash. We bought this car primarily due to their high safety rating as a way to transport our new born child. She is now two. We have minimized and avoided taking long trips on the car. But with summer coming up and no fix in place, I think this justifies "unable to repair in a reasonable amount of time". Currently I am fighting to get an alternate source of transportation. They initially agree to pay $50 for a rental. But with rental prices that only covered half. They do not offer a loaner. I am getting bounced back and forth between Ascent dealer and the subaru corporation. As of now, nothing has been done. We have a trip scheduled in a few weeks. We don't feel safe using this vehicle. What can be done to remediate this?

NHTSA complaint #11466087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My car did not start and the anti-theft light came on the dashboard (the one with the car and lock symbol). I know battery issues have been a known problem with my subaru model and i bought the car in oct 2019 so it's been less than 3 years. The battery should not be dying this quickly. I had to get a jump start to get the car on. After a few hours, i tried starting it again and it did not work. I was told I'd need to get my battery replaced.

NHTSA complaint #11464455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2020 Subaru Ascent that I purchased in November of 2019 had original brand new battery replaced in July of 2020 The “ new battery “ is now defective and car needs to be jump started. Defective battery or defective electrical system?

NHTSA complaint #11464108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The windshield spontaneously cracked, for no apparent reason. It was not hit by anything. The car was sitting still and the windshield just cracked. I have babied this car. It only has 15,000 miles on it, kept in a garage, no ice or snow build up, rarely driven in bad weather.

NHTSA complaint #11455785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Recall ID 21V-955 affecting the drive chain. Vehicle is showing signs of this (vibrations while driving). My families safety, two toddlers ages 2 and 4 are at risk. I am not comfortable driving this vehicle and it is my only car. Dealership cannot do anything as there are no parts to fix it. I need an immediate fix which is not happening.

NHTSA complaint #11453450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.