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Torque News reported last week, Subaru's newest SUV, the Ascent, makes the Consumer Reports 10 Least Reliable Cars list and lost their recommendation due to reliability issues. CR says the Ascent 3-Row SUV initially had average reliability, but recent transmission problems, sometimes requiring a replacement, have lowered its reliability score.
Here is everything we know about the Ascent family hauler. Subaru has had recalls on the 2019 Ascent for transmission issues and a defective PCV valve that could cause engine failure. Subaru also issued a recall for Ascent's driveshaft bolts that could loosen.
The 3-Row SUV was also recalled because of possible missing spot welds on, or around, the B-pillar, compromising vehicle strength. The recalled models could not be fixed and were destroyed. A Subaru spokesperson said they only sold nine Ascents to customers with this problem. The rest were still sitting on dealers' lots or in transit when the Japanese automaker discovered the issue.
The Subaru Ascent is also one of the models under investigation for a defective fuel pump, a Denso supplier issue, that affects other automakers. Subaru recalled 2019 Ascent models to replace the faulty fuel pumps.
According to the Car Complaints website, the 2019 Ascent's three main problems are that the open tailgate drains the battery (average mileage 2,650 miles), the windshield cracks easily (average mileage 1,500 miles), and the SUV fails to start (average mileage 15,650 miles).
Consumer Reports says the 3-Row SUV also had two separate service campaigns for the suspension and climate system issues. All problems reported are for the 2019 model year, as are the recalls.
Does Subaru have reliability problems?
The Subaru brand makes reliable cars, according to the new study from Consumer Reports. Out of twenty-six automakers in the U.S. market, Subaru scores number eight overall, dropping from number seven previously. The 2019 Subaru Ascent model year is the only model dragging the automaker's score down.
Should SUV shoppers stay away from the 2021 Subaru Ascent?
The Subaru Ascent was an all-new model for the 2019 model year, and as with many new cars, there are "bugs" to work out. It's a problem affecting many automakers when they launch an all-new model. Subaru does cover the Ascent model's issues under its new car warranty (basic coverage is three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first). The powertrain coverage for its cars is five years or 60,000 miles.
Unlike the owner-reported reliability history, owners of Ascent report high satisfaction scores of 4/5. And the 3-Row SUV does well in Consumer Reports Road Tests with a 93/100 score. CR gives the new 2021 models a predicted owner satisfaction score of 4/5.
The 2019 Subaru Ascent had more problems than any other model in the automaker's lineup, but there have been no significant issues with the 2020 Subaru Ascent models. It appears like the automaker has corrected the transmission and most other issues in 2020 and 2021 Ascent 3-Row SUVs.
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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Comments
Our 2019 Subaru Outback has
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Our 2019 Subaru Outback has the tailgate/battery issue. Twice we left the tailgate open for an extended period of time and drained the battery. NO OTHER LIGHT WERE ON AND NO OTHER DOORS WERE OPEN. We checked thoroughly each time.
Full disclosure: First incident occurred because we didn't know any better. Second one, we got distracted and forgot we had it open.
Yes there was (few) issues
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Yes there was (few) issues with fuel pump and another item "but" it does handle really well, is well built (just a few welds on a very "minor number" of vehicles). But all were corrected very early. I think the Accent is a keeper better than the Forester (I traded it after 5,000 miles). I bet you thought my 94 Chevrolet Classic was a dud. It has 204,000 miles and runs well (80+ miles an hour on interstate safely). I would buy an accent over the other comparable models and did. I test drove them all. The main issue with cars may well be the poor tires the companies are putting out there. Thanks.
We have a 2020 Ascent and it
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We have a 2020 Ascent and it is plagued with electrical gremlins. Nothing is constant, just periodical problems, which, of course, can't be fixed. The gremlins have impacted on all the different electrical areas including the safety features (like the car stops and blares a warning that something is behind me...and there isn't anything even close!) . I really liked the car until gremlins attacked...and, no, I didn't feed them after midnight!
We have a 2020 Ascent and it
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We have a 2020 Ascent and it is plagued with electrical gremlins. Nothing is constant, just periodical problems, which, of course, can't be fixed. The gremlins have impacted on all the different electrical areas including the safety features (like the car stops and blares a warning that something is behind me...and there isn't anything even close!) . I really liked the car until gremlins attacked...and, no, I didn't feed them after midnight!
We purchased a 2019 Ascent
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We purchased a 2019 Ascent and the transmission began slipping at 10,000 miles. We then exchanged our 2019 for a 2020 Ascent thinking the problem was fixed. Now our 2020 Ascents transmission is slipping with only 13,000 miles. We're going to trade it in and bite the bullet. After three Subaru's we'll never purchase from them again.
You exchanged? How did that
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In reply to We purchased a 2019 Ascent by M Buder (not verified)
You exchanged? How did that work?
We are in the process of
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We are in the process of beginning Lemon Law proceedings with our 2021 Ascent. What a bummer! Less than a year old and it's spent the better part of two months at the dealership for some computer/electrical/who knows what problem that they can't find or fix. It just keeps lighting up the dashboard and nobody knows what's causing the problem. This is it's 6th visit in two months for the same issue. We're done. Our lawyer was just sent over all of our paperwork this morning.
It's the gas cap. It must
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In reply to We are in the process of by Nicola (not verified)
It's the gas cap. It must click. This happened yo my aunt.
Nope, it was nothing to do
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In reply to It's the gas cap. It must by Chicago (not verified)
Nope, it was nothing to do with the gas cap. That's what they said on visit number one. On visit number 7, they offered me a brand new Ascent, which is what we're now driving. They never did figure it out.
I purchased a 2019 Ascent and
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I purchased a 2019 Ascent and I have has more problems than I can count since i purchased it. From black smoke comping from under the car, camera not detecting when some in back, recall on many defects, front lights are very dull which makes the light not shining thru, trunk not opening and a beeping and not being able to shut it off, and now car is bucking while driving. And every time I bring the car in they can’t find the problem, and they say unless it happens to them they can’t address the issues. I don’t know wha to do at this point.
Buy a Lexus you will be very
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Buy a Lexus you will be very happy!
I just purchased my 2019
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I just purchased my 2019 asent and its at about 68,000 miles. anything i should do to prepare or prevent what may come?