2019 Subaru Ascent Body & structure Problems

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Accent. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the hood was shaking and vibrating abnormally. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that an unknown adjustment was needed. Additionally, the shocks were replaced, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the hinges were fractured. The contact was informed that the hinges needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11762249

Incident

Jun 19, 2024

Mileage

60,000 mi

Immediately after pushing the lift gate release button on the dash, a loud and constant alarm tone began. The gate would then not open using the button on the dash, remote, or handle on the exterior of the lift gate door. To access the items in the rear (and to stop the alarm), we needed to get the door open. We followed the owner's manual exactly to access the internal emergency release. We removed the plastic cover for the gear unit, then used a screwdriver to manually move the release to the right. Despite every amount of pressure we tried, including adding pressure by pushing down on the gate from the outside with one person while another tried the release procedure, the gate would not open. We ended up looking on YouTube, and found a video that this is not uncommon - and that the solution is to disconnect the battery or to remove fuse #14 on the fuse panel. With tremendous effort and using a pair of pliers, we finally removed the fuse. The alarm stopped but the gate (and other parts of the electrical system) were now off. We replaced the fuse and the door returned to normal function and opened using the handle on the lift gate. This is a tremendous safety issue. First, there is no easy way to open the gate manually from the interior in the case of an emergency (removing the safety cover and the use of a screwdriver or similar tool is required). Second, this emergency process failed completely, as the gate couldn't be opened at all using the manual release.

NHTSA ID

11758028

Incident

Aug 6, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while driving at 35MPH, the struts were impacted hard which caused the vehicle to shake the dashboard. No warning lights as illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they could not diagnose the failure and would not take apart the vehicle to inspect the strut. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but refused to let the dealer work on the vehicle but offered to give 6,000 dollars on the new vehicle because the vehicle was nonrepairable. The failure mileage was approximately 39,634.

NHTSA ID

11539164

Incident

Oct 4, 2022

Mileage

39,634 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that the front passenger’s and driver’s side doors were difficult to open due to large gaps in the doors caused by improper welding. The contact also stated that an abnormal line had formed on the moonroof without incident while the vehicle was stationary. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V508000 (Structure) which she linked to the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and stated that the cause of the failure was due to human error. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 30,920.

NHTSA ID

11531770

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

Mileage

30,920 mi

I am currently replacing my 3rd front windshield in 11 months on my 2019 Subaru Ascent (First 8.19.21, Second: 4.15.22; Third was replaced 7.5.22) from a simple rock chip. Within minutes of occurring the chip leads to significant cracking and the inability to navigate safely. It is my understanding that a class-action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Subaru Ascent owners due to this very issue. It is my understanding Subaru is aware of their windshields being designed at an angle making them susceptible to frequent breaking.

NHTSA ID

11472419

Incident

Jun 12, 2022

Rear lift-gate (power tailgate hatch) emits an audible constant tone, and will not open. The car can be in park, off, or driving and will not stop the audible tone and the lift gate remains locked closed. You can not unlock the lift-gate by using the door mounted unlock, the rear lift-gate button or by key fob. No matter what the lift-gate will remain in a locked and fixed state. The only (temporary) fix is to manually disconnect the battery terminals and "reset" the car. No warning lights are displayed, dealership is unable to "find" a trouble code or fix. This is an ongoing problem, occurring with intermittent frequency. This is certainly a safety issue, as a rear occupant can be trapped in case of an emergency.

NHTSA ID

11445721

Incident

Dec 30, 2021

2019 Subaru Ascent purchased new. Auto has about 25,000 miles on it now. When driving at highway speeds the hood vibrates and shakes especially when there is a crosswind. This will damage the latch and cause the hood to fly open when driving at this speed which cold be dangerous. Called two Subaru dealers and they say that is normal. I have owned several cars and this is not normal.

NHTSA ID

11445366

Incident

Dec 28, 2021

MY WINDSHIELD WAS HIT BY SOME SOFT, SMALL DEBRIS AND CRACKED. I LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH A LOT OF OWNERS THEREFORE WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. WHILE IT HAPPENE

NHTSA ID

11396578

Incident

Jan 3, 2021

Mileage

21,000 mi

WHEN THE CAR IDLES FOR EVEN SHORT PERIODS OF TIME (5 MINUTES) THE INSIDE OF THE CAR WILL START TO SMELL LIKE FUMES (EXHAUST TYPE SMELL). THIS HAPPENS IN ANY ENVIRONMENT (PARKING LOT, OUR DRIVEWAY, RURAL AREA) WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND STILL RUNNING. RARELY HAVE I SMELLED THE FUMES UPON STARTING THE CAR, ALTHOUGH IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN EVERY SEASON AND WITH THE CAR BLOWING OUT WARM, NEUTRAL, AND AIR CONDITIONED AIR. THIS WAS NOTICED VERY SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME THEY WERE ABLE TO DETECT THE SMELL BUT FOUND NO PROBLEM TO CORRECT. THE OTHER TWO TIMES THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO REPLICATE THE SMELL EVEN AFTER LEAVING IT ON FOR AN HOUR. I CAN ELICIT THE SMELL EVERY TIME IF I LET IT RUN FOR A FEW MINUTES WHILE PARKED. OTHERS APPEAR TO BE HAVING THIS ISSUE AS WELL AND ARE BEING TOLD THE SAME THING BY THEIR DEALERSHIPS. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS MY CHILDREN MAY BE AFFECTED WHEN THEY ARE IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11323121

Incident

Apr 20, 2020

Mileage

15,000 mi

THE HOOD OF THE CAR POPPED UP TWICE WHEN DRIVING INTO A HEAD WIND ON THE HIGHWAY. IT SUDDENLY POPS UP AN INCH OR TWO AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO OPEN. THIS HAPPENED ON OUR FIRST TRIP ON THE INTERSTATE. I TOOK IT IN - THE DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG - AND ADJUSTED THE BUMPERS. THE NEXT TRIP DRIVING 65 INTO A CROSS WIND IT POPPED UP AGAIN. WE HAD TO STOP BOTH TIMES TO CLOSE THE HOOD AND WERE RELIEVED IT DID NOT COME ALL THE WAY UP. I WONDER IF THE LATCH IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THE DESIGN TO HANDLE A STRONG WIND. *TR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO WITHDRAW COMPLAINT STATING THAT THE LATCH DID NOT COME UNDONE. THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE FLEXED UP AFETR BEING BLOWN BY STRONG WIND. *JS

NHTSA ID

11320467

Incident

Mar 21, 2020

Mileage

5,000 mi

TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH WHEN A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF OUR CAR AND WE HIT IT WITH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE CRUSHING THE FRONT END. ALL AIR BAGS IMMEDIATELY DEPLOYED AND THE FRONT END BEGAN SMOKING PROFUSELY. WITHIN MINUTES OF GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE IT BURST INTO FLAMES AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BURNED UP. CONCERNED THAT THESE VEHICLES WILL BURST INTO FLAMES DURING A FRONT END COLLISION AT HIGH SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID

11282852

Incident

Nov 22, 2019

Mileage

21,300 mi

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE SET, THE REAR DOORS CAN NOT BE OPEN FROM THE REAR DOOR HANDLE. THE CHILD PROOF LOCK IS NOT SET. YOU HAVE TO PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE FRONT DOORS SO THE REAR PAX CAN EXIT. TO ME THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IN AN EMERGENCY WHEN EVERYONE NEEDS TO EXIT QUICKLY, ONE HAS TO REMEMBER TO UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM THE FRONT DOOR UNLOCK SWITCH TO LET THE REAR PAX OUT. SUBARU TELLS ME THAT IT'S NORMAL, AND I THINK IT SHOULD NOT BE NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. THE DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY ONCE THE VEHICLE STARTS MOVING. I PUT TODAYS DATE AS WHEN THIS HAPPENS SINCE THERE IS NO "ALL THE TIME".

NHTSA ID

11171179

Incident

Jan 21, 2019

Mileage

10 mi