2023 Subaru ASCENT: complaints, problems and recalls

Windshield cracked more than 2 inches above the front windshield A/C vent while vehicle is in warm up process around outside temperature 30F. This car is only 3 weeks old with mileage w 240 at the cracked occurred.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11497511 at NHTSA ↗

Side passenger window spontaneously developed a crack about 10 inches long while sitting parked. The crack is located the direct line of sight of the side view mirror.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11500900 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11506622 at NHTSA ↗

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 h…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11507733 at NHTSA ↗

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 st…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11520151 at NHTSA ↗

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 …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11522102 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11525200 at NHTSA ↗

(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 rep…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11526358 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2023-04-07 (April 7, 2023)

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.

Reported: 2023-06-01 (June 1, 2023)

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.

Reported: 2023-09-21 (September 21, 2023)

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.

Reported: 2026-07-07 (July 7, 2026)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid, Forester, and 2019-2026 Ascent vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured with an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire selection and rims."

Consequence: An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Subaru will mail a new certification label to owners, free of charge. Owners may also choose to have a dealer install the new label, free of charge. Letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed August 24, 2026. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-26.