Problems · NHTSA complaints

2024 Subaru Ascent problems

Owners filed 51 complaints about the 2024 Subaru Ascent with NHTSA between Apr 2024 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is visibility (23).

Complaints
51
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Visibility23
  2. Visibility/wiper8
  3. Forward collision avoidance4
  4. Electrical system4
  5. Back over prevention3
  6. Power train3
  7. Steering3
  8. Wheels3
  9. Tires2
  10. Engine2
  11. Vehicle speed control2
  12. Suspension1
  13. Structure1
  14. Seats1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
202426
202516
20269

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Visibility

23 reports
“Driver's side mirror vibration on uneven road or at highway speeds makes visibility in mirror difficult. This has been the case since purchasing the vehicle in November 2024. Have had most recent Subaru service bulletin on mirror performed by dealer (on 8/8/25), but the problem remains.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 15, 2025VisibilityODI 11681000

Visibility/wiper

8 reports
“While pulling up to a drive thru window the vehicle shuddered and the engine shut off. I lost all power steering and had to come to a stop, shift into park, then restart the engine. No check engine lights or warnings illuminated. There were no status messages to indicate what caused it to shut off. Also the driver side mirror shakes a lot, just like all the other reports say.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 28, 2026Power train, Engine, Visibility/wiperODI 11740740

Forward collision avoidance

4 reports3 crashes
“THIS VEHICLE WAS REVERSING, DETECTED AN OBSTACLE AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING, IT ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AND THEN CAUSED ME TO TRAVELTHROUGH THE FRONT YARD OF MY HOUSE. EVEN THOUGH THE REVERSE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM DETECTED THE OBJECT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I THEN PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND CONTROLLED THE VEHICLE SO IT WOULDN'T HIT ANYONE ON THE STREET OR MY HOUSE. THIS DID CAUSE A COLLISION IN MY FRONT YARD WITH A GAS LAMP POST AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT MY HOUSE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE RAB DETECTING SYSTEM THAT FAILED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 28, 2026Back over prevention, Forward collision avoidanceCrash reportedODI 11760245

Electrical system

4 reports1 crash
“While driving, shortly after starting the trip (after traveling approximately a quarter mile), I felt what seemed like a bite or an electric shock on my left ankle, at floor level. I immediately pulled over and stopped the vehicle. My sock had a burn/hole in it, and I sustained three distinct marks on my ankle. There were no dashboard warning lights on before, during, or after the incident. This startled me while I was actively driving and could have caused a loss of vehicle control, particularly if it had occurred at higher speed or in traffic. The vehicle has since been inspected twice: once by the selling dealer's service department, and once by the manufacturer's own field specialists, including a full diagnostic scan, a road test, and a physical inspection of interior wiring, including the footwell area near where the incident occurred. Both inspections found no electrical faults, no damaged wiring, and no diagnostic trouble codes related to the concern. The vehicle's Event Data Recorder (airbag control module) was also downloaded and showed no recorded event for the date of the incident. Despite these findings, the cause of the injury has not been…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 26, 2026Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11759770

Back over prevention

3 reports2 crashes
“When driving below 5 mph—forward or reverse—with the rear passenger door fully open, the only alert is a small “door ajar” icon on the dash. This icon is the same drawing, whether the door is completely open or semi-latched, so the driver has no way to know the extent of the hazard. Without an additional warning, an fully open door can strike pedestrians, poles, garage, or other vehicles, and any passenger seated beside it is needlessly exposed to injury.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 10, 2025Unknown or other, Back over prevention, Forward collision avoidanceCrash reportedODI 11698561

Power train

3 reports
“While cruising on a 2-lane road or a freeway, the vehicle will cross over the adjacent line, either left or right. This generally happens between 50 to 75 mph. The event happens either when cruise control is on or off. Wind is not necessarily the problem. The solution requires one to take the necessary immediate steering correction. At times, the departure from the lanes may repeat. This may be a temporary correction. This may create a head-on collision if not immediately correctly manually. VERY DISTURBING!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 16, 2026Steering, Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 11738307
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.