The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at approximately 75 MPH, a deer ran across the highway and hit the left driver's side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. A grayish smoke began to emit from the vehicle as the contact's wife immediately pulled off to th…
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The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at approximately 75 MPH, a deer ran across the highway and hit the left driver's side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. A grayish smoke began to emit from the vehicle as the contact's wife immediately pulled off to the side of the road. Due to the damaged cause by the impact of the deer, the contact's wife had difficulty exiting the vehicle. The contact's wife used excessive force to open a crack in the door, which was enough to slide herself out of the vehicle. The vehicle became engulfed in flames soon after exiting the vehicle, and the authorities were called to the scene. The fire department arrived at the scene and managed to extinguish the fire. The contact's wife sustained bruising to her left shoulder, left leg, and left arm but did not seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was initially towed to an independent tow yard and was later towed to an insurance holding facility. The contact stated that the vehicle was destroyed as a result of the fire, but the insurance adjuster had yet to determine a final ruling on the vehicle. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had yet been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA ODI #11726659
37,097 miles · Mar 29, 2023
Air Bags
The contact's wife owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that the front passenger’s seat air bag sensor would intermittently fail to recognize his granddaughter seated in the passenger’s seat. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the air bag switch was recalibrated; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was…
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The contact's wife owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that the front passenger’s seat air bag sensor would intermittently fail to recognize his granddaughter seated in the passenger’s seat. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the air bag switch was recalibrated; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 37,097.
NHTSA ODI #11514366
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2022
Air Bags
My fiancé and I driving down my driveway when I noticed my dogs were out, I stopped the car, put in park and got out, closing the door behind me. Unbeknownst to me the driver side impact airbag deployed causing my fiancé to loose hearing temporarily and obviously leaving her in shock. Corporate Subaru Of America did a 4 month in…
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My fiancé and I driving down my driveway when I noticed my dogs were out, I stopped the car, put in park and got out, closing the door behind me. Unbeknownst to me the driver side impact airbag deployed causing my fiancé to loose hearing temporarily and obviously leaving her in shock. Corporate Subaru Of America did a 4 month investigation and told us we had to have shift a foreign object in the door (which we did not). We asked for a report on what happened and they refused. We asked for them to put in writing the exact words they used when they called us and verbally told us their findings and they refused that as well. My thought is if they have nothing to hide then why can’t we have in writing the exact same thing they told us over the phone.
NHTSA ODI #11479018
Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2021
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2019 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT NO AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED AND SOS EMERGENCY DID NOT WORK. 4 PERSONS WERE INJURED IN THE IMPACT WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2019 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT NO AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED AND SOS EMERGENCY DID NOT WORK. 4 PERSONS WERE INJURED IN THE IMPACT WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INSURANCE LOT, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BEING TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *DT*JB*DT CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS MULTIPLE FAILURES.*JB*JB*JB
NHTSA ODI #11398525
17,500 miles · Jan 9, 2020
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS REAR-ENDED REALLY BAD AT 35+ SPEED OF RESPONSIBLE PARTY, WHILE I WAS AT FULL STOP. IMPACT TOTALED MY VEHICLE, BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SUBSEQUENTLY, I HIT A STEERING WHEEL WITH MY FOREHEAD AND SUFFERED ONLY A CONCUSSION, LUCKILY.
NHTSA ODI #11298159
1,000 miles · Nov 12, 2019
Air Bags
INTERMITTENTLY, APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE TIME, A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT TRIGGER THE AIR BAG SIGNAL TO "ON". WHEN THIS STATE OCCURS, IT PERSISTS THROUGH THE PASSENGER EXITING THE VEHICLE AND RE-ENTERING AND THROUGH THE CAR BEING TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM MAY GO AWAY HOURS LATER …
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INTERMITTENTLY, APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE TIME, A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT TRIGGER THE AIR BAG SIGNAL TO "ON". WHEN THIS STATE OCCURS, IT PERSISTS THROUGH THE PASSENGER EXITING THE VEHICLE AND RE-ENTERING AND THROUGH THE CAR BEING TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM MAY GO AWAY HOURS LATER OR THE NEXT DAY WHEN WE RESTART THE CAR. WE HAVE NOT WITNESSED THE AIR BAG SUDDENLY ENABLING MID-RIDE AND WE HAVE NEVER SEEN THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED. THE PASSENGER IS A FULL-SIZED WOMAN. HER CLOTHING IS TYPICALLY DRY AND THERE IS NO CELL PHONE ON THE SEAT. (WE ARE AWARE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS THAT MOISTURE AND ELECTRONICS CAN AFFECT THE SENSOR FOR THE ODS ON SUBARU VEHICLES). WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE CURRENT CASES UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN THE SUBARU FORESTER. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO OUR SUBARU DEALER (MICHAEL'S SUBARU OF BELLEVUE). WE HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR THIS FOUR TIMES IN TOTAL, AND IT HAS STAYED AT THEIR FACILITY FOR A WEEK TWICE. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THEY WILL VERIFY THAT ON ONE OF THE VISITS THE SENSOR WAS IN THE INCORRECT STATE (NOT ENABLED) WHEN WE BROUGHT IN THE VEHICLE AND THEY READ THE CODE. THEY ALSO SAW THAT THE PASSENGER EXITING AND RE-ENTERING THE VEHICLE DID NOT ENABLE THE AIR BAG, NOR DID TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON AGAIN.
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 & remedy
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 27, 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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ascent vehicles. The ground bolt that secures the ground terminal of the Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater may have been improperly fastened, which could result in melting of the ground terminal and surrounding components.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A melting ground terminal increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicle away from structures and to avoid leaving the vehicle unattended while the engine is running. An owner who notices or smells smoke coming from the dash or driver's footwell area should immediately stop operating the vehicle and turn the ignition switch to the "Off" position. Dealers will replace the PTC heater ground bolts and if necessary, replace the ground wire and the connector holder, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 6, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRL-22.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 19, 2022. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855. Vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall once available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-21.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:driveline:chain/belt
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
Consequence: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 19, 2022. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855. Vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall once available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-21.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
Consequence: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 19, 2022. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855. Vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall once available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-21.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-20.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. The transmission hydraulic sensor may inaccurately measure the hydraulic fluid pressure.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the fluid pressure is measured higher than its actual value, the hydraulic pressure will be reduced. If this occurs, the transmission drive chain may not have the proper tension, resulting in a loss of drive power and an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control unit. The hydraulic sensor harness will be replaced on vehicles with certain stored diagnostic trouble codes. In addition, any vehicle confirmed to have experienced low drive chain tension will have the transmission assembly will be replaced. All repairs will be free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUV-07.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the short block engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUW-08.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, possibly resulting in the front portion of the driveshaft disconnecting.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the front end of the driveshaft separates, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft assembly, including the center support brace, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUI-94.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Subaru Ascent vehicles. These vehicles may be missing spot welds on, or around, the B-Pillar, compromising vehicle strength.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash, the missing spot welds may compromise the vehicle's strength, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle to check for missing spot welds. If the welds are missing, the vehicle will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTU-80.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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