2019 Subaru Ascent

On Friday, June 28th, we were driving the Ascent, towing our 4100 lb. camper from Tehachapi, CA, headed north toward Las Vegas. When we stopped for gas in Tehachapi, we checked all fluids including the oil. Then at about 86 miles outside of Las Vegas coming up a steep grade in hot conditions, we hear a noise that sounded like it could be valve flutter. We drove for another minute (there was no shoulder), and noted that no warning lights were on. Then we heard a louder knocking sound and saw the oil temp indicator start moving quickly to hot, and immediately pulled off onto the shoulder. After our tow to the Las Vegas Subaru dealer, it became apparent that the battery was also dead (this was the second battery replaced under warranty, and we have had to jump both batteries at least monthly over the last 2 years). Last Monday, June 14, Subaru notified us by phone on a recorded line that the investigation had concluded. They determined towing excessive weight to be the cause of the engine failure (thrown rod). We verified the make and model and registration of our camper with Subaru, which at a dry weight of 4134 pounds, is 100 lbs. less than the Airstream used in Subaru's promotional materials. We disclosed to Subaru that the camper has few miles on it and we tow with empty tanks and less than 100 pounds of cargo (2 adults and one toddler). We also told them that on our two prior trips towing, the transmission has revved frequently and it sounds like it can't find the right gear. Subaru has not provided us a copy of either inspection report, and we have been without the vehicle for nearly a month. We are asking Subaru to repair the engine under warranty (39k miles). This sudden failure put our family's safety at risk. We were forced to stop the car in the middle of a high-speed highway without safely moving to an exit- we waited in excessive heat, barely off the road in deep sand without a shoulder for an hour- we were almost hit by a semi truck as we braked.

Unknown. Electrical failures including eyesight, the dealers lie about the work they do, the latest was recent - they said sludge was everywhere which causes the timing to be off and said the entire engine needed to be replaced but refused to do so. I do not trust they were honest about the spot welds, as my VIN and contract were mysteriously changed after I took delivery. Battery dies, amp dies, head unit stops functioning for months at a time. Eyesight slams on brakes at last minute. I am told it’s normal to shut up and leave. For example the last time I took it in less than 30 days ago they said they changed the filters as well. They did not. According to them they owe me a new engine. I have Starlink and documents oil is changed by Subaru yet they claimed they had no record, and it is my fault so I need to replace engine.

ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON LAST WEEK MAY 5TH 2021 WHILE I WAS DRIVINGTHECARHONE AFTER DROPPING MY DAUGHTERTOSCHOOL. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISE TO TAKE THE CAR IN. AS I DROVE THE ENGINE STARTED TO LAG AND ICOULDNOTDRIVE MORE THAN 45MILES. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FOUND OUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. THIS CAR IS 2 1/2 YEARS OLD AND I'VE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. WHEN THE CVT WAS REPLACED THE CAR NEVER RUN THE SAME, I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. IT LAGS AND HESITATE DURIBG ACCELERATION. UNFORTUNATELY THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL. THEN THIS HAPPEN. I HAVE REPORTED THE ISSUE TO SUBARU OF AMERICA.

DARK GRAY-BLUE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST ON START-UP, LASTING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. LARGE PLUMES WITH STRONG NOXIOUS ODOR. SMOKE AND FUMES HAVE TRIGGERED SEVERAL SEVERE ASTHMA ATTACKS. NOTED ON MOST DAYS, SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL 2019. FUEL EFFICIENCY IS FAR LOWER THAN THE 21-27 MPG CLAIMED BY SUBARU. ACTUAL AVERAGE IS 14 MPG.

SEVERAL TIMES OUR 2019 SUBARU ASCENT BATTERY HAS DRAINED DOWN TO LOW LEVELS REQUIRING JUMP STARTS. THIS LAST TIME WAS THIS WINTER AND -15 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND WAS VERY DANGEROUS FOR HER. THE ALTERNATOR DOES NOT SEEM ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE LOAD. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IT SAT OVERNIGHT ON BOTH OCCASIONS.

CAR JUST DOESNT START AND NEEDS TO BE JUMPED RANDOMLY, YET DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT COULD FIND NO PROBELMS. ALSO WIERD LAGS, NOISES OCCURING WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAR IS TOO NEW AND HAS 18,000 MILES ON IT, SHOULDNT BE HAVING THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS. HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE PURCHASE 2019 AND 2020, MOST RECENT JAN 2021 BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP SERVICE LARRY MILLER SUBARU BOSIE ID.

THE ENGINE KEEPS STUTTERING WHEN DRIVING AND SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. COUPLE OF TIMES, IT SHOULD SHUT DOWN AND I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR. I DO ENSURE THE CAR IS WARMED UP TO A MINIMUM OF 7-10 MINUTES BEFORE STARTING. IT ONLY STARTED RECENTLY BUT I AM WORRIED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN MORE AND SUDDENLY STOP WHEN DRIVING AND ME GETTING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.

AT ONLY 17.6K MILES, THE BATTERY IN MY 2019 SUBARU ASCENT WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED OVERNIGHT, FOR NO LOGICAL REASON. I CALLED SUBARU ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO GIVE ME A JUMP AND I LET IT RUN FOR 33 MINUTES THEN TOOK IT FOR A 10 MIN DRIVE. THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN THE NEXT MORNING. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY OVERNIGHT AND UNTIL THE 10 MIN DRIVE. DURING THIS TIME THE TAILGATE WOULD PERSISTENTLY BEEP, TRYING TO OPEN.