2019 Subaru Ascent

A crack appeared one morning on the drivers/middle of the windshield going from the bottom up about 8 inches then turning toward the drivers side. Took the car to the local Subaru dealer where the tech examined and at first could not locate a ding in the glass. He eventually used a ball point pen and ran it along the crack. Just behind the wiper he said he felt some resistance and that indicated a chip. He rubbed the pen tip aggressively over this point till there was some wear. I pointed out that not only was this behind the wiper but how could something so small that it took hard rubbing with the pen to provide "a source" for the crack cause the windshield to break. I suspect a defective windshield.

Driving from Tehachapi, CA toward Las Vegas towing our camper at about 45-50 mph, we started hearing a knocking that sounded like valve flutter. We drove for about 1 minute looking for a safe place to pull over, but then the knocking grew louder and the oil temp started to rise, so we immediately braked and pulled into the sand (no shoulder). There were no warning lights at any point until we actually pulled over (oil light). After the tow to Subaru Las Vegas, we noted that the battery was dead. On 6-14, Subaru of America told us on a recorded line that the two investigations had concluded and the cause was towing excessive weight. We shared our camper registration and specs with them, showing a dry weight of 4130 pounds, 100 less than the airstream used in Subaru's marketing materials (we tow with empty tanks and less than 100 lbs. of cargo. We also indicated to Subaru of Las Vegas and SOA that on our few previous trips with the camper, we noticed the Ascent revving hard on slight inclines and that it sounded like it struggled to find a gear towing. SOA has not shared a copy of either report. We are asking SOF to repair under the warranty (car has 39K miles). We will asked for the defective engine whenever we are able to pick up the vehicle. We spent over $1000 between towing, flights home from Vegas, renting a substitute vehicle, etc.. Most importantly, this sudden catastrophic failure could have killed us-the failure was so swift (the time from hearing the noise to being stationary was less than a minute and a half) and without warning that we didn't have time to react well and had to pull off into deep sand with no shoulder- a semi truck almost rear-ended us as we pulled over. Then we had to wait in the Mojave heat, arm's length away from traffic whizzing by with my toddler and puppy while the tow truck arrived. The Ascent is the vehicle we purchased to be able to evacuate our family from our wildfire-prone home, so every day we are without it poses risk.

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.

In March of 2020, I took the car into the dealership due to the multiple times I had to charge the car, their answer was I wasn’t driving the car enough. They charged the battery and told me I needed to drive the car at least 20 minutes every couple of days at 50mph+ in order to keep the battery charged. In August of 2020 I had just loaded up the car to go on a vacation and when I went to leave the house the car would not start. After charging the battery for 30 minutes in the garage it then started. Fast forward to June of 2021, I have had to charge the battery 4 more times in order for it to start. The last time was when we were leaving a campground in May, 2021, and the car wouldn’t start due to the battery. Fortunately the campground had a charger and got us back on the road.

On numerous occasions (probably 12-18 times) over the last 18 months our new Ascent will not start because of a dead battery. I have discussed this numerous times with the dealer, they have even performed tests on it but claim that it passes all tests so there is nothing they can do. No doors are being left open or lights on, yet every few weeks this problem occurs. My wife cannot take the car to the store without worrying about it not starting properly and having to get a jump from someone.

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.