2024 Subaru Ascent

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 identified, and the problem has not been reproduced. I have continued driving the vehicle since and remain concerned this could happen again, since no cause has been confirmed or ruled out. The vehicle is available for further inspection if needed.

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.

While using CarPlay, it acts as if it disconnects the call, but still shows on my phone screen. It has happened numerous times, and I have found that if I switch it to phone and back to CarPlay it will work again. It has not been a solution to the problem as it only works for that one time. I believe that makes having the handsfree options pointless if I have to figure out what is happening while I am driving and talking on the phone with CarPlay.

The wireless car play phone connection randomly drops and is a known issue with Subaru. This a potential safety issue due to dropping calls mid calls that are hands free and encourage the driver to grab the mobile phone change it from air play to phone and then back to air play to fix it. Or take it off car option requiring the drivers attention to be diverted. Also this issue drops the navigation embedded into the radio unit on the car which could again create a safety issue distracting drivers and causing accidents. This needs to be addressed immediately and Subaru has no fix available.