2024 Subaru Ascent

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.

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.

I am submitting this complaint regarding the original-equipment Falken ZIEX ZE001 A/S 245/50R20 tires installed on two separate 2024 Subaru Ascents owned by my family. The vehicles were purchased approximately one month apart and are operated under similar New England driving conditions. Both vehicles were equipped with identical factory-installed Falken tires. Beginning at relatively low mileage, both vehicles exhibited substantially similar wet-weather traction concerns, including hydroplaning tendencies and reduced traction during rain. As tread depth decreased, traction in snow, slush, and icy conditions also deteriorated significantly. Both vehicles experienced loss-of-traction events during winter driving conditions, including incidents in which the vehicles slid off the roadway. The concerns were reported to Falken Tire and Subaru of America. Falken advised that the tires were manufactured to Subaru's original-equipment specifications and directed me to Subaru regarding my concerns. One of the vehicles ultimately received replacement tires through a Subaru retailer. The original Falken tires were replaced with General AltiMAX RT45 tires. Following replacement, the concerns were improved. The second vehicle remains equipped with the original Falken tires. At approximately 13,000 miles, the tires measure approximately between 2&3/32 inch tread depth and continue to exhibit the same traction concerns. Because two separate vehicles equipped with the same original-equipment tires have exhibited substantially similar wet-weather and winter-weather traction issues, and because replacement of the tires corrected the concern on one vehicle, I believe this matter warrants review from a vehicle safety perspective.

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.

I am a current lessee of a 2024 Subaru Ascent. I leased this vehicle starting July 27, 2024. My lease ends on July 27, 2027. I live 60 miles away from the dealership and only did a test drive around town. The minute I got on the freeway after leaving the dealership the night I leased the vehicle, I noticed the drivers side mirror heavily vibrated and I remember thinking how strange it was to have the headlights from the cars behind me look so shaky in the mirror. I took the car to the service department on August 9, 2024 where they logged a "driveability diagnostic" and "MPI." My reason for that appointment was the side mirror vibrations. It is bad during the day, but not as noticeable and very distracting when driving at night. I was told by the service member that they were "aware" of this issue and had seen it "a few other times." They "fixed" it but the vibrations continue to this day. I'm filing this complaint now as I have become aware of a class action lawsuit against Subaru for this very issue and I want to document my vehicle as one that was affected and ignored.

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!

On 9-May, 2026, the vehicle was driven during the morning with no warning lights or indication of component failure. Vehicle was parked on the owner's driveway at approximately 13:00. Approximately 15:40 I started the Ascent’s engine, let it idle for about 60 seconds, buckled up and scanned dashboard and rearview mirror. No warning lights or any fault indication. Approximately 15:42, I put the vehicle in reverse and released the brake Approximately 15:42:30 the vehicle exited the driveway Approximately 15:43 there was a shudder on [XXX] (heading north); the dash lit up with multiple warning lights; the check engine warning illuminated and the ATOIL Temp warning light engaged. At this time, the vehicle rolled down a hill, un-commanded, and only with repeated pumping of the brake did the vehicle stop. Approximately 15:49 I was able to park the vehicle, engaging the hazard flashers and exited the vehicle. While no one was injured in this instance, had this happened on a highway there would have been insurance losses and potential injuries. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My 2024 Subaru Ascent developed a recurring clunk/thump noise from the steering system during low-speed turning (10–15 mph) and when turning the wheel at a stop. The noise was present daily and worsened over time. I took the vehicle to two Subaru dealerships. Sterling Subaru dismissed the steering noise completely and stated they could not duplicate it. Dulles Subaru also initially dismissed the issue. Only when I returned to pick up the vehicle and insisted on demonstrating the noise did their technician acknowledge it. They compared my vehicle to another Ascent on the lot and confirmed the noise was abnormal. Dulles then replaced the steering gear box assembly (steering rack) under warranty. This confirms there was a mechanical defect in the steering system. Before this repair, I also reported excessive inner-edge wear on both front tires. The technician documented “excessive wear on both front inner tires” and recommended replacing all four tires and performing an alignment. Inner-edge wear on both front tires is not caused by lack of rotation—it is consistent with misalignment or steering geometry deviation, which matches the confirmed steering defect. Subaru America has refused to replace the damaged tires even though the tire manufacturer (Falken) stated in writing that irregular wear caused by a mechanical defect is the vehicle manufacturer’s responsibility. Safety concern: A defective steering rack caused abnormal steering behavior and front-end geometry issues, which led to rapid inner-edge tire wear. If unnoticed, this can result in loss of steering control or a tire failure at highway speeds. Both dealerships initially dismissing the issue is also concerning. I am filing this report so NHTSA can track potential steering-related defects and resulting tire safety issues on the 2024 Subaru Ascent. I can provide service records, photos, and Subaru correspondence upon request.