What Is the Least Reliable Subaru?
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Although Subaru is one of the most reliable car brands on the market, they don’t always get everything perfect.
Thus, some of their cars contain reliability issues, such as issues with the transmission.
What Is the Least Reliable Subaru?
The least reliable Subaru is the 2019 Subaru Ascent. Customers complained of problems with the transmission and electrical system. Additionally, the car has even had seven recalls, some of which are quite serious and can increase the likelihood of an accident.
So, how dangerous are these issues? Is the 2019 Subaru Ascent a must-avoid? Keep reading to find out.
Why Is the 2019 Subaru Ascent Unreliable?
The 2019 Subaru Ascent is unreliable for a number of reasons, but the most common has to do with the transmission and electrical components.
One big complaint has to do with the transmission slipping, which occurs when the power from the engine doesn’t make it to the wheels.
Overall, people are usually happy with their new Subaru Ascent for the first 10,000 miles or so when they often begin to run into issues.
The main reason for the transmission slipping has to do with the vehicle not reading the hydraulic fluid pressure correctly.
When this problem happens, the pressure will reduce, which can cause the transmission’s drive chain not to have the correct amount of tension.
Finally, the car will lose power and begin to lose acceleration.
Another common issue is with the 2019 Subaru Ascent is that the open tailgate drains the battery, causing the car not to start.
2019 Subaru Ascent Recalls
So far, the 2019 Subaru Ascent has had seven recalls. Two of these recalls concerned the car’s transmission.
One problem is that the clutch may engage before the drive chain becomes taunt, which could possibly cause chain breakage.
The other issue has to do with the misreading of the hydraulic fluid pressure, which can cause a crash.
There were also two recalls that had to do with the fuel pump.
In this case, the low-pressure fuel pump may either fail or become inoperable.
The biggest problem here is that the car can stall while driving.
Another recall for the 2019 Subaru Ascent that has to do with a loss of power while driving concerns the aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve.
If the PCV valve separates, the components can enter the engine.
Meanwhile, the first two recalls warned customers about faulty driveshafts and problems around the B-Pillar.
Subaru claimed that the drive shaft’s support bolts could loosen or disconnect, causing the drive shaft’s front portion to come off.
Concurrently, there is also a possibility of the B-Pillar or surrounding area missing spot welds, making the vehicle’s body weaker than it would normally be.
Are All Subaru Ascent Models Unreliable?
No, Subaru is an overall reliable brand, and not all of their Ascents are unreliable. However, their reliability ratings tend to be rather average.
The 2019 Subaru Ascent was the first car that the manufacturer made in the Ascent line, and later models had many of the earlier problems solved.
2020 Subaru Ascent
For example, the 2020 Subaru Ascent only had three recalls, which again included the low-pressure field pump and issues with the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) affecting the drive chain. However, the only other major issue found for this year was that the tire rod ends might not fit properly, causing problems with steering control.
The 2020 Ascent also has a better electrical system, but the car still received a low-reliability rating from J.D. Power with only 2.5 out of five possible stars.
2021 Subaru Ascent
Overall, the 2021 Subaru Ascent is a big improvement over the earlier models, and it appears that Subaru has corrected the issues that plagued the 2019 and 2020 models.
The transmission, in particular, seems to work much better in the 2021 Ascent, and there are no recalls as of yet.
2022 Subaru Ascent
Since the 2022 Subaru Ascent is so new, it’s hard to tell how reliable it is.
However, as of now, customers seem to be quite happy with the 2022 Ascent, and it doesn’t seem to have the major issues of its predecessors.
Most Common User Complaints about the 2019 Subaru Ascent
Below is a list of the most common complaints that customers listed for the 2019 Subaru Ascent:
- The open tailgate drains the battery
- Malfunctions with power door locking
- Problems starting the vehicle
- Loss of radio presets
- Radio produces no sound
- Rough transmission shifting
- Constant battery replacements
- Wheel shakes and jerks
- Vibrating and shaking brakes, especially when reducing speed and climbing hills
You should know, though, that these issues do not affect every 2019 Subaru Ascent.
Some people have driven their 2019 Ascents since they were new, have not reported any problems, and are happy with their choice.
Is the 2019 Subaru Ascent Safe?
According to its IIHS rating, the 2019 Subaru Ascent is one of the safest cars of the year. The car scored well in areas such as crashworthiness, crash avoidance and mitigation, and child seat anchors.
In the case of an accident, the driver’s area stays safe without being crushed. Even the driver’s legs and feet, which the car can damage in a high-speed accident, stayed relatively safe during testing.
Also, the airbags worked well together to cushion the head and neck and keep these body parts away from outside objects or hard structures inside the car.
The passenger seats tested just as well.
The vehicle also has a good roof strength and can take a peek force of 21,302 pounds. Plus, the child seat anchors had top ratings as well.
Is the 2019 Subaru Ascent a Good Buy?
Whether or not the 2019 Subaru Ascent is a good buy depends on personal preference and what a person values most in a car.
As stated above, this car does have problems, but it also outperforms its competitors in other respects.
The 2019 Subaru Ascent is an affordable three-row vehicle with excellent safety features.
The standard model comes with lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and other characteristics that protect drivers.
The vehicle also has composed handling and tons of user-friendly features.
Additionally, the car handles well on rough terrain.
How Long Will a Subaru Ascent Last?
With proper care and maintenance, the Subaru Ascent should last for 200,000 to 250,000 miles.
However, since the Ascent is a relatively new car, only coming out in the last quarter of 2018, there are no reliable statistics on how long the car will last.
Yet, most Subarus do last for at least 200,000 miles.
If a person drives about the average mileage per year and takes proper care of their Ascent, they can expect it to last for about 15 years.
What is the Most Reliable Three-Row SUV?
The 2021 Kia Telluride is the most reliable SUV of the year.
This ranking comes from the fact that most owners of previous Telluride models say that their vehicle has lasted well compared to other vehicles.
The Telluride also has excellent features and received an above-average crash rating, meaning that the driver and passengers are unlikely to sustain severe injuries in a high-speed crash.