2026 Subaru Ascent

The Subaru Ascent's Starlink system continuously collects GPS and other data, but lacks an official, simple method like a fuse pull or switch to fully disable it, unlike competitors such as GM OnStar....

Over-the-air (OTA) software updates for the 2024 Ascent arrive via email without specifying what changes or fixes they include, leaving owners uninformed about impacts.

Dealership Mode, needed for manual software updates on the Ascent, is difficult to enter despite following official TSB instructions like specific button sequences.

Subaru dealership service advisors often lack knowledge of available software updates for the Ascent, incorrectly assuring owners no updates exist despite notifications.

Subaru's privacy policy for connected services forces owners to accept changes or stop using the services entirely, with no opt-out option or guarantee of data deletion.

The Subaru Ascent's EyeSight Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Departure Warning systems aggressively steer or jerk the vehicle to keep it centered in the lane, often feeling intrusive or abrupt, especiall...

The Driver Mitigation System constantly beeps if the driver's eyes look away from the road or steering wheel for even half a second, creating excessive nagging during normal driving.

EyeSight safety system triggers sudden hard braking without any apparent obstacle or reason, and Driver Mitigation can slam brakes if attention is deemed insufficient.

The auto start-stop system, which shuts off the engine at stops to save fuel, cannot be permanently disabled and must be turned off manually every drive cycle.

The passenger seatbelt alarm chimes randomly even when the belt is buckled, requiring tricks like pulling on the belt to silence it.

The EyeSight safety suite randomly disables itself without any clear trigger or reason.

The Starlink Emergency Services indicator light remains stuck on red, signaling a persistent alert.

The dashboard suddenly lights up with multiple warning messages or alerts.

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System displays persistent error warnings.

The Ascent's 11.6-inch central touchscreen controls infotainment and climate functions but often freezes, lags, or requires multiple taps for simple tasks like adjusting temperature. Owners report slu...

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto frequently fail to connect, drop calls, mute microphones intermittently, or require full resets and hours-long vehicle shutdowns to reconnect. USB ports for the...

Climate controls are embedded in the touchscreen with touch-activated or hybrid software buttons instead of dedicated physical knobs and switches, making adjustments distracting and unreliable when th...

Paddle shifters require multiple manual gear drops to pass or accelerate and do not automatically downshift for on-ramps, with manual stick shifting unavailable in corners when the wheel is upside dow...

The keyfob has weak signal requiring it to be very close (within 10 feet) to unlock doors or tailgate.

The MySubaru app hides remote start two menus deep, requires saving a preset first, uses fixed 10-minute runtime, and confuses settings without assigning presets to the quick button.

Infotainment WiFi connection greys out software updates, fails with home mesh networks or CarPlay active, requires sky view for OTA, and is too slow for maps forcing USB fallback.

The 360-degree and backup cameras have low clarity, small displays due to multi-view splitting and vertical orientation, and the front camera view on the upper dash screen is too distant for drivers.

The infotainment tuning knob lacks scrolling through menus, settings, albums, or folders, forcing touchscreen slider use instead.

The MPG display resets itself frequently, preventing accurate lifetime fuel economy tracking.

The Subaru Ascent's over-the-air (OTA) software update feature downloads and installs updates to improve vehicle systems. Owners report that after a recent update on 2024 Touring models, numerous dash...

Subaru's Starlink connected services continue to track and use vehicle data even after owners call to unenroll. This persists despite attempts to opt out of the service.

Subaru's EyeSight driver assistance system permanently records data from cameras, ECU, and EyeSight upon detecting impacts. This data can be subpoenaed by law enforcement in accidents.

Insurance apps like State Farm's Drive Safe & Save track detailed driving behavior including speed, braking, cornering, locations, and distractions. Owners reject this as invasive privacy invasion.

Subaru's privacy policy applies to all vehicle occupants, including passengers, who consent to data collection simply by sitting in a connected Subaru vehicle.

Subaru sells personal information and shares it for cross-context behavioral advertising unless owners opt out.

DriverFocus uses a driver-facing camera to scan facial and eye biometrics for profiles and distraction detection, facing a class action lawsuit for privacy violations.

The MySubaru app allows the manufacturer to remotely access the 2026 Subaru Ascent for commands like remote start, lock/unlock doors, climate control, and vehicle location. It also collects data durin...

The Subaru Ascent's Starlink infotainment system, which controls the central display for navigation, media, and vehicle info, frequently freezes. Owners report this requires frequent restarts to resol...

The infotainment system in the Subaru Ascent often fails to connect reliably with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring features. This leads to disrupted navigation and media playback du...

The Starlink infotainment system in the Subaru Ascent suffers from crashes that halt functionality. Owners must frequently restart the system to regain control.

The vehicle's audio system abruptly cuts out with no warning. This affects music, calls, and other sound output unexpectedly.

The rear backup camera display freezes during reversing, accompanied by a long hissing sound from the speakers. This impairs visibility and safety when parking.

After a dealer battery upgrade, the main LED infotainment screen goes completely blank. This renders the display unusable until further service.

The audio system in 2022 Ascent Touring models activates itself without input. This causes unexpected noise during drives.

After an over-the-air (OTA) software update via the Data Communication Module (DCM), the 'Software update is initializing' screen remains stuck indefinitely. A USB update is needed to clear it.

Dealers require payment for Starlink connected services (like remote start and safety features) as part of the purchase deal. Owners report being charged $99 for three years despite not requesting it.

The built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot feature lacks visible settings or toggle in the infotainment menu despite an active AT&T trial plan.

Access to over-the-air (OTA) software update files requires a $36 subscription, limiting downloads to recent TSB documents only.

The MySubaru Quick Start app experiences problems with car locator functionality, a connected service feature.