2020 Subaru Ascent: key fob or push-button start problems

Filed Jan 19, 2021 · Electrical · 15,000 miles · CA

I was parked curbside waiting for a food order with my two kids in the back. After about 5 minutes of the car being turned off while we were in the car, and once we got our food. I went to start up the car and it would no longer start. It's worth noting that the infotainment system stayed on since we were still in the car. And even with the push button, even when I tried to completely power down the car, the car would not turn off. Then when I tried to start the car again with the push button start, it would no longer start. But the car had plenty of voltage. I also couldn't get the dome lights to turn off and the infotainment system was still on. I couldn't power everything down so I could do a clean start from zero. When the parking lot security brought a booster pack, since the terminals and cables had no indication of positive and negative we didn't try to jump the car. We pressed the push button to try to start the car on it's own again and the lights would flash and there was a rapid ticking sound. We left it alone for another five minutes and it started right up.

Filed Oct 29, 2020 · Electrical · 5,000 miles · MT

I purchased my 2020 subaru ascent limited in october of 2019 and have experienced several discharges of my battery from the liftgate being open throughout the night, possibly from pocket-activation of my key fob. Luckily for me, this problem has occurred only in my garage, thus far. I have seen in several forums related to subaru outbacks and ascents that this appears to be a common problem and nobody, including me, seems to have gotten any satisfactory answers from any of the subaru representatives.

Filed Oct 23, 2020 · Electrical · TX

This is a brand new car. The battery drains overnight when the car is parked. The key fob is min 30feet away from the car. The battery has drained three times in the past 7 months and renders the car useless when you need it. I have made sure that the lights are off and nothing is left switched on and still the battery drains. There are several similar complaints from 2020 subaru ascent owners and it would be great if you can investigate this issue futher.

Filed Oct 20, 2020 · Electrical · 3,600 miles · CO

2 episodes of disabled 2020 subaru ascent touring in 4 months after purchasing it new. Currently only has 3600 miles on it. 1. Car would not start from stationary position because both my electronic key fobs were in the car at the same time. Towed to dealer. They found my 'missing' key fob. 2. Battery died while stationary, waiting at vet 25 min., listening to radio while car was otherwise 'off'. Only it did not die a clean death but continued a zombie existence: A/C came on and off at full speed, arbitrarily; actually could not shut down the car kept acting electrically crazy with various lights on dash coming on and off; 3. Could work the power windows while the battery was 'dead' , windows would go down but only came partway back up; for some 40 minutes we heard a beep in a morse code sort of irregular manner from interior rear aspect of car; dash would click from time arbitrarily, sounded like the click heard during cruise control when approaching a vehicle ahead, the 'adaptable' feature, or perhaps the click heard when switching from high beam to low beam lights. I don't feel I can rely on this car not dying. Very upset, and very disappointing.

Filed May 11, 2020 · Electrical · TX

In feb my car battery was dead in morning after sitting in garage turned off and no doors or lights on. I had it jumped and took it to the dealer and they tested battery and it was fine. The second time it happened a week later same scenario I took it in and they tested battery and said it was bad battery. So the dealer replaced it and it and it was fine. The third time now today it has happened again except this time my car was beeping at me like if the unlock key fob button had been hit but doing it every few seconds. So I went and found both key fobs and they weren't being depressed so I tried to unlock door myself with key fob and nothing happened and red light on fob blinked every time I touched it but I wouldn't hear anything happening with car so I tried to click tailgate button and nothing happened. So I then went to turn the car on and realized the battery was dead again. So we jumped it and let it run for twenty minutes and dealer wants us to take it back but they are saying they haven't heard if this issue when I search online it seems like this is a known issue.