2021 Subaru Ascent: lane keeping assist jerks the wheel

Filed Oct 31, 2026 · Driver assistance · ID · crash · 1 injury

2021 Subaru Ascent was involved in a serious collision with highway maintenance equipment near [XXX]. The vehicle's EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, specifically Adaptive Cruise Control and Pre-Collision Braking, is suspected of failing to respond appropriately to slower-moving equipment directly ahead. At the time of the collision, Adaptive Cruise Control was actively engaged and controlling vehicle speed. Lane Centering, Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Keep Assist were also enabled. The vehicle was traveling within its designated lane when it approached a highway maintenance truck equipped with a rear-mounted crash attenuator. The maintenance truck appeared to be moving slowly in the same lane. Despite Adaptive Cruise Control controlling vehicle speed, the Subaru did not adequately slow to avoid the collision. The driver reported no effective forward collision warning or automatic emergency braking intervention. Whether the system detected the equipment or attempted braking is UNKNOWN. The impact caused extensive front-end damage and airbag deployment. The driver was pregnant, and two children, ages [XXX] and [XXX], were passengers. All occupants and the unborn child were placed at significant risk of serious injury. Whether any EyeSight warnings, fault messages, or diagnostic trouble codes were present before impact is UNKNOWN. The suspected malfunction has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealership or independent service center. A manufacturer engineering inspection has not been confirmed. Photographs document the accident scene and vehicle damage. The extent of police or insurance technical inspections and the vehicle's current availability for inspection are UNKNOWN. An investigation is requested into Adaptive Cruise Control, forward object detection, and Pre-Collision Braking, including preservation and review of available electronic collision data to establish why the systems did not prevent or effectively mitigate the collision. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (F

Filed Jun 8, 2025 · Driver assistance · OR

The lane assist failed by over correcting while I have my hands on the steering wheel. It over corrects to the center lane when you are driving with normal behavior. This can cause a collision if it were to over correct while a car was there, this is also easily reproducible in my car.

Filed Nov 30, 2022 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · MO

Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assistance, Eye Sight, RAB, some ! Symbol, and check engine light are all on and not working. You know everything that makes a Subaru. This is not the first or even second time. We are on the fourth instance of this happening. We live 2+ hrs away from the closest dealers. The first few times it occurred, we called to make a appointment. Each time was always a few weeks out and the issue would clear a day or two before. This last time has been going on for 6 weeks. We both work full time and have a very sick kid so making a appointment is hard. This last time I asked if I can drop in just for a scan due to being in town for an appointment. Was met with we are backed up with way to many repairs. Also it would not be fair to any other people. It is most likely your gas cap. I have made sure the cap is tight as it can get every time from the first time it occurred. So all safety features on the Subaru Ascent just stop working if the cap is not tight. Not only is this a major safety issue their QA is asleep at the wheel. Known issue, just check the forums.

Filed May 3, 2022 · Driver assistance · CA

It is actually the lane centering system. Even a gentle hand on the wheel, which is required, will gradually pull you to one side of the lane. When ever you lift your hand or when the car thinks you have gone to far one way or the other it will throw you into the other lane, into a car, motorcycle, semi, or even off a cliff. This system is so dangerous I cant believe it hasnt been recalled. If using this you will get thrown one way or the other several times during most trips. Dealer states its normal and I got that in writing.

Filed Oct 27, 2021 · Driver assistance · NM

The lane keeping assist pull abruptly into the other traffic lane when traveling on the highway for example when on a 4 lane road with two lane in the same direcstion and passing a semi truck the steering assist abruptly pulls the car into the truck's lane and requires immediate hard handed reaction to keep the car from hitting the truck. The lane assist on this subaru vehicle is more dangerous than it is helpful. Subaru is terribly un response to request for help although the car is less than 1-year old and has a mult-year extended warranty---subaru's customer service is the worst we've experienced. BTW my son's Honda Acura's lane assist is excellent!

Filed Sep 15, 2021 · Driver assistance, Steering · KS

On several occasions while using the lane centering feature, vehicle has taken a sudden violent move to the left into the on coming lane. No warning lights illuminated. Problem hasn’t been replicated by dealer.

Filed May 14, 2021 · Driver assistance, Steering · 140 miles · CA

Lane assist with cruise control over corrects. On multiple occasions while on the freeway using cruise control the lane assist pulled me into the other lane into other vehicles. I have almost hit other vehicles. The pull is too strong and crosses lanes. If not fixed by subaru, accidents will occur.

Filed Apr 18, 2021 · Driver assistance · 1,500 miles · CA

Lane assist with cruise control over corrects. On multiple occasions while on the freeway using cruise control the lane assist pulled me into the other lane into other vehicles. I have almost hit two other vehicles. The pull is too strong and crosses lanes. I have to keep it off. Forward collision does not engage.

Filed Mar 18, 2021 · Driver assistance, Steering · 2,500 miles · NC

The 2021 ascent has lane centering assist with very strict margins. It is a constant tug of war with the vehicle when lane centering is active. When you let the car take over, it violently jerks you into the next lane. This problem has been cross checked with other users on a subaru forum and all have the same issue. The car overcorrects and is prone to cause an accident at some point. I am lucky no one was in the lane next to me when the car swerved me into the next lane. My 2021 is a replacement of a 2020 model because the 2020 was deemed a lemon. The 2020 model did not have lane centering but lane keep assist instead. The 2020 did not violently jerk into the next lane. This issue has been reported to leslie karpiak at soa who helped me through my lemon issue on the 2020 model. I requested a full buy back and she suggested I have my car inspected at a dealership, but that is a lengthy process and I have already spend 3 months in and out of dealerships with my 2020 model. This appears to be a common issue on all 2021 models and should be investigated fully. I am holding subaru 100% liable when an accident occurs because of this lane centering issue. This issue happens on a continuous driving basis. Your help and assistance is greatly appreciated for the sake of saving lives.

Filed Mar 17, 2021 · Driver assistance · 5,000 miles · WA

The lane assist feature (only an option when using adaptive cruise control; not the same as lane centering when not using the adaptive cruise control [the basics lane centering works just fine]) seems overly aggressive. Each time I have used lane assist with cruise control, it jerks the car very abruptly at times, almost to the extent of sending it into another lane if I do not intervene. I no longer feel safe using lane assist, so I turn it off when using cruise control. I am very concerned it's going to cause and accident. This has happened at least 5 times now while driving on the freeway (every time I have attempted to use lane assist).

Filed Mar 7, 2021 · Driver assistance, Steering · 800 miles · SD

Vehicle wanders on the highway. When passing a vehicle on the road the lane centering assist tries to hug the centerline and the driver must keep pulling he vehicle back to the center of the passing lane. A short lapse of steering could pull the vehicle into the side of the vehicle being passed. Full time job to keep the vehicle from wandering when very liitle wind and almost impossible to keep it from wandering when the wind is blowing 15-20 MPH. Not a pleasant relaxing drive.