Subaru Ascent warning lights comes on

Filed Aug 28, 2026 · Transmission · WY

My local Subaru dealership / service provider has told me my car needs a new transmission at 66k miles, due to an issue within the CVT solenoid causing slipping and lag that will eventually lead to catastrophic failure of the transmission - per the Subaru of America service tree. This issue began on July 23, 2026, when a slew of warning lights illuminated on the dash and my car went into limp mode, not accelerating properly. It eventually began driving normally and all dash warning lights dissipated. Dealership couldn't see the car at that time, then I was out of town for about a week. Came back, experienced the same issues within 2 days of driving the car. I was able to get it into the dealership for service on 8/6 where it was diagnosed, according to the Subaru Service Tree, as needing a new transmission. Subaru technicians cleared the codes, and I took the car home on 8/7/26 with the warning from my dealership that it was only a matter of time before the transmission failed. The lights / limp mode driving came on again on 8/9 and I have not driven it since that date. I have opened a case with SoA and am waiting on a "resolution". I do not feel safe driving my vehicle so it has been sitting in the driveway since 8/9 while I wait on a resolution from Subaru of America.

Filed May 10, 2026 · Transmission · KY

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)

Filed Dec 12, 2025 · AK

Vehicle: 2020 Subaru Ascent Issue: Cold weather software glitch If you are operating an Ascent or possibly other Subarus with the CVT in temperatures below -20F be certain to have either a small wrench or the appropriate size socket to loosen the ground clamp on the battery ground cable with you so you can employ what I call the magic Windows fix wherin one completely de-powers the system and reboots it. With all the ridiculous interconnections, if the CVT temperature sensor thinks the tranny is too cold the cars operating system looses it mind and goes completely bonkers. Subaru obviously did no cold weather testing. We have had 2 failures in cold weather. It only happens at temperatures well below the-20F range. The first case happened last year while driving after being stopped for a couple of hours. Everything seemed normal and then suddenly several warning lights came on and all of the safety systems and the eyesight system shut down. The car ran and drove, but none of the associated systems would work. No traction control. No cruise control. Several other systems. The only solution was to disconnect the battery and get this rolling computer to reboot. This was a temporary fix as the condition repeated itself although the car was driveable but with none of the safety systems operational. This year we were out in cold weather, -25 to -32. We went to a place to have lunch and when I went to restart the car the app failed to do so. So I put on all my gear and went out to start it manually. It would not start and all the warning lights were on and the radiator fan was running full tilt at -25F with the car off. I tried twice to get it going by pulling the battery cable to get it to reboot. Evidently when this happens you must leave the battery disconnected long enough (about 5 minutes) for all the capacitors in the electronics to drain. Once restarted, the car drove normally but we did not shut it down for any reason for the rest of the day.

Filed Jan 13, 2025 · Acceleration · CO

The vehicle was being driven on a public road, going roughly 45mph. I felt a very harsh studder/clunk and completely lost responsiveness from the accelerator. There was no throttle response even pumping the pedal all the way to the floor. I was able to coast to a parking area and make a safe stop. Once I was stopped, I turned the car off, back on again, and it got me the rest of the way home. This was the most severe instance of the problem, but both primary drivers of the car have experienced the accelerator going unresponsive at different times. Since this was a severe safety related concern, we took the car in for service at the dealer, but were told they were unable to reproduce the problem and did not make any repairs. We provided the dealer with a video we captured toward the end of the latest incident, but they haven't been able to find any cause. There were multiple warning lights on the dash, but no codes were stored. We did have another warning light for a brake system error, but there was no code stored and the dealer was unable to located the source of a voltage anomaly in the parking brake system. We've taken it in to another dealer service center for additional diagnostics but the original shop is refusing to provide the complete details of any diagnostics and corrections they have made, so we don't have the original data that was pulled from the car.

Filed Aug 18, 2024 · Transmission · MA

While driving on a road with a lot of hills our car sudden lost all engine power but all of the lights and engine were still on. We pulled over but kept the car on and it seem to resume power. Then about 1/8 of a mile later it happened again. We shut the car off completely for 5 minutes and turned it back on and we were able to drive it normally for another mile. It then happened three more times on our way to a safe spot to pull over. The fifth time it happened all warning lights on the dashboard turned on (see picture). The speed in which it happened varied. It is important to note that we brought it in for service on 8/8 for a standard interval service at a Subaru dealership and have brought our car in multiple times to address issues with the transmission.

Filed Jun 6, 2024 · Engine · CO

The battery died after two weeks of replacing it, later revealing the alternator failed. Parts are not available, Subaru kept them My safety was at risk because the lights on my dashboard Christmas Tree'd letting me know something was wrong. Within a couple of blocks I had no power steering and was dying on a busy street. The car was so dead that I couldn't even turn on my hazard lights. The car was jumped by Subaru, the tow truck driver left and the car died two blocks later. This time in the middle of the busy street. The vehicle was towed to Subaru who replaced the battery we bought two weeks earlier. We asked if they check the charging system and they said yes. The battery light was on before we left the lot. We made them keep the car so we wouldn't die in the middle of anymore busy streets. Days later they determined it was the alternator. The car had 26,000 miles on it. I don't know what Subaru did with the parts. They said they needed them as it was a warranty replacement. The battery light never came on before the car died. First the Eye Sight Disabled light came on then many lights on the dashboard flashed on. This happened a couple blocks prior to me losing power. I found the first place I could to get off the road. Two weeks prior when the battery died, the eyesight disabled light came on and the battery light. That time I got home and we replaced the battery. Therefore when the eyesight disabled light came on, I knew something was wrong but thought I had time to get out of the way. Then everything died. The worst part is that hazard lights didn't work.

Filed Jul 19, 2023 · Driver assistance · AL

This observation/complaint is about a 2022 Subaru Ascent automobile, which I own. When the gas cap is loose, the car's computer disables several safety features, including collision avoidance, lane control, cruise control, reverse-automatic-braking control, all occur suddenly, while driving, after the computer processes the fault. Upon securing the gas cap and ostensibly fixing the problem, the computer MAY continue to disable said safety features for (according to Subaru Service agents) multiple days for as long as 30 days. On 7/2/23, while driving, several warning lights illuminated in the instrument cluster advising of the loss of many safety features. After stopping and reading the owners manual, I inspected and confirmed that the gas cap was properly sealed. That action did not fix the warning lights nor the disablement of safety features. I had 4 start-shutoff cycles in 6.5 hours. Three hundred and fifty miles later, I refueled, and confirmed that the gas cap was installed properly at the conclusion. Nothing changed with the disabled safety features. The following two days, I experienced 5 daily start-shutoffs with no effect on the safety features. The 3rd day, after 2 start-shutoff cycles, and while idling the engine, the warning lights disappeared and the safety features operated properly. Upon visiting a dealership, I was informed that the onboard computer identified a loose gas cap as the problem. Two service advisors told me that this experience is normal and that they have seen it take as long as 30 days for the computer to recognize that the problem was "fixed".

Filed May 16, 2022 · Electrical · PA

1. The electrical system/battery failed after only 392 miles. Car could not be jumped. When the cables were put on the battery, the tech said they got real hot (which leads us to believe it was shorting out.) Even though Subaru blamed the battery, the dashboard lights, the horn, and the headlights were all flickering and flashing like a Christmas tree. The car had also just been driven 45 minutes before. Subaru blamed driver error on not shutting the car off properly, but according to a class-action lawsuit, Subaru is aware of this happening with other Subaru vehicles. 2. The car would not start in an unsafe neighborhood after dark. We also experienced a burning smell in our garage for the past few months, which disappeared now that the Subaru has been at the garage for a week. 3. Not confirmed. The Subaru dealership blamed driver error and improper shut off of the ignition. 4. No inspections have been done except by the Subaru dealership. 5. No warning. The car had just been driven for 45 minutes, we parked and came back 45 minutes later and it would not start. At that time, the battery light came on, the car's headlights started to flash, and the dashboard lit up. Looking back, the burning smell in our garage might have been a clue.

Filed May 10, 2022 · Electrical · ID

Battery died while in idle, unable to restart, constant clicking and beeping. Requires roadside assistance. This is the 3rd time the battery has been dead on this car....First time, shortly after purchase, the dealer replaced the battery, saying it was a battery issue. Second time the car had been parked in the garage, a few months ago, no lights left on. Today, it was idling as I was picking up my kids, it just died. Battery is about a year old. Now all dash lights are just flashing. Will see if there is permanent damage.

Filed Mar 24, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · ID

My Subaru 2020 with 16,000 miles stalled in the middle of driving down the road in Town, I was driving 35 mph when out of nowhere the car stalled. I was able to coast/turn on to a side street. I’m lucky the car had enough momentum to keep going or we would have been hit by traffic as the street we were on is a busy road. The car flashed all the lights when it stalled and refused to crank over, it was low on gas so I called AAA and they brought 5 gallons of gasoline and filled it. The technician then tried to get the vehicle to start but it wouldn’t. Luckily he offered to tow it to my house for free. I have tried multiple times to get the vehicle to start and it wont. It cranks but doesn’t actually move. I don’t know what’s wrong and now I have to have it towed to the the local dealership. This is the second major issue that has happened. The first one was that the transmission failed and with my car having a branded title for being stolen/recovery. Subaru would not replace the transmission at 7,600 miles and I had to find a used one to replace it with. I now just got the recall letter and have messaged Subaru about it.