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Acceleration & cruise control

Subaru Ascent Acceleration problems by year

20 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Subaru Ascent's acceleration & cruise control. Unintended acceleration, surging, throttle problems and cruise or adaptive cruise faults.

Acceleration complaints by model year

YearAcceleration complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20263000
20251110
20242000
20233200
20221000
20212110
20203000
20195100

Latest Ascent acceleration complaints

2026 Subaru AscentAcceleration & cruise controlDriver assistance

With ACC and Lane Centering on while driving on US 98 in Mississippi at approximately 3 PM on 11/09/2026, the vehicle experienced a sudden haptic-like vibration or lurch. Passenger felt her body move forward against the seatbelt. Driver cannot confirm whether brakes applied. After the incident, driver disabled Lane Centering for the trip while retaining ACC. Recurring issues: lane centering deactivates on curves, ACC accelerates before detecting new lead car after lane changes, false steering wheel hands-on warnings (prescription sunglasses interfering with monitoring system). NO CRASH OR INJURY REPORTED.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · Lane departureNHTSA 11777163
2026 Subaru AscentAcceleration & cruise control

The contact owns a 2026 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while attempting to make a turn, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated. The contact forcefully depressed the brake pedal to bring the vehicle to a stop. The contact's shin struck the steering wheel during the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated or confirmed, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact expressed concerns that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 11775162
2022 Subaru AscentElectrical systemAcceleration & cruise controlDriver assistance

My vehicle will abruptly break coming to a complete stop if a vehicle behind me approaches too quickly or gets too close to my vehicle. Yes the its uptoday on inspections and no errors show with in the vehicles computer system.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Vehicle speed control · Forward collision avoidanceNHTSA 11770198
2025 Subaru AscentAcceleration & cruise controlCrash1 injury

The contact owned a 2025 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking spot with a foot on the brake pedal, the engine suddenly revved loudly and unintendedly accelerated. The vehicle crashed into a pole head-on and came to a stop. The vehicle was towed from the scene and was deemed a total loss. The contact sustained cuts on the hands, a sore back, a brain bleed, and body soreness. Medical attention was sought. The dealer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 22,000.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 11765912
2024 Subaru AscentSteeringTransmission & drivetrainAcceleration & cruise control

While cruising on a 2-lane road or a freeway, the vehicle will cross over the adjacent line, either left or right. This generally happens between 50 to 75 mph. The event happens either when cruise control is on or off. Wind is not necessarily the problem. The solution requires one to take the necessary immediate steering correction. At times, the departure from the lanes may repeat. This may be a temporary correction. This may create a head-on collision if not immediately correctly manually. VERY DISTURBING!

Filed Incident Steering · Power train · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 11738307
2023 Subaru AscentAcceleration & cruise controlFuel systemDriver assistance

In 2024, 2025, and 2026, I have had 2 incidents in each year where the cruise control is set to 60 to 65 mph and the cruise control then accelerates the car past 100 mph. When this occurs, tapping the break does NOT disengage the cruise control. All 6 times I have had to slam the breaks to a full dead stop while the car tries to accelerate anyway. April 4, 2026 and April 14, 2026 are the most recent occurrences and all occurrences so far for this issue have been during a downhill road incline. The dealer has...

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dismissed the problem every time and has been unable to fix or reproduce the problem on demand. The random frequency of this problem can easily lead to a significant accident for the driver or others in the vicinity. And the lack of resolution from the Subaru dealer has lead me to report the issue here in hopes that if this is occurring for other vehicles that the company takes an actual resolution to solve the issue in their cruise control function.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · Fuel / propulsion system · Forward collision avoidanceNHTSA 11731662
2026 Subaru AscentBrakesAcceleration & cruise control

The contact owns a 2026 Subaru Accent. The contact stated that there was a failure related to the brake pedal design. The contact stated that there was an approximate one-inch difference in spacing between the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal in previous model vehicles. The contact stated that there was an approximate four-inch gap between the brake and accelerator pedals, while previous models had an approximate three-inch space. The contact stated that the difference created a hazardous driving condition and...

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increased the risk of unintended pedal application. Additionally, there were several instances where a crash could have occurred due to the pedal spacing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, it was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that several complaints were received with the same issue and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,040.

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 11725906
2020 Subaru AscentTransmission & drivetrainAcceleration & cruise controlDriver assistance

I have had my lane assist come on by its self a few times, which is very dangerous because it seems to take over and will pull on the steering wheel. I've also brought my car back to the dealership a handful of times to have it hooked up to a computer and also someone ride with me because the car will either hesitate to accelerate or stutters and doesn't seem to want to go when I am between 20-30 miles an hour. Other times when I'm at a light or stop sign it hesitates also. I was told there was nothing wrong with it and they reprogrammed to transmission but it didn't help at all.

Filed Incident Power train · Vehicle speed control · Lane departureNHTSA 11717228
2024 Subaru AscentAcceleration & cruise control

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...

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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 Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 11635744
2023 Subaru AscentAirbagsAcceleration & cruise controlBrakesCrash

There was a SUDDEN and UNINTENDED acceleration without the driver input while braking to park going approximately 1 - 2 MPH. Our safety was at risk. The vehicle was not in our control. A police report was generated. Rather than stopping we crashed into the apartment building causing significant damage to both the apartment and our vehicle. There were no warnings, no automatic braking to avoid the collision, the air bags did not deploy. The total damages are still being determined by the dealer and insurance company.

Filed Incident Air bags · Vehicle speed control · Service brakesNHTSA 11612133
2023 Subaru AscentAirbagsAcceleration & cruise controlBrakesCrash

unknown defects in some vehicles that could cause sudden and unintended acceleration without driver input Yes, our safety was at risk. The vehicle was clearly not in our control. A police report was generated. The car plowed through the garage no control to brake The damages are being inspected by insurance. There were no waring lights that I could see

Filed Incident Air bags · Vehicle speed control · Service brakesNHTSA 11610317
2021 Subaru AscentAcceleration & cruise controlDriver assistanceCrash1 injury

The driver was driving into a parking lot preparing to park, when the vehicle accelerated and started going forward at a higher speed. The vehicle struck a parked vehicle, then travelled across the parking lot, over curbs, a grass median, landscaping, and struck a rock building at a high rate of speed, causing a partial collapse of the wall. The vehicle is available for inspection through the insurance company. No analysis of data was done and nothing was inspected. There were no symptoms of the problem beforehand. The vehicle has automatic emergency braking, but it evidently didn't operate. It is unknown if this was caused by driver error in accelerating and never braking.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · Forward collision avoidanceNHTSA 11607255
2020 Subaru AscentTransmission & drivetrainAcceleration & cruise control

The vehicle hesitates like it doesn't want to get up to speed, despite pressing the gas pedal to accelerate. The RPM needle bounces. Dealership has not been able to "replicate the hesitation I feel when accelerating." They originally tried to say I didn't tell them the problem was happening when it had time to warm up, which is a lie, I have all the scheduling notes made by the employee who set the appointment up. Dealership said it passes diagnostic testing despite my serious concerns as the owner driving it...

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daily. No lights are lit up on the dashboard which is another reason why the dealership is saying everything is fine. It's already had a firmware update in July and the dealership is very dismissive of my concerns. I made multiple calls before appointment telling them it's happening more frequently around 20-30 minutes of drive time and to make sure I have them the full picture well enough in advance for them to make adequate time to look at my vehicle

Filed Incident Power train · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 11573056
2021 Subaru AscentAcceleration & cruise controlDriver assistance

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...

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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 Incident Vehicle speed control · Forward collision avoidance · Lane departureNHTSA 11495560
2019 Subaru AscentAcceleration & cruise controlBrakesCrash

My wife was pulling into a parking spot at a Safeway in Seattle. The car, instead of stopping, sped up when she stepped on the brakes, slamming into a brick wall. She shifted into reverse, and the car sped backwards, then shifted to drive, and sped forward and slammed into a wall again. She shifted to park and pulled on the parking brake. Then, after 5 minutes with the car off, she drove home without incident and parked, although the car was severely damaged.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · Service brakesNHTSA 11458223

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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