2026 Subaru Ascent

3 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

1. Filed Sep 30, 2026Failure Sep 19, 2026Florissant, MOSeat belts1 injured

   What failed: The rear seat belt (belt, buckle, and/or retractor) in the right rear seat of a 2026 Subaru Ascent, VIN [XXX]. It was securing a rear-facing child car seat carrying my [XXX] grandson. The vehicle was a loaner from [dealer name] and was returned to the dealer on [return date]. It is available for inspection through the dealer, and I have asked them in writing to preserve the belt assembly. How safety was put at risk: On XXX, after about 40 minutes of stop-and-go traffic on [XXX] in [XXX], we stopped on a closed exit ramp. My grandson began screaming. The seat belt securing his car seat had come loose, and the car seat had tipped forward. He was upside down with his face wedged under the front passenger seat. I injured my lower back freeing him and am under medical care. He appears uninjured. My husband re-secured the belt, and we continued. Had we been moving at highway speed, the child could have been seriously injured, and we would have had to stop and exit the vehicle in live traffic to reach him. Reproduced or confirmed: Not yet. I have asked the dealer in writing to inspect the belt, buckle, and retractor, and to provide the results in writing. Inspected by others: No inspection by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives has taken place to date. Warnings: None. No seat belt warning chime, light, or message appeared before or during the failure. The only warning was my grandson screaming and crying. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

   NHTSA complaint 11767941
2. Filed Sep 25, 2026Failure Apr 5, 20262,000 milesMerrill, WIAutomatic emergency braking

   The contact owns a 2026 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at highway speeds, the vehicle experienced phantom braking and independently came to an abrupt stop. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11766986
3. Filed Mar 20, 2026Failure Mar 20, 20261,040 milesArnold, MOService brakes, Pedals and linkages, Accelerator pedal

   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 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.

   NHTSA complaint 11725906