First let me say I am highly experienced with lane keeping assist and lane centering systems. I have had both types on my Hondas, Fords and my new Tesla. So our first road trip took place this last weekend from Orlando to Atlanta. I finally was able to settle in and use the cruise control and eyesight. On the new 2021 models it is actually a lane centering system. While using the lane centering system, I keep my hands on the wheel as required. About 1 hour into the trip I notice the system is trying to pull to the right even though I am centered in my lane. It feels like a lot of pressure on the steering which is strange. Suddenly I sneeze and let one hand off the steering wheel and the Ascent VIOLENTLY pulled to the right and went over the markers into the right lane (I was in center lane of 3 lane freeway). Is was terrifying! Had a car been in that lane I would have hit it. So now being more prepared I try to replicate it. And again it happens! I feel a sudden build up of pulling to the right and with hand relaxation in my steering grip the Ascent wants to violently overcorrect to the right paying no attention to lane markers. I finally had to turn off the lane ceneting function. I had my daughter record a video that I will take to Subaru to have it checked out but I already know this will not be a simple fix.
2021 Ascent Touring Almost Killed Me!
gator 2021
21 - 40 of 44 Posts
I have a 2020 limited. After 3 days of fighting LKA for control of the car, I turned it off. It was creating dangerous situations.
I had been bummed about not having lane centering, but there was no way my wife was going to wait another year for the 2021 model. After hearing about all these issues, I don't feel like I'm missing as much anymore.
I don't plan to buy another car until I can get a fully autonomous one.
I had been bummed about not having lane centering, but there was no way my wife was going to wait another year for the 2021 model. After hearing about all these issues, I don't feel like I'm missing as much anymore.
I don't plan to buy another car until I can get a fully autonomous one.
Joined
·
12 Posts
Our first Subaru purchase , 2021 Ascent Limited . We love the car. Drives so much better than the Stelvio we got rid of, but, I just keep this system OFF. Lots of 2-lane highways up here in northern WI and this assist system fights me all the time and I’m totally alert with both hands on the wheel, centered.
Anyway, I’d rather drive it myself. 2” lift coming soon!
Anyway, I’d rather drive it myself. 2” lift coming soon!
I have the unique experience in which I have driven a 2019, 2020, and now 2021 Subaru Ascent. I have used Lane Keep Assistance in all three. The 2021 is noticeably more aggressive than the system as it worked in the 2019 and 2020. It also has some cooler graphics when it is on.... Looks more like it is always on. In the 2019 and 2020 the steering wheel icon would only turn green when it was correcting steering. It appears on my 2021 that is almost always on. I have begun holding the steering wheel a little looser on the 2021 and it appears to work better. I also have noticed that maybe my "center" is not the real center of the road.... All in all, I agree it is much more aggressive and I turn it off it I feel like it is steering too far in one direction.
I've noticed that this is the way the lane assist operates:
It does NOT center you between the lines on the left and the right side of the vehicle. It will focus on one side and pull the vehicle in that direction until it lines up appropriately with that side of the lane. Once it lines up with that side it changes focus to the other side and steers the vehicle in that direction. It continues this left/right steering focus as long as you have the lane assist feature enabled.
It will keep you between the lines but, it makes you look like a drunk driver while it operates.
It has no regard for the side sensors that tell you another vehicle is beside you or passing you. If a car is passing me on the left but, my "Eyesight" is trying to "lane assist" me in that direction, my natural instinct is to pull to the right to allow the car to pass safely.
Once the other car has passed me, if I relax my struggle against lane assist, it will veer in that direction. It will cross the lane lines then flash the lights on the heads-up display and beep as though I've somehow screwed up.
The programming needs a serious firmware update.
Don't trust it.
Also, the adaptive cruise control works fine as long as the vehicle in front of you is captured by the "Eyesight" lenses while in motion.
Don't try that when you're coming up on a stopped vehicle. It won't even see it.
Example: Every night I take the freeway home. The Adaptive cruise control works beautifully until I exit the freeway. Coming down the off ramp I have to slam on my brakes if there is a car or truck stopped at the light at the end of the ramp.
In normal traffic, the car will stop if the vehicle in front of it stops. If it approaches an already motionless vehicle. You'd better hit the brakes.
I have the 2021. It doesn't center you. It does exactly what you said. Bounces you back and forth from line to line.
Yes, no "centering" on MY19-MY20, but they do nudge you back from the line if LKA is turned on. I only use it for long distance Interstate travel where things tend to get borning, etc.
One thing about these features needs to be mentioned again...someone did up above somewhere...it's important to be "religious" about using one's turn signals when intentional crossing of the lines is going to happen so it doesn't "fight" you with that nudge, etc.
Joined
·
15,792 Posts
For the 2021 Model Year
- Lane Centering is only active when the following conditions are met:
- "Lane Assist" is on
AND - Adaptive Cruise Control is on
AND - Adaptive Cruise Control is actively operating
- "Lane Assist" is on
- Lane Keep Assist is active when:
- "Lane Assist" is on
AND - (Adaptive Cruise Control is on AND Adaptive Cruise Control is NOT active)
-- OR --
Adaptive Cruise Control is OFF
- "Lane Assist" is on
- BOTH systems suspend when the brake pedal or blinkers are activated.
Lane Keep Assist does NOT ping pong the car. The driver ping pongs the car. In ALL driving assist modes, the car fully expects the driver to have their hands on the wheel and actively controlling the vehicle. With hands on wheel steering, the Lane Keep Assist function will nudge the car back into a lane, and be done with assist. With no human steering, the system will nudge the car back into lane, which may or may not point the car at the other side of the lane, causing it to nudge it back again. The ping pong effect is driver error, because the driver is forcing the car to drive, when it's not designed to.
I've tried using the LKA on my 2020 on long trips, but find myself fighting the wheel to be where I want to be. The steering gets an artificial feel to it that I don't like...so I stopped using it. Its never caused any dangerous conditions, but I just don't like the steering feel when the system is active. Maybe I'll give it another shot on my upcoming road trip.
I am very satisfied with the LKA on my 19' Limited, I keep it on all of the time except in construction zones with wonky lane markers. I've found that keeping a light grip on the wheel works best for me and just let it do its thing and not fight it. Our first road trip in the Ascent right after the break in period was 3 months long and 8,400 miles of driving and really sold me on this system.
I haven't seen any mention of the LKA 2-step correction, when you are drifting toward the edge of your lane and LKA nudges the wheel back toward the center, about 2 seconds later there is a mild counter correction to keep from ping ponging back and forth. I think it is very effective, my Ascent tracks so straight that I'm a bit concerned about the day when the original tires and alignment have to be changed.
I haven't seen any mention of the LKA 2-step correction, when you are drifting toward the edge of your lane and LKA nudges the wheel back toward the center, about 2 seconds later there is a mild counter correction to keep from ping ponging back and forth. I think it is very effective, my Ascent tracks so straight that I'm a bit concerned about the day when the original tires and alignment have to be changed.
Joined
·
15,792 Posts
Something interesting that I learned over time is that if I follow the road curves, or "lean" into them a little, I can get Lane Keep Assist to activate and ride the curve for me, with no jerkiness or yanking back towards center. It was a big breakthrough for me - during the first few months, it would jerk me back into lane instead (mostly right side, where I'd nosed over the line). In the end, I am glad I gave it the time.
Oh, for those of you who haven't followed my exploits, a "few months" for me was around 10,000 miles, give or take.
It was actually some posts in this very forum that got me to start experimenting with how the system operated. So, thank you all for that.
Joined
·
197 Posts
I hear you. I nearly had a vehicle initiated lane departure, which would have been tragic had I not had a firm, 2 handed grip on the wheel.
www.ascentforums.com
and then I had comments: road was wet/grooved/bad paint/construction markers ....... can't be the car ... But it was the car and I was poo-pooed . so brace yourself, computers do screw up, I repair them, big tech gets it wrong all the time.
Lane Keep Assist malfunction !
This happened about a week ago, I was driving and wife was passenger. We were on a road, just cleared about a mile stretch that was under construction, and transitioned from single lane, to 2 lanes (in one direction). Because of construction, lines had been recently painted and were clear and...
www.ascentforums.com
Joined
·
251 Posts
At the end of the day, these driver assistance systems (as well as more advanced systems like Tesla's Auto Pilot) are not autonomous systems. As drivers, we need to be aware of that at all times and be prepared to overcome the limitations of the systems and the environment they are being used in.
Even better, we need to go back to DRIVING the cars and avoid distractions. If we are paying attention, we shouldn't need to rely on these systems!! ;-)
Joined
·
10 Posts
With adaptive cruise, I don’t have to pay attention to my speed, allowing me to focus on the road ahead and drivers behind. I feel it significantly improves my driving, and reduces instances of speeding/tickets. .
Likewise, blind spot detection improves safety, allowing me to see where I can’t without having to look over my shoulder.
I’ve never triggered autonomous emergency braking, but I’m very glad to have it in case some fool pulls out right in front of me.
My ‘21 limited pulls to the left on 2 lane highways (50mph limits). It never pulls to the right. 80% of the time, I’m well centered, 15% it wants to ride on the far left side of the lane, and the other 5% it pulls to the left, wanting to cross the double yellow. I have to give more force than I’d expect to keep it centered.
the weird thing for me is that when I do force it back into the center, I get red lights flashing telling me to put my hands back on the wheel. If I didn’t have my hands on the wheel, I’d be in incoming traffic.
the weird thing for me is that when I do force it back into the center, I get red lights flashing telling me to put my hands back on the wheel. If I didn’t have my hands on the wheel, I’d be in incoming traffic.
let us know what the dealer says and report it to SOA.
‘19 Ascent Premium/ ‘22 Quintana Roo SRFIVE/ ‘23 Odyssey Sport
Joined
·
4,887 Posts
There’s a warning for that too!
With LKA off if you bobble between the lines enough it’ll give you a lane sway warning.
I had to actually try to make the warning come on the one time I’ve seen it
Joined
·
173 Posts
Well, this incident demonstrates that no matter the activity or circumstance, technology is not infallible and should only be relied upon to supplement or assist the operator. I don’t need lane centering or lane keeping and don’t use it. Technology has improved life in so many ways but the human interface remains the most crucial factor - and that is no always reliable.
21 - 40 of 44 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
