[Titanrx8]

There should not have to be a “learning curve” adjusting how one hits the gas pedal, etc

True, there are some driveability issues for some. But also not always not the vehicle's fault (speaking generically, not Ascent-specific). Modern fuel injected, automatic transmission, computer controlled vehicles are typically very smooth and predictable, but not everyone has a high degree of driving skills or experience.

Just yesterday I took about a 200 mile ride with a friend in his pretty young Highlander. He's one of these people who seemingly can't feel the gas pedal. From a stop it was always anyone's guess if we're crawl along or he'd mash the pedal. At highway speeds he'd waver constantly, sometimes at a high frequency sometimes more slowly. I had to beg him to use cruise before I got nauseous. Needless to say the otherwise smooth running Toyota was banging in and out of gear constantly.

Then there's the friend with the late model Mustang, V8, 6 speed who can't launch from a stop without getting the revs up to 4k and riding out the clutch for a quarter mile and still manages to buck and stall frequently. And no, it isn't his first manual trans.

Ask either of these drivers how they rate their driving skills and they'll both proudly tell you that they've excellent drivers.

 

[CarGuyDaryl]

Yeah I've ridden with many types of drivers that do the on/off switch thing on the gas pedal etc and people that just generally don't know how to drive. I consider myself a pretty good driver. This is just our first turbo car we've ever owned and I think there is some getting used to it. The gas pedal is really your main way to communicate with your car. I've had instances in my Ram which the 8 speed auto is flawless in and I mash the gas pedal to pass someone but some one else changes my plans so I have to immediately let off. The car downshifts and just hangs onto revs for a few minutes feeling like its slipping until it figures out what the hell I'm doing and then goes.

To be honest, I don't think the tech was blowing hot air or anything. Who really knows. The fact that he took the time to come talk with me about the car and everything he did to check the car out, he seemed really knowledgeable. I did spend the day in a 2023 Outback loaner and there is definitely a difference in the power delivery and the outback feels smoother as it accelerated, but without the turbo it feels a lot slower. Getting back in the Ascent I appreciate the extra power even with the more quirky power delivery and after driving it all weekend it feels like you just have to drive it a little different or adjust your expectations compared to a non-turbo car.

I'll give it some more miles. Funny thing is my wife doesn't notice it and she's the primary driver of the car. Maybe I just pay TOO much attention to it. After our shit show 2015 Yukon with the terrible GM 8speed auto we came out of, I'm probably overly sensitive about what the car is doing.

 

[xydadx3]

Just catching up on this thread and noticed nobody mentioned eyesight.
Just a few days ago when pulling out of my neighborhood my ‘19 hesitated momentarily, no warnings or anything in the hud. I attributed it to eyesight thinking I’m going to run into something because a vehicle had just crossed my path in each direction. It felt very similar to its behavior if I’m trying to overtake someone on the interstate and get too close — sometimes I get the forward collision warning, other times it’s just cuts the throttle till it realizes there’s nothing actually in my way.

 

[Titanrx8]

Just catching up on this thread and noticed nobody mentioned eyesight.
Just a few days ago when pulling out of my neighborhood my ‘19 hesitated momentarily, no warnings or anything in the hud. I attributed it to eyesight thinking I’m going to run into something because a vehicle had just crossed my path in each direction. It felt very similar to its behavior if I’m trying to overtake someone on the interstate and get too close — sometimes I get the forward collision warning, other times it’s just cuts the throttle till it realizes there’s nothing actually in my way.

Funny you mentioned this. The other day, a car did a sweeping lane change in front of me. I was in the middle, he started on the right lane and ended on the left lane. In my '20, I'm sure that the AEB would have jammed on the brakes. In the '23, it put a message on the dash something like "object in path detected" but no brakes. Now I'm wondering if the location of my glassmounted dashcam has effected the Eyesight.

 

[PaulH]

Just catching up on this thread and noticed nobody mentioned eyesight.
Just a few days ago when pulling out of my neighborhood my ‘19 hesitated momentarily, no warnings or anything in the hud. I attributed it to eyesight thinking I’m going to run into something because a vehicle had just crossed my path in each direction. It felt very similar to its behavior if I’m trying to overtake someone on the interstate and get too close — sometimes I get the forward collision warning, other times it’s just cuts the throttle till it realizes there’s nothing actually in my way.

Funny you mention that. In once instance the eye sight system did get very vocal as I turned in front of traffic. Maybe I'm being a bit more aggressive crossing traffic to my road than the Eye Sight system likes...

 

[BoostedB]

Funny you mentioned this. The other day, a car did a sweeping lane change in front of me. I was in the middle, he started on the right lane and ended on the left lane. In my '20, I'm sure that the AEB would have jammed on the brakes. In the '23, it put a message on the dash something like "object in path detected" but no brakes. Now I'm wondering if the location of my glassmounted dashcam has effected the Eyesight.

obviously can’t speak on your vehicle, but in my 23 Ascent, it will tell me object detected and beep at me, and it gives you some time depending on speed and distance from object and it in my car has stopped me. A guy went to take a left turn and decided to stop halfway thru his turn, I was going to partially go into right lane , there was no one in other lane, and car beeped and ended up stopping me when I got closer. FYI, it breaks hard.

 

[Titanrx8]

FYI, it breaks hard.

Yes it does, but if you gas it, the braking ends. Happens pretty often when a car in front brakes to turn right and as the driver I know they're leaving the lane but Eyesight sees it as an obstacle.

 

[vikingtump]

I've had my 2023 Ascent for a week now. Yesterday, in the 90 degree heat it started acting funny. When pulling out into traffic, or trying to cross traffic from a stop, it would accelerate for a few feet, then basically completely stop accelerating, then accelerate again like normal. I just came out of a 22 Wilderness Outback with the same drivetrain so know what the turbo lag and CVT behavior is like. This is very different. It's a major hesitation with no acceleration. Very unsettling crossing busy traffic or when pulling out in heavy traffic. Went to the dealer today and drove with the service manager for 20 minutes but could not reproduce. As great as my dealer is, without a reproducible problem there's not much for them to go on. They are willing to do the CVT chain slippage diagnosis if I say it keeps happing. Wondering if anyone else has seen this issue and what the resolution was so I can give the dealer some more info.

My new 2020 Ascent behaved in a similar manner except at times it would "buck" back and forth between acceleration and suddenly slowing down like the transmission was suddenly in neutral. Several trips to the dealer was a waste of time since it didn't set a computer code. It eventually subsided around 12K miles. After a CVT recall (no problem) found, I thought everything was good. Until around 30K miles... Now sometimes when accelerating, the transmission feels like it momentarily slips. I hate this CVT but love the vehicle. Will never get a CVT again.

 

[Drewfallin]

My dash cam goes in next week so will be an easy way to grab some video if it happens again. I work from home and am starting a new job this week, so won't be driving very much.

What dash cam are you putting in?

 

[Drewfallin]

I’ve had similar issue as this with my ‘23 Ascent (Blue). Last one this happened at was at a 4 way stop. I guess it could have been the eyesight stopping me, but I didn’t get any warning. Being SoCal, we are a little aggressive with our driving. I’ve been having issues with my eyesight disabling for the past month so I haven’t exactly been trusting it too much. Can’t remember if it was disabled at that moment or not. It disables itself intermittently. Taking it in this week.

 

[PaulH]

What dash cam are you putting in?

Momento M7 3-Channel 2K QHD Dash Camera + the interior camera. Had to push off the install, so will be another couple of weeks before it all gets done.

 

[PaulH]

I’ve had similar issue as this with my ‘23 Ascent (Blue). Last one this happened at was at a 4 way stop. I guess it could have been the eyesight stopping me, but I didn’t get any warning. Being SoCal, we are a little aggressive with our driving. I’ve been having issues with my eyesight disabling for the past month so I haven’t exactly been trusting it too much. Can’t remember if it was disabled at that moment or not. It disables itself intermittently. Taking it in this week.

I've come to the conclusion that on my car what I'm experiencing is good old turbo lag. Had the same drivetrain in my Outback Wilderness and didn't notice any lag, but this is a heavier car and I'm guessing different programming on the ECU than the Outback was. I have noticed that going flat to the floorboard it "feels" worse than rolling into the throttle a bit before going full throttle. At this point I think I've adapter to how the Ascent drives and it's no longer scaring me.

 

[chrisl8704]

Hey guys I know the thread is for subaru ascent, but I'm experiencing the same issues on 2023 wrx limited. Knowing that it has fa24 engine figure issue might be similar. Only have 3k miles. My throttle just dies out at intermittent times cold or hot. Have about 5 videos of the issue happening over and over. I'm usually not the one to complain but I seriously almost got hit by a tractor trailer on 2 separate occasions. I took it to the dealer they found a soft connector at the throttle body even with a new throttle body it wouldn't connect in place. They ended replacing the engine harness. My wrx was good for 4 days issue came back. Currently in the dealer now for 2nd time. It's unfortunate because this is my 4 subaru car is completely stock as well.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

Hey guys I know the thread is for subaru ascent, but I'm experiencing the same issues on 2023 wrx limited. Knowing that it has fa24 engine figure issue might be similar. Only have 3k miles. My throttle just dies out at intermittent times cold or hot. Have about 5 videos of the issue happening over and over. I'm usually not the one to complain but I seriously almost got hit by a tractor trailer on 2 separate occasions. I took it to the dealer they found a soft connector at the throttle body even with a new throttle body it wouldn't connect in place. They ended replacing the engine harness. My wrx was good for 4 days issue came back. Currently in the dealer now for 2nd time. It's unfortunate because this is my 4 subaru car is completely stock as well.

You may want to ask your question in our sister WRX forum. While it's the same engine in general, it's a different vehicle.

https://www.wrxforums.com/forums/

 

[denissh]

I've come to the conclusion that on my car what I'm experiencing is good old turbo lag. Had the same drivetrain in my Outback Wilderness and didn't notice any lag, but this is a heavier car and I'm guessing different programming on the ECU than the Outback was. I have noticed that going flat to the floorboard it "feels" worse than rolling into the throttle a bit before going full throttle. At this point I think I've adapter to how the Ascent drives and it's no longer scaring me.

you can try Throttle Calibration PDF from subaruoutback Forum

personaly for me out of OB Wilderness , OB XT and Ascent .. Ascent maybe slowest but it got best throttle response..

 

[Shelly]

I've had my 2023 Ascent for a week now. Yesterday, in the 90 degree heat it started acting funny. When pulling out into traffic, or trying to cross traffic from a stop, it would accelerate for a few feet, then basically completely stop accelerating, then accelerate again like normal. I just came out of a 22 Wilderness Outback with the same drivetrain so know what the turbo lag and CVT behavior is like. This is very different. It's a major hesitation with no acceleration. Very unsettling crossing busy traffic or when pulling out in heavy traffic. Went to the dealer today and drove with the service manager for 20 minutes but could not reproduce. As great as my dealer is, without a reproducible problem there's not much for them to go on. They are willing to do the CVT chain slippage diagnosis if I say it keeps happing.
Wondering if anyone else has seen this issue and what the resolution was so I can give the dealer some more info.

I have been having this same issue in my 23 Ascent for the past month or so. It is very unsettling when pulling out onto a high speed road. But like you said, I can't take it to the dealer because they will say they can't reproduce it. This is the second summer that I have owned the car. I do not remember this happening last summer. I thought maybe the engine just hated the summer temps, but this isn't normal and shouldn't be happening.

 

[JOE WHO]

I have been having this same issue in my 23 Ascent for the past month or so. It is very unsettling when pulling out onto a high speed road. But like you said, I can't take it to the dealer because they will say they can't reproduce it. This is the second summer that I have owned the car. I do not remember this happening last summer. I thought maybe the engine just hated the summer temps, but this isn't normal and shouldn't be happening.

I have had this issue once with our Ascent. I went to accelerate from a stop sign and it felt as though the car was in too high of a gear. Eventually the vehicle responded.

I chalked it up to it being a software glitch with the CVT. If it turns out to be a real problem the issue should get more frequent and pronounced.

I personally believe the powertrain is the achilles heel of the Ascent with the CVT being more of a problem than the engine.

 

[CarGuyDaryl]

I have been having this same issue in my 23 Ascent for the past month or so. It is very unsettling when pulling out onto a high speed road. But like you said, I can't take it to the dealer because they will say they can't reproduce it. This is the second summer that I have owned the car. I do not remember this happening last summer. I thought maybe the engine just hated the summer temps, but this isn't normal and shouldn't be happening.

We were having that issue in our 2023 for the first few thousand miles last summer. Not sure how hot it gets where you are at but it gets over 90 and into the hundreds frequently here in our area.

I know it's hotly contested on here and subaru only requires regular fuel but we started using premium fuel during the really hot months and it quit doing it. I know it works too because we had a really hot week last April when I was still running regular fuel and it happened once or twice and then its not happened since we switched to premium for the summer. When we run regular and it's hot I can get the car to it pretty frequently.

Maybe try premium fuel and see if it helps for you. Run a few tanks through it and see if it goes away.

 

[TSiWRX]

We were having that issue in our 2023 for the first few thousand miles last summer. Not sure how hot it gets where you are at but it gets over 90 and into the hundreds frequently here in our area.

I know it's hotly contested on here and subaru only requires regular fuel but we started using premium fuel during the really hot months and it quit doing it. I know it works too because we had a really hot week last April when I was still running regular fuel and it happened once or twice and then its not happened since we switched to premium for the summer. When we run regular and it's hot I can get the car to it pretty frequently.

Maybe try premium fuel and see if it helps for you. Run a few tanks through it and see if it goes away.

Most interesting -

It could be that some unique vehicles are more sensitive to knock -or may simply detect/register knock more aggressively- or maybe something is uniquely different with what a specific intake air temperature reads....something that's within tolerances, but just that some unique vehicles are on "that side" of the line - that using more pre-detonation resistant, higher-octane fuel does can truly make a significant difference?

 

[CarGuyDaryl]

Yeah I'm not sure.. maybe here in Cali they are duping us and 87 is really 85 octane LOL. We dint get any different performance or fuel economy when running premium, the throttle response is just better in really hot temps. For the 2-3 tanks a month we use in gas it's not a big deal.