We leased a 2019 Ascent Limited and liked it so much we purchased our first Subaru. At 23,500 miles I was hearing a creaking noise in front end every time I entered my driveway. I was also seeing some unusual front tire wear. The dealer could not reproduce the creaking noise and could see no odd tire wear, but said they did put a little air in some tires. I monitor the tire pressure at all times and keep within 1 lb of 33 psi.
At 23,995 miles I noticed the left front tire was completely worn smooth on the inside 1/3 of the tread and the creaking noise had changed to a metal on metal clunking noise and was quite obvious. I had to replace the OEM tires. The dealer said the alignment was still good but the camber was no longer adjustable on the Asent. They replaced the front strut and the noise disappeared and the tire wear problem seems to be gone. I was not able to get a good answer on how the camber problem was corrected. Everything was good after the repair and I was enjoying the Ascent again.
The car was out of warranty time wise and at 28,400 miles front end noise had become apparent again but was a harsher metal to metal noise this time even on small road depressions. Again, the tech could not detect the noise so I took the tech for a ride and he heard it loud and clear 2 blocks from the dealership. I was told both front struts were leaking oil. They replaced the left front strut, strut mount, and sway bar link and also the right front strut. The invoice says no charge and Subaru has agreed to pay for the repair on a one time only basis as customer good will. After the repair the car was a pleasure to drive and very quiet but.………not for long.
It is now 4 months later and at 30,200 miles. A slight metal to metal noise had recently been detected again but was only slight and a bit difficult to describe what type road conditions would duplicate the noise. We took a 160 mile, mostly interstate highway, trip last week. There is a bad 20-25 mile section which they are about to resurface, but nothing bad enough to slow 70 mph traffic. In that 20-25 mile distance the noise went from a slight to a chronic and very loud metal on metal noise condition. Now it is detectible on the slightest road seams and we are not driving it until the dealer can look at it again. This will be the third repair on the front suspension and possibly it will be at my expense.
This is our first Subaru and we have been very pleased with it and had no other problems with it accept for this very annoying front suspension issue. Has my dealer missed something or are there real issues with the Ascent front suspension? Any suggestions.
Have not yet found a satisfying remedy to the front end noise so many are talking about. We have a 2020 Ascent which began making the "clunk" prior to 20k miles. We are still under warranty, and during a scheduled service, we informed the dealership service department. They came back with the rear license plate trim being loose. To me, this was obviously not the problem.
Like many others report, our clunk occurred over bumps, and predominantly in left turns over bumps, and seemed to come from the front passenger suspension or wheel area unless you were sitting in the passenger seat. Then it might seem to come from the driver's side.
The noise continued, and increased, after the first mention of it to the dealership. Upon our next scheduled service, I was a bit more vehement about it, and offered to ride with a technician. They declined that, but this time reported that the problem was in the right front strut bushing, which they replaced. Initially, the noise seemed to be gone, or at least greatly lessened in intensity and frequency. Now, however, it is beginning to return.
Searching these threads so far, I haven't come across any definitive explanation/remedy to a problem so many are describing so similarly. If I have missed it, I hope someone will point it out in a reply here.
Otherwise we're happy with our Ascent! Third Subaru
