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I am writing to inform the community of a potential Ascent problem. I love my dealership, and they have continued to be helpful.WE have had no problems with the car until we towed our 3000lb camper. I researched and bought this car because of its 5000lb towing. the trailer has its own brakes.
We took the car and hitch camper out for 24 hours for its maiden voyage. The road was all paved until the campground, where we carefully backed the trailer onto a flat spot. There was a very slight incline, and we watched both vehicles while parking.
Upon leaving I suggested trying the off road button . No problem, the car/trailer came easily. After a 100yard drive to the pavement over a dirt road, we put it back in regular mode.
Driving off we heard a horrible noise in the engine/transmission.We checked the tires, chains but all looked fine (BTW we couldn't find how to open the hood}. Because we were out of cell range, we gingerly drove the vehicle about 20 miles watching the odometer/speedometer. The manual gear changer didnt seem to work, and it stayed in first on automatic.
AT the first signal, we contacted SUbaru and both vehicles were towed.
I went to the dealership the next day, and was shown the underside damage. It included 2 severe dents in the front/middle exhaust pipe, severe dent in the heat deflector, and the exhaust pipe pushed into the rear axle. I could not,nor my husband recall any noise indicating we had dragged the car over anything.I was devastated.
I am lucky to have great friends.One is versed in towing, and has a good friend that is a mechanic.
The explanation seemed simple once provided. The Ascent is rated to tow 5000lbs, but has a regular subaru suspension. It is likely as we pulled the trailer out of the campsite, that the car bottomed out and crushed the noted parts. The noise we heard may be the exhaust pipe rubbing on the axle.
The trailer specialist said that towing on a flat smooth surface is fine, but without heavy shock springs, and perhaps a metal underfront (rather than plastic) , that towing with this vehicle may cause the underside to get damaged after even a small bump, bottoming out the vehicle.
I am writing to ask if anyone has seen this, and to warn those with towing plans to be aware.
We took the car and hitch camper out for 24 hours for its maiden voyage. The road was all paved until the campground, where we carefully backed the trailer onto a flat spot. There was a very slight incline, and we watched both vehicles while parking.
Upon leaving I suggested trying the off road button . No problem, the car/trailer came easily. After a 100yard drive to the pavement over a dirt road, we put it back in regular mode.
Driving off we heard a horrible noise in the engine/transmission.We checked the tires, chains but all looked fine (BTW we couldn't find how to open the hood}. Because we were out of cell range, we gingerly drove the vehicle about 20 miles watching the odometer/speedometer. The manual gear changer didnt seem to work, and it stayed in first on automatic.
AT the first signal, we contacted SUbaru and both vehicles were towed.
I went to the dealership the next day, and was shown the underside damage. It included 2 severe dents in the front/middle exhaust pipe, severe dent in the heat deflector, and the exhaust pipe pushed into the rear axle. I could not,nor my husband recall any noise indicating we had dragged the car over anything.I was devastated.
I am lucky to have great friends.One is versed in towing, and has a good friend that is a mechanic.
The explanation seemed simple once provided. The Ascent is rated to tow 5000lbs, but has a regular subaru suspension. It is likely as we pulled the trailer out of the campsite, that the car bottomed out and crushed the noted parts. The noise we heard may be the exhaust pipe rubbing on the axle.
The trailer specialist said that towing on a flat smooth surface is fine, but without heavy shock springs, and perhaps a metal underfront (rather than plastic) , that towing with this vehicle may cause the underside to get damaged after even a small bump, bottoming out the vehicle.
I am writing to ask if anyone has seen this, and to warn those with towing plans to be aware.