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Top Three Things You Do Not Like - But You Love Your Ascent Anyway

43135 Views 156 Replies 81 Participants Last post by  magus
1. The radio displaying the volume level. When I am listening to a song it is fairly loud, then I want to change the channel so I turn the volume down and try a different channel. BUT the volume level screen comes up and delays you from channel changing. Its just a second maybe two but it drives me crazy!

2. Cheap felt instead of carpet on the floor. Might as well have been vinyl or rubber, would not look any cheaper.

3. When you stop and get out and try to open the rear door to get your package out of the back seat the door is still locked. You have to unlock with the switch on the door or fumble for your key.
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1) My hood vibrates too much it looks like it will fly off. Speed limit here is 70.

2) Rear cargo light should of been on top not side blocked when full of cargo.

3) Radio volume display is a nuisance more than a help especially when using navigation.

3.5) Sorry had to squeeze this in, 19 cups holders but the one in the console I need the most should have an adjustable padding like Dodge Caravan so drinks stay put and not spell all over.
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3. When you stop and get out and try to open the rear door to get your package out of the back seat the door is still locked. You have to unlock with the switch on the door or fumble for your key.
Change your settings to unlock the doors when you put it in park. I never have to unlock the doors unless I forget to put it in park.
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1) My hood vibrates too much it looks like it will fly off. Speed limit here is 70.
adjust rubber stops under the hood ...
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1. The little plastic thing that holds the floor mat for driver in places is exactly where I like to rest my left foot and always annoys me.

2. No trunk light

3. Middle seats can't go forward with car seats on them (VW could do this)
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1). CVT Simulated Shifting - Eliminate or make this a user selectable option.

2). Radio plays after turning off car - Why?? Very annoying. The owner should control the radio, not the car.

3). Squeaks and Rattles everywhere. Fix one, two more pop up.
1. No hidden away USB ports to permanently connect pen drive, SD card or iPod without a mess of cables over your console. Solved using an extremely tiny micro-SD card reader, can barely see it. USB charging ports also too exposed in the console, you can put the phone hidden in the space provided for that, but the cables have to come out. I solved it with a USB charger into the 12V outlet that actually is properly hidden in that same spot for the phones.


2. No 12V outlet in the middle row? That's where my cooler used to go plugged in previous vehicle. Now I'll need wires hanging all across the vehicle.


3. The step up in the floor between the captain chairs.
1) CVT shifting.
2) CVT shifting..
3) CVT shifting...
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1. To echo zulater: "CVT shifting". The transmission in this vehicle is just terrible at shifting. Not smooth at all.
2. Front door window glass waviness
3. Fix front console cup holders to actually be useful (I still have no clue what "cup" or bottle they used to model the design of them after)
1) CVT shifting.
2) CVT shifting..
3) CVT shifting...

I'm wondering if they modified the programming a bit on later models. I picked my Ascent up in Sept and it seems to exhibit CVT behaviour (RPMS stay steady) under mild acceleration and only do a "fake shift" under hard acceleration, but my fake shifts are still smooth.


I've done 0-60 with the RPMs staying almost steady at 2200 rpm. Not fast of course, but reasonable city driving fast.


Maybe can ask the dealer if there's updated firmware for the CVT?


My 3 things:
1) Disabling typing on the infotainment screen while in motion. My son can type while I'm driving!

2) Not being able to unlock all doors with one click on the remote. I don't have push start so don't get that option. (Will ask the dealer tomorrow)
3) "Ugly" look when the trailer hitch cover is removed.
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I'm wondering if they modified the programming a bit on later models. I picked my Ascent up in Sept and it seems to exhibit CVT behaviour (RPMS stay steady) under mild acceleration and only do a "fake shift" under hard acceleration, but my fake shifts are still smooth.


I've done 0-60 with the RPMs staying almost steady at 2200 rpm. Not fast of course, but reasonable city driving fast.


Maybe can ask the dealer if there's updated firmware for the CVT?
Mine, which was delivered in late September, most definitely exhibits poor "fake shifting", especially when cold. It has been to the dealer, the issue pushed all the way to an FSE who said there were no updates and the behavior was considered "characteristic" of the CVT. Obviously I am displeased with their response and has been a constant source of agony for me. So either you drive your differently than some other folks or yours is special in some way.
1. CVT SHIFTING!!
2. Quality control
3. Lack of decent wheel options.
1. The rear hatch does not have a light that turns on when the hatch is open and the light that is there is not mounted on the top but mounted on the side?!?!


2. Brake squeal


3. No LED headlights standard on ALL trims
1) CVT shifting
2) Non removable cup holder liner on the Touring
3) Starlink Weather alerts that can’t be disabled.
Mine, which was delivered in late September, most definitely exhibits poor "fake shifting", especially when cold. It has been to the dealer, the issue pushed all the way to an FSE who said there were no updates and the behavior was considered "characteristic" of the CVT. Obviously I am displeased with their response and has been a constant source of agony for me. So either you drive your differently than some other folks or yours is special in some way.
I took delivery end of October. I feel no shifts at all. 2200 rpm all the way, I did 0 to 93mph and it behaves smooth as butter. Perhaps yours has a problem and it gets stuck due to friction or something, then you feel it "jumping" through ratios rather than a continuously varying curve. I read in this forum about the fake shifts in various posts, there's no shifts in mine unless I put it in manual mode. Either there were different firmwares coming out, or some transmissions have a problem. Keep fighting, make the dealer drive yours and another one from their inventory and compare them.
1). CVT Simulated Shifting - Eliminate or make this a user selectable option.

2). Radio plays after turning off car - Why?? Very annoying. The owner should control the radio, not the car.

3). Squeaks and Rattles everywhere. Fix one, two more pop up.
That's an American ingenuity, commonly features on domestics.
1. No hidden away USB ports to permanently connect pen drive, SD card or iPod without a mess of cables over your console. Solved using an extremely tiny micro-SD card reader, can barely see it. USB charging ports also too exposed in the console, you can put the phone hidden in the space provided for that, but the cables have to come out. I solved it with a USB charger into the 12V outlet that actually is properly hidden in that same spot for the phones.
1. Right now this is my biggest criticism. I'd like a 12V and 2 USB inside the center console storage compartment for all the little things I'd like permanently connected but out of the way. I'd also like the center dash cubby (where the 12V is now) to be bigger -- about 25% wider, 50% deeper and twice as tall so my phone could slot nearly completely in.

Some of the cell phone storage could be mitigated if we had a USB port on the left side of the dash where the shelf is. Seems kind of ideal for a phone, but with no USB jack nearby you've got no way to plug it in.

Maybe a USB port near the rear view mirror/cabin light area would be nice, too, for plugging in dash cams mounted to the sun visors.

2. No keyless entry/locking on the rear doors. My last car, a 2007 Volvo, did this. I could just open the rear doors when locked and then close and lock them on the door handle without a key or switching to the front doors.

3. Stop EyeSight from taking over the center dash top display when on cruise control. That display is nearly worthless from an information perspective (it doesn't even indicate your distance setting). A related center dash display gripe is the "favorites" option has a widget for oil pressure, but not one for coolant temperature or battery voltage.
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3. Stop EyeSight from taking over the center dash top display when on cruise control. That display is nearly worthless from an information perspective (it doesn't even indicate your distance setting). A related center dash display gripe is the "favorites" option has a widget for oil pressure, but not one for coolant temperature or battery voltage.
This one is huge! I like to have the top dash display showing mpg and miles to empty (or whatever I choose), and every time I engage cruise control, the display shifts to the useless (zero info) graphic. I can understand features that some customers like and others don't, but this one is just a human factors mistake.
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When volume is moved to 19, the 'dial' is at 12 o'clock - 50% of the available 'dial' filled, however 20 is what would make sense to be 50% and at 12 o'clock position... Thoughts?

I don't consider myself OCD, but my kid also has the same level of disgust (we say this very tongue in cheek.

I'd rather it just topped out at 11 (spinal tap reference)
1. radio, a) when adjusting the volume, the volume indicator should not take over full screen and prevent you from changing stations, b) screen is large enough that various presets for radio could fit on bottom of screen, even while navi is showing c) overall sound quality is poor (have H-K system in Touring model) in most instances. The H-K in my old GL450 was much better, and the THX certified system in my Lincoln is incredible.



2.Seats: a) Heated seats and steering wheel are sloooowww to heat up. b) vented seats are incredibly loud. Every car I've owned has had ventilated seats, and these are the only ones that I can not only hear, but are intrusively loud


3. CVT shudders at low speeds sometimes when cold. Overall, I don't mind the CVT at all except in this specific instance. Also, gas mileage is terrible, still averaging 17.5 or so, and I am easy on the gas, use adaptive cruise on the highway, and drive with A/C off in most instances in the wintertime.


4. Sunroof does not fully close when you push the button forward.



OK, that's four. Sorry.
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