What 432 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Ascent

I have a 2019 Subaru Ascent Limited model with 96,xxx miles as of January 2025. In 2023, there was a safety recall for the PTC heater ground bolt sent first class mail for multiple year Ascent models. This recall was completed by local subaru dealership on 3/27/2023 stating "WRL 22 completed. Removed ground bolts and cleaned threads. Found no signs of heat damage. Removed and replaced bolts." Move forward to Saturday, [XXX]. I remote started vehicle from inside the house while on vacation in Bristol Tennesee. Car was running for roughly 5 minutes, when fire alarms inside the house starting going off. Seemed odd considering nothing was going on inside. Walked inside to see large amounts of white smoke coming from the windows of the Ascent. I was able to jump into the car and turn the engine off. I opened all 4 doors to let the car air out. I checked the engine, nothing seemed off. I then turned my attention to the air cabin filter, everything seemed normal as well. After the engine cooled and aired out, there is smoke damage to the vehicle. I was able to transport the car safely to Wallace Subaru which was less than 0.25 mile from our airbnb. I was quickly notified by the service technician that the car is not safe to drive until it was fixed. After further investigation, it was found that the PTC ground bolt has failed again, and this time melting the wiring harness and bolt around it. This was right next to the carpet and put my life as well as my wife, who is [XXX] and my [XXX] daughter. Thankfully we weren't in the vehicle when this occurred. There was no warning. No check engine light, nothing. No other issues leading into the incident. Car is still parked in Bristol TN at the dealership and I am 5 hours away in Lexington KY. Subaru has been uncooperative with this situation and is avoiding talking to me or making this situation better. I literally have no answers. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11638826

Over the course of 5 years, a lot has been mechanically wrong with our vehicle. Each service appointment yielded a 'cannot duplicate' response. Recently, my car has been in the service department a few times. My car had recall work performed on a ground bolt, and my husband advised them that the car had a 'rich fuel' smell when starting with the hood open. I've complained since 2021 of a smell when pulling up the mountain. The smell is what I described as a perm solution smell. Each time, the response was 'cannot duplicate.' In February, I took the car in to have the exhaust inspected because it was getting louder each passing day. I was advised that the entire exhaust needed to be replaced, and I would be responsible for costs. I brought my car home, unrepaired, and called Subaru of America to file a claim through them. I had repeatedly expressed concerns, and nothing was done, yet I'm expected to foot the bill now. Since February 12th, I have been back and forth with Subaru and just made the appointment to get the exhaust work completed, with a small contribution from Subaru. However, this past Saturday, [XXX] my vehicle caught on fire while driving. I am fine, but my vehicle has now been deemed a total loss. As I was descending the mountain, I smelled the same 'perm solution' smell, and shortly after, there was smoke coming from under the hood. The smoke entered the cabin as I pulled off the road. Upon exiting the vehicle, flames and smoke were visible from the hood. I grabbed my purse and ran, called 911, and watched my vehicle engulfed in flames. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11583533

WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK APPROXIMATELY 09:10 PM(25901 RIVERWOODS RD, METTAWA, IL 60045) NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN AUTOMOBILE FIRE I-94 1 MILE SOUTH OF ROUTE 176(EXIT 16(/ROCKLAND ROAD). AFTER NO MORE THAN A MINUTE ON THE INTERSTATE, I NOTICED SOME SMOKE AND PULLED IMMEDIATELY OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (AROUND 1.5-2.0 MILES FROM WORK) AND AROUND 5 MIN INTO DRIVE FROM DEPARTURE FROM ADDRESS LISTED ABOVE. WAS FORTUNATE THAT OFFICER M ZAWIEROWSKI WAS DRIVING BY AND ABLE TO ASSIST AND CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. WHEN OFFICER STATED WENT BACK TO CAR NOTICED THAT CAR LOCKED UP ALL DOORS AND STATED HOW FORTUNATE YOU (WIFE) WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE. THE ONLY WARNING WAS SMELL AND SMOKE, MINUTE LATER CAR WAS BURNING AND WITHIN SHORT TIME HEAT AND SMOKE WAS SEVERE THAT STATE POLICE CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT

NHTSA ODI 11388349

THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY (STATIONARY). THE CAR WAS HAVING ELECTRICAL/BATTERY ISSUES IN THE MORNING. I CHARGED THE BATTERY, THEN STARTED THE CAR AND LEFT IT RUNNING IN THE DRIVEWAY, WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE, THE ENGINE OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE MARSHAL DETERMINED THAT AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE IGNITED THE ENGINE. AFTER POSTING THE PHOTOS OF THE FIRE ON FACEBOOK, WE RECEIVED MULTIPLE COMMENTS THAT OTHER PEOPLE'S SUBARU'S HAVE HAD BATTERY/ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A SPECIALIST EXAMINE THE VEHICLE TO HELP DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11383643