Subaru tops reliablity charts from Consumer Reports

[20WRX20]

Originally Posted by Brahmzy

Reliable. LOL!

Yeah, no.

Typical paid CR deal here - it was just Subarus turn.

CR is an independent publisher and they buy all of their own products and rate them accordingly. They don’t accept money from manufacturers from what I could tell. If you have anything stating otherwise feel free to share.

Subaru is at the top because their cars are simple and use the same parts across the entire platform. They don’t have a bunch of new engines/new tech/new chassis out there right now. All of this stuff breaks initially and requires TSBs to make reliable over time. This is why you never buy the first few model years of a new platform/engine/etc.

CVT problems aside (which I’m convinced is mostly due to lack of fluid changes more than anything else) these cars are pretty reliable. Basic turbo motors, 6 speed trans that has proven reliable even with added power. Not too much tech.

This is not surprising at all.

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[Apb_pools]

Mine have been reliable and hold their resale value like no other car in my experience.

[Kostamojen]

Originally Posted by Brahmzy

If you think these are always on the up n up, you're clearly naive.

You have J.D. Power confused with Consumer Reports.

[YungBoba]

Originally Posted by Brahmzy

That's the thing too, certain metrics don't reflect a lot of the truth. Base Foresters, Outbacks and Crosstreks have had pretty great reliability. Low torque boring appliances - and those are the top sellers. The flagship SUV Ascent? Reliably disaster since its release, yet this metric doesn't sway the whole?

This is mentioned in the article that OP linked.

Of Subaru’s seven models in our survey, two—the Forester and Impreza—have well-above-average reliability scores, while the Crosstrek, Legacy, Outback, and Ascent rate above average and average.

The Ascent is rated as just "average" by CR. The article also mentions how they rank manufacturers as a whole:

Consumer Reports’ brand-level rankings are based on the average predicted reliability score of the models in each brand’s lineup. We must have sufficient data for at least two models to rank each brand. The data allows us to determine whether a brand’s rank went up or down from its position in our last survey. For each brand, we list every model for which we have data.

Sorry that you are having issues with your Ascent and CR would agree with you that it's the least reliable ICE Subaru model (the Solterra is actually ranked "below average" although to be fair, Toyota also shares the blame for that). That said, as you mentioned, the rest of Subaru's current lineup is really good for what they are, just appliances. Are they fun or exciting or groundbreaking in any way, not really, but they're great at what they do which is basic transportation with standard AWD, great packaging, and fantastic safety and visibility. Reliability for most of Subaru's lineup has gotten a lot better over the years after they phased out the EJ motors.

For reference, CR scored Subaru at 68, Lexus 65, Toyota 62, so it's not like they are saying Subaru is head and shoulders above the next closest competitors at this point. Lexus/Toyota have also had MAJOR issues in the last few years (over 100K recalled Tundras/Lexus LX for engines going kaboom, Cablegate for Rav4 hybrid models, etc). Overall brand rankings like this are helpful from a 10,000 foot view but of course buyers should always do their own research down to the specific model and trim to find out if what they're buying is the right choice for them and be aware of potential issues.

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by Brahmzy

..... The flagship SUV Ascent? Reliably disaster since its release, yet this metric doesn't sway the whole?

Cause it hasn't. It is not as bad as you keep saying. The CVT warranty extension you keep preaching?.... is just on 2019-2020s(more than the Ascent also). The brake issue? It's not "reliability". It just sucks(not saying it's not an issue). And the Ascent IS swaying the number. It should be higher!

[Kostamojen]

Another Consumer Reports article making Subaru look good, and a review of the new Forester too...

[Brahmzy]

It sucks that when people read something they that, they then immediately think the entire Subaru lineup must be reliable. It's not. Their flagship SUV has a horrendous reliability track record. Truly horrendous.

It good to see that Subaru seems to have nailed the low-powered appliance-type segment well. I'd still like to see some high-mileage stats about reliability in that segment.

[SoDealer]

Originally Posted by Brahmzy

It sucks that when people read something they that, they then immediately think the entire Subaru lineup must be reliable. It's not. Their flagship SUV has a horrendous reliability track record. Truly horrendous.

It good to see that Subaru seems to have nailed the low-powered appliance-type segment well. I'd still like to see some high-mileage stats about reliability in that segment.

they can see for themselves that the Ascent is average reliability. that's an improvement from the poor and below average ratings it had for the earlier model years.

[SCRAPPYDO]

my nieces brand new cross trek just blew two oil seals off the valve covers at 4500 miles


But that is anecdotal.

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by SoDealer

they can see for themselves that the Ascent is average reliability. that's an improvement from the poor and below average ratings it had for the earlier model years.

No no no. "My" Ascent year is bad; so, ALL Ascents are bad. FOREVER!

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by SCRAPPYDO

my nieces brand new cross trek just blew two oil seals off the valve covers at 4500 miles


But that is anecdotal.

Brand new as in the redesign running 0W16?

[SCRAPPYDO]

I am pretty sure it is a 2024 model

[Kostamojen]

Valve covers or cam case seals?

[YungBoba]

Originally Posted by Brahmzy

It sucks that when people read something they that, they then immediately think the entire Subaru lineup must be reliable. It's not. Their flagship SUV has a horrendous reliability track record. Truly horrendous.

It good to see that Subaru seems to have nailed the low-powered appliance-type segment well. I'd still like to see some high-mileage stats about reliability in that segment.

Who is this "they" that you are talking about? Nobody here is saying "buy a Subaru, any Subaru and we guarantee you will never ever ever have issues, trust me".

It's pretty clear from the CR photos posted that the Ascent is pretty poorly ranked relative to the rest of the lineup, scoring only 50 points. The next closest is the Outback at 61.

[Brahmzy]

Originally Posted by JustyWRC

No no no. "My" Ascent year is bad; so, ALL Ascents are bad. FOREVER!

Quit your f’ing lying and go hang out on the Ascent forums. The problems continue. Full motor failures, continued trans failures. It’s a thing. You’re just pushing your agenda. Tons of cases. Well known problems even the dealers admit to. Except you. You’re like a bratty child that sticks her fingers in her ears “la la la!”

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by Brahmzy

Quit your f’ing lying and go hang out on the Ascent forums. The problems continue. Full motor failures, continued trans failures. It’s a thing. You’re just pushing your agenda. Tons of cases. Well known problems even the dealers admit to. Except you. You’re like a bratty child that sticks her fingers in her ears “la la la!”

I have no reason to lie. I'll be the first one to tell someone what problems to expect with a Subaru and I have REPEATEDLY said that I know there were/are issues. They are just not to the degree you are portraying them. Agenda? You make it sound like I make money trying to convince people on a forum I'll never meet(I've met a whopping 3 of you). I have zero agenda outside debating the type of misinformation(one car is bad.....the entire line is bad) you spew.



There are "failures" with every line. Just a few posts ago talking about one in a Crosstrek. So, according to you, ALL Crosstreks are now garbage. CR shows the Ascent the lowest of Subaru's models. So? I am sure the Ascent forums are a fraction of the total number of owners and are likely those that looked to the internet for answers to those issues. "Tons of cases"?......You counted them? Lemme know the exact number and then we'll talk. Just like your complaints of the FXT. TOTALLY legit complaints. And an issue I recognized here. With you. That didn't make the entire run bad.



Subaru's issue that bugs me is the battery drain issue.

[Russ_G93]

Originally Posted by Brahmzy

Quit your f'ing lying and go hang out on the Ascent forums. The problems continue. Full motor failures, continued trans failures. It's a thing. You're just pushing your agenda. Tons of cases. Well known problems even the dealers admit to. Except you. You're like a bratty child that sticks her fingers in her ears "la la la!"

Well to be fair, the same failed "Turbos, Transmissions, 4cyl (Cyl misfires)" can be found from Old to New forum posts for: Ford Ranger, Ford Mustang Ecoboost, Ford Bronco (Big and Small iterations), Chevy Colorado, as well as the Ascent. Not to mention the Class action lawsuit on the 2024 2.4 Turbo Tacoma Transmission. (Ranger5g, Coloradofans, Bronco6g, Ascentforums, mustang6g).

It all comes down to either 2 different things
1. Poor Design Application (Paper to Production), or
2. Poor Power to Weight.
Heavier vehicles (4100lbs and Up), the 4cyl turbo set ups just seem to not be adequate. Not sure if its a "Pressure's" thing or just lack of quality control. Either way its the same issues across the board for these heavier vehicles - Turbos, Trans, Misfires.

You would think there would be a mass reporting of Outback 2.4liter Turbo failures as much of the powertrain is mirrored in the Ascent, but no not really. When it comes to Ascent vs Outback it really just comes down to Weight and Transmission TR690.
Although Ive heard not even a peep about the TR690 in the CVT WRX's having any issues. No Youtube videos or Reddit posts about the VB WRX CVT trans going out (Yet - I could be wrong, but I feel like it wouldve been a huge deal if there were some prominent posts), only ones pertaining to the Stock 6speed Manual (Which Ive had no problems thus far at 15k miles). That said, we might as well talk some crap on the Ford Rangers/Chevy Colorado's as well. Interestingly enough, the Ecoboost Mustang is about a 3500-3800 lb car, but peoples Turbos still fail along with cylinder misfires. (Mustangecoboost.net forums).
The GR Corolla isn't innocent either, Plenty of Engines failing on both reddit and the GrCorollaforum.com forums - Not to mention the awd system conking out from heat. Really Hope that the New Celica does not have the same "Overheating" issues.

[Russ_G93]

Originally Posted by JustyWRC

Subaru's issue that bugs me is the battery drain issue.

I used to tell my customers all the time (And this was most peoples issue), Don't leave your fob so close to the vehicle when parked at night. Within so many feet, the Car/Key will continue to ping each other, and drain the battery. A lot of older customers for some reason just liked to leave their fob in the vehicle when parked at night, or would hang their key up right next to the car in the garage, or in a basket literally right next to the garage door, still within "feet" of their vehicle.
I always disliked when people would come in during the summer time with Headlamp issues, and I would ask them if they leave their lamps in the on position during the 100 degree weather, and they would go "Oh I wasn't aware they were constantly on, isn't it in Automatic mode?" then I'd have to show them the difference.

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by Russ_G93

I used to tell my customers all the time (And this was most peoples issue), Don't leave your fob so close to the vehicle when parked at night. Within so many feet, the Car/Key will continue to ping each other, and drain the battery. A lot of older customers for some reason just liked to leave their fob in the vehicle when parked at night, or would hang their key up right next to the car in the garage, or in a basket literally right next to the garage door, still within "feet" of their vehicle.
I always disliked when people would come in during the summer time with Headlamp issues, and I would ask them if they leave their lamps in the on position during the 100 degree weather, and they would go "Oh I wasn't aware they were constantly on, isn't it in Automatic mode?" then I'd have to show them the difference.

I get those folks ever so often.


We had/have an '18 or 19 in that has power to the window switches when off. They looked at the diagram and saw where the power fed through a relay. They pulled the relay and it still has power.


As for the WRX SPT, it's beefed a bit different than the Ascent. I've mentioned this before; but, when they had them out in the beginning filming for the commercials, they brought several in case they overheated them, they could switch to another and keep going(knowing how the HTCVT could overheat having fun). They said they beat on that one car all day long without issue. Folks wanna make fun of "SPT"; but, they built that one to handle it apparently. Does that mean it's perfect? Surely not. But, as mentioned, it's been several model years and I haven't heard people complaining of it's reliability. Just that it's a CVT.