Been having the smoking issue randomly for the past year. 2019 Ascent has 18k miles. Dealership says its condensation (in desert temps of over 100 degrees). They say it’s “normal” for a few but not all Ascents. Getting the runaround.
Yup I got the same run around... Looks like we need to look into lemon laws or breach of warranty as a group together so they can resolve this before all the warranty is up and we are stuck with a lemon...
Hi Daniel. I'm having the exact same issue. Subaru is trying to tell me it's "condensation" and a normal charactistic of the engine. Getting an absolute runaround and no solution. Dealership has acknowledged the problem but says hands are tied until Subaru does something. Very frustrating.
Same situation for me. I'm going to escalate as much as possible if it starts up again. Share this video and my other video as much as possible so they can see how their response to this problem will be shared publicly and reach a lot of people. If they decide to do the right thing and fix it I'll report that as well.
Hey I have a 2019 Ascent. Mine is currently doing the same thing. The Subaru dealer is not willing to deal with the issue. Can you pass along the SOA number ? And any info to get me pointed in the right direction?..
My Impreza did that randomly it was a 20/20 I assumed it may have been caused by a bad tank of gas interesting to see other people with the problem I have a brand new Crosstrek and it seems right away at startup sometimes to have that issue but it is cold out now so I guess it could still just be regular warm up condensation but strange that a lot of people have this random effect my guess is it has something to do with the very thin viscosity of the oil being used anymore
i have a 2019 crosstrek and it does smoke about 3 or 4 times a week . took it to the dealer they said that everything look fine. it would not smoke for them. they said the check it all out but i doubt it
I got a Crosstrek 18, Limited and it started doing that at 70k. People suggested changing the PVC valve so I did and the issue went way but only for a day. Next, I replaced the spark plugs and the issue went away again for a couple days. Warranty is expiring soon and I’m not sure what to do next.
How has car been since Short block has been replaced? We have been dealing with this issue since 9400 miles and now have 41k been to dealership 4+ times amd have the pvc replaced, intercooler gaskets and fuel pump amd it still does it.
My 2018 Crosstrek is doing it too. I've got videos now of it and have a few open cases with Subaru on it. Been a real pain the ass to deal with.i have 77k on mine.
I had a leak down test performed by the dealer and it yielded nothing. They're not budging unitl it happens on front of them. Mt warranty is expiring in the next few weeks so I'll be left leveraging my documentation when it gets worse.
My ‘19 crosstrek started doing this randomly (maybe once every couple weeks) at 85k miles now. Should have sold it when it started having the occasional pinging that everyone says is not a ping. I don’t know how these damn things have such a following, I was so stoked to purchase but never again. Lots of Subaru folks on the forums in denial about these issues.
Is there a way we can group up all of our videos together and submit to soa or to a lawyer somewhere.. This is really making it uneasy to transport my family or even use the vehicle just because we know this not normal..
I don't know of a way to group them, probably best bet is the subaru ascent forums? As for your concern, I can say this is very unlikely to cause the vehicle to break down anytime soon. I am more worried about long term reliability like 75+k miles once warranty is expired, then things start having problems due to oil consumption like catalytic converter, spark plugs, injectors, EGR / PCV etc
Hey Daniel! Experiencing the exact same thing on a 2018 Subaru Impreza. Getting the run around from the dealer. What was your experience with them and how did you guys get it fixed?
They never told me, I'm not sure they even know, or if Subaru will ever tell us the root cause since there was never an official recall for this, and the issue seems to be resolved in new builds.
Had a 2011 Outback that did this at 120k miles, and a 2015 CrossTrek that does this at 65k miles. That thick smoke is NOT condensation, its oil or antifreeze. Maybe head gaskets? or Cylinder ring failure.... Condensation will disperse about a foot away from the end of the tailpipe. That SMOKE is burning fluid from inside the motor. Subaru's all seem to suffer from this. Condensation does not make a cloud you could walk through, like a smoke machine at a party ! If you own this outside of warranty, sell it immediately.
That's nothing. If your PCV was bad, smoke would be thicker and consistent while the engine was running. Next time, smell the smoke. Sweet is coolant, and you'd know if it was oil. White smoke can also be condensation.
It was oil smoke. Something with either the turbo or valve seals most likely. Solved by the dealership replacing the short block and turbo, and possibly rebuilt valve seals although I can't confirm that was done.
Have you solved it? If a PCV valve did fix it for a while, then a catch can might be able to solve it. You shouldn't tho, Subaru should engineer a viable solution not the customer who just bought a new car.
Hi, They recently replaced the short block, and I'm 400 miles into that with no smoke yet. So it might be solved, but it will need to be a long term test as other "fixes" lasted for a while too. Thing is, even if it never does it again I'll never know why. I assume they replaced the pistons and rings, but how do I know if they replaced the valve seals, guides etc? All they wrote was "short block" so I may never find out the actual faulty component.
@@danielschmitt6622 Well usually short block doesn't include the head correct? then they prob didn't replace the stem seals etc.. But who knows man. This is so weird tbh, it's a mystery.
@danielschmitt6622 at subaru, replacing an engine, we get the block in one piece/whole unit. If heads are good they're sent out for machining with new valve guides/seals/ etc. Engine are not split and we do not change pistons or seals. If those are the suspected issues, Subaru will damage out a shortblock to be installed. Warranty work doesn't pay technicians to split cases and replace pistons and such anymore. Especially on these newer engines
Been having the smoking issue randomly for the past year. 2019 Ascent has 18k miles. Dealership says its condensation (in desert temps of over 100 degrees). They say it’s “normal” for a few but not all Ascents. Getting the runaround.
Yup I got the same run around... Looks like we need to look into lemon laws or breach of warranty as a group together so they can resolve this before all the warranty is up and we are stuck with a lemon...
@@carrollnguyen212 did u do a lemon case?
They keep trying to tell me that "it's normal". It totally started after I took it in for a recall about a year ago.
Hi Daniel. I'm having the exact same issue. Subaru is trying to tell me it's "condensation" and a normal charactistic of the engine. Getting an absolute runaround and no solution. Dealership has acknowledged the problem but says hands are tied until Subaru does something. Very frustrating.
Same situation for me. I'm going to escalate as much as possible if it starts up again. Share this video and my other video as much as possible so they can see how their response to this problem will be shared publicly and reach a lot of people. If they decide to do the right thing and fix it I'll report that as well.
@@danielschmitt6622 This poster claims in the comments that Subaru ended up replacing her vehicle. th-cam.com/video/0k0TFqs4hGY/w-d-xo.html
Yes, condensation in the exhaust is a common cause of white smoke on start up. Next time, smell it after it comes out of the exhaust
Hey I have a 2019 Ascent. Mine is currently doing the same thing. The Subaru dealer is not willing to deal with the issue. Can you pass along the SOA number ? And any info to get me pointed in the right direction?..
My Impreza did that randomly it was a 20/20 I assumed it may have been caused by a bad tank of gas interesting to see other people with the problem I have a brand new Crosstrek and it seems right away at startup sometimes to have that issue but it is cold out now so I guess it could still just be regular warm up condensation but strange that a lot of people have this random effect my guess is it has something to do with the very thin viscosity of the oil being used anymore
i have a 2019 crosstrek and it does smoke about 3 or 4 times a week . took it to the dealer they said that everything look fine. it would not smoke for them. they said the check it all out but i doubt it
Still no word on why this happens
I got a Crosstrek 18, Limited and it started doing that at 70k. People suggested changing the PVC valve so I did and the issue went way but only for a day. Next, I replaced the spark plugs and the issue went away again for a couple days. Warranty is expiring soon and I’m not sure what to do next.
Check Air flow meter sensor
I just bought a brz and it does the same thing. They are having me drive and come back for an oil consumption test
I have 2019 Subaru ascent it has 33 k miles and no every day. But sometimes when I started blow up a lot smoke .i don’t know what’s going wrong within
Lemon law
How has car been since Short block has been replaced?
We have been dealing with this issue since 9400 miles and now have 41k been to dealership 4+ times amd have the pvc replaced, intercooler gaskets and fuel pump amd it still does it.
It never did it again after the short block and turbo were replaced. I now traded it in for a 2022 premium.
@@danielschmitt6622 we actually lemon lawed ours and now have a 2022 onyx.
I am starting to randomly getting this on my 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. Bought it new and now has 46,000 miles
My 2018 Crosstrek is doing it too. I've got videos now of it and have a few open cases with Subaru on it. Been a real pain the ass to deal with.i have 77k on mine.
I had a leak down test performed by the dealer and it yielded nothing. They're not budging unitl it happens on front of them. Mt warranty is expiring in the next few weeks so I'll be left leveraging my documentation when it gets worse.
My 2018 subaru crosstrek just started doing this. 56k miles on it.
My ‘19 crosstrek started doing this randomly (maybe once every couple weeks) at 85k miles now. Should have sold it when it started having the occasional pinging that everyone says is not a ping. I don’t know how these damn things have such a following, I was so stoked to purchase but never again. Lots of Subaru folks on the forums in denial about these issues.
'19 crosstrek w/ 60k miles. does it every couple weeks
Is there a way we can group up all of our videos together and submit to soa or to a lawyer somewhere.. This is really making it uneasy to transport my family or even use the vehicle just because we know this not normal..
I don't know of a way to group them, probably best bet is the subaru ascent forums?
As for your concern, I can say this is very unlikely to cause the vehicle to break down anytime soon. I am more worried about long term reliability like 75+k miles once warranty is expired, then things start having problems due to oil consumption like catalytic converter, spark plugs, injectors, EGR / PCV etc
Hey Daniel! Experiencing the exact same thing on a 2018 Subaru Impreza. Getting the run around from the dealer. What was your experience with them and how did you guys get it fixed?
A Subaru Ascent hybrid will be added for 2026 MY
what was causing the smoke ?
They never told me, I'm not sure they even know, or if Subaru will ever tell us the root cause since there was never an official recall for this, and the issue seems to be resolved in new builds.
Had a 2011 Outback that did this at 120k miles, and a 2015 CrossTrek that does this at 65k miles. That thick smoke is NOT condensation, its oil or antifreeze. Maybe head gaskets? or Cylinder ring failure.... Condensation will disperse about a foot away from the end of the tailpipe. That SMOKE is burning fluid from inside the motor. Subaru's all seem to suffer from this. Condensation does not make a cloud you could walk through, like a smoke machine at a party ! If you own this outside of warranty, sell it immediately.
That's nothing. If your PCV was bad, smoke would be thicker and consistent while the engine was running. Next time, smell the smoke. Sweet is coolant, and you'd know if it was oil. White smoke can also be condensation.
It was oil smoke. Something with either the turbo or valve seals most likely. Solved by the dealership replacing the short block and turbo, and possibly rebuilt valve seals although I can't confirm that was done.
Have you solved it? If a PCV valve did fix it for a while, then a catch can might be able to solve it.
You shouldn't tho, Subaru should engineer a viable solution not the customer who just bought a new car.
Hi,
They recently replaced the short block, and I'm 400 miles into that with no smoke yet. So it might be solved, but it will need to be a long term test as other "fixes" lasted for a while too.
Thing is, even if it never does it again I'll never know why. I assume they replaced the pistons and rings, but how do I know if they replaced the valve seals, guides etc? All they wrote was "short block" so I may never find out the actual faulty component.
@@danielschmitt6622 Well usually short block doesn't include the head correct? then they prob didn't replace the stem seals etc.. But who knows man. This is so weird tbh, it's a mystery.
@danielschmitt6622 at subaru, replacing an engine, we get the block in one piece/whole unit. If heads are good they're sent out for machining with new valve guides/seals/ etc. Engine are not split and we do not change pistons or seals. If those are the suspected issues, Subaru will damage out a shortblock to be installed. Warranty work doesn't pay technicians to split cases and replace pistons and such anymore. Especially on these newer engines
Lemon law