2019-2024 Subaru Ascent 2.4L Turbo Engine (FA24F): Problems, Longevity, and Specs

Subaru is certainly not living through the best years of its life. The brand nearly lost its dominance in all car markets in the world and keeps losing clients due to slow progress in technologies and the design of its new vehicles. But some models are just different and really deserve your attention.

Today, we'll tell you about the new Subaru Ascent 2.4L turbocharged engine. We'll focus exactly on the powerplant, describe its problems and some advantages for your consideration. After reading this article, you will know everything a car buyer needs to know about the engine in their future vehicle. You will also be ready to compare the Ascent with any other SUV on the market.

Key features and my opinion about the engine

• Production years:2017-now
• Average lifespan of FA24F:150,000-170,000 miles
• Fuel supply type:direct injection
• Power range:260-264 hp
• Fuel efficiency:average
• Engine block material:aluminum
• Engine reliability score:medium
• The most common problems:carbon buildup on intake valves, weak phasers, the engine is afraid of overheating, software issues.

Key facts about the 2.4L Turbo engine in the Subaru Ascent

The Ascent is just the new name for the model called Tribeca - a pretty popular car from Subaru. But the Ascent is like a totally new generation with a lot of cool features. Although its design doesn't look really futuristic, the car is great, it feels absolutely wonderful when you drive it and offers you a really impressive interior with high-quality materials.

In terms of under-the-hood things, you will have the only available option of the engine - the 2.4L turbocharged Subaru engine codenamed FA24F. Initially, this engine was introduced in 2019 for the new Ascent model, but after that, it was also installed in the Outback, WRX, and Levorg models.

Here's what you may want to know about this engine:

• the 2.4-liter engine is turbocharged and offers 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft torque which is pretty cool for this displacement and only 4 cylinders;
• the FA24F engine is all aluminum, it has a direct injection system which makes it very efficient and pretty cool in terms of power;
• the timing system is driven by a chain with some of the traditional problems for all Subaru chain engines;
• the phasers are installed in both intake and exhaust camshafts, the valve timing system is called Dual AVCS here;
• the twin-scroll turbo is pretty efficient but it actually gets the maximum out of this engine;
• the Ascent comes with a CVT transmission without any alternatives - bad news for those who want longevity;
• with the 2.4L Turbo engine, you will get approximately 20 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on highways - Subaru has never been concerned with an economy much.

Well, the engine is thought to be pretty good and reliable by professionals. But we hate the idea to couple it with the CVT. This transmission is not as durable as the engine, so you will have to repair or replace it at least once during the lifetime of the vehicle. And this is one of the most expensive repairs you will face with this car.

The engine itself is great. It's really powerful and feels just as it has to feel in this car. The quite bug SUV will accelerate from zero to 60 MPG for about 6.7 seconds, as Subaru says. And it's really fast. Also, the Ascent feels really comfortable and seems to be a great family SUV - you will even be surprised how good it is on the road.

How long will the 2.4L Turbo last in the Ascent?

The Subaru Ascent engine will last long. It's a good 4-cylinder engine with solid displacement. Even though it's turbocharged, the turbo won't take a lot of life from it. The average lifespan of this engine is thought to be around 160,000 miles. Please keep in mind, we are talking about the average lifespan, not the maximum!

Some engines will die earlier because of a lack of good service and TLC. Some will go far more than 200K miles if they get good maintenance. But after 160,000 miles, it shouldn't be economically wise to continue using this engine because of several major problems that will have developed by this time.

Also, CVT is one of the main causes of concern. It may fall apart at around 100,000 miles or even earlier. The heavy vehicle and powerful engine will not let it live much longer. The best choice is to replace the transmission but you will be surprised to know the price of the new one.

Overall, the engine is good and durable. The transmission spoils the situation a little, but if you are getting the new Ascent, you will most likely not have this problem for a long time.

What are the common problems with the Subaru Ascent 2.4L engine?

The engine is really good but it still has some common issues. Also, you should know that it's still a very new powerplant and we still don't know what usually happens with it after it reaches 150,000 miles or more. Just several engines all around the country have done this and we can't rely on the information from their owners.

Here are some issues that you should expect to happen with the 2.4L engine in the Subaru SUV:

1. Timing chain problems

The timing chain is said to live as long as the engine but it won't survive even 150K miles. The chain will stretch a little at 100,000 miles and will need replacement. If you replace it at this point, the engine will go another 100K miles without timing system problems. But if you wait and see what happens, the chain will jump a tooth or two and will mince your valves.

After this, the repair will cost you literally thousands, so chain replacement is one of the main things to plan for the maintenance routine.

2. Direct injection issues

The main problem with this type of injection is that the fuel is supplied directly into the combustion chamber, so it won't go through valves. After some time, the intake valves will get a lot of carbon on them. The buildup can be cleaned professionally, but it takes some time and money. This is the problem you can't do anything with - just have the valves cleaned regularly.

3. Phasers may fail prematurely

Phasers are installed on both camshafts here and are very tender. They demand a certain quality and viscosity of oil to operate correctly. If you use the oil with poor quality or just improper viscosity, the phasers will fail at 40-50 thousand miles and will demand expensive repair. Also, your engine may get even worse failures if this problem is not addressed immediately.

4. Turbo issues

Although the engine is quite new, we've been able to find several forum threads discussing the turbo problem. Again, it's all about the quality of oil because people who had problems with Ascent turbochargers, in most cases, used aftermarket options of oil, not the one branded by Subaru.

If you feel a lack of power, see black smoke from the exhaust, or hear a strange noise at acceleration, you should have the turbocharger inspected.

5. Unstable idle RPM

This is one of the most common issues with these engines. They all came earlier with this problem that was developing after just 10K miles. After that, Subaru released several updates of software but they haven't solved the problem completely. Still, many owners of new Ascents say they notice bad idling RPM at times. This is a software-related issue, so you will most likely do nothing with this.

What should you know to prolong the life of the Ascent's engine?

You should understand that the FA24F engine is very tender and needs proper maintenance. TLC is badly needed if you have a Subaru vehicle. Our first tip - just always go to the dealer once you need something to be repaired, inspected, or maintained in your vehicle. Dealers will use only OEM parts and fluids and will have the needed expertise to repair your Ascent.

Also, remember these important guidelines:

• only use OEM fluids and filters when maintaining your vehicle;
• keep an eye on the turbocharger's health - this is extremely important;
• if you hear some rattling from the engine, have the chain replaced immediately;
• don't ignore error messages and lights on your dash;
• pay attention to the health of the CVT;
• avoid the pedal-to-the-metal type of driving - this will affect both, the engine and the CVT.

Overall, the recommendations are pretty common and you can easily take this engine to at least 160,000 miles and even further than that. But be ready to repair or replace the CVT once within this mileage and also to have one chain-replacement repair.

It's not right to assure you that the engine is perfect and cheap to maintain. It's pretty expensive to drive given the gas mileage is low and the maintenance costs are high. But this is a cool engine that feels great on the road and gives a lot of emotions when driving. So, many of you will find the 2.4L Turbo in the Subaru Ascent an ideal engine for different purposes.