Subaru Ascent Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,034 owner complaints and 13 safety recalls on file for the Subaru Ascent, across 8 model years (2019–2026). The 2019 model year has the most complaints (442). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
Subaru Ascent years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Ascent year: 2019, 2020, 2021. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2019 Ascent: 442 complaints, 9 recalls
- 2020 Ascent: 322 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2021 Ascent: 102 complaints, 2 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2026 Ascent: 2 complaints, 1 recall
- 2025 Ascent: 15 complaints, 1 recall
- 2023 Ascent: 45 complaints, 4 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Subaru Ascent problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 293 | 7 | 1 |
| Power Train problems | 186 | 6 | 2 |
| Visibility/wiper problems | 152 | 7 | 0 |
| Engine problems | 104 | 7 | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 83 | 7 | 6 |
| Visibility | 54 | 5 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 49 | 8 | 13 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 38 | 6 | 3 |
| Structure | 33 | 6 | 1 |
| Lane Departure | 27 | 6 | 0 |
| Steering | 23 | 7 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 21 | 7 | 14 |
| Suspension | 21 | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 8 | 5 |
| Tires | 14 | 7 | 0 |
| Wheels | 14 | 6 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| Seats | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Other/i Am Not Sure | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Tether, Lower Anchor (on Car Seat or Vehicle) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Subaru Ascent problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2020: electrical system (101) · power train (58)
- 2019: electrical system (160) · power train (89) · visibility/wiper (66)
All Subaru Ascent model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ascent | 2 | 1 | 5★ | Forward Collision Avoidance | |
| 2025 Ascent | 15 | 1 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Ascent | 50 | 1 | 5★ | Visibility | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2023 Ascent | 45 | 4 | 5★ | Service Brakes | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2022 Ascent | 56 | 2 | 5★ | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2021 Ascent | 102 | 2 | 5★ | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2020 Ascent | 322 | 5 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2019 Ascent | 442 | 9 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Subaru: all Subaru models · Subaru VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Subaru Ascent years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2019 (442), 2020 (322), 2021 (102) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Ascent year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Subaru Ascent?
Electrical System, with 293 complaints across 7 model years.
How many recalls does the Subaru Ascent have?
13 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.