2019 Subaru Ascent Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Ascent years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 9 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 442 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Ascent. That is the most of any Ascent model year in the database (8 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (160 complaints, 36%), typically at around 10,550 miles. Complaints mention 10 crashes, 6 fires, 8 injuries. There are 9 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 442owner complaints
- 9safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 10complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2019 Subaru Ascent problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 160 | 36% | 10,550 | “battery died” (14%) | — |
| Power Train problems | 89 | 20% | 17,231 | “cvt transmission” (7%) | — |
| Visibility/wiper problems | 66 | 15% | 14,000 | “windshield cracked” (30%) | $1,300 |
| Unknown or Other | 59 | 13% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 47 | 11% | 8,300 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 26 | 6% | 6,500 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 16 | 4% | 2,750 | — | — |
| Visibility | 15 | 3% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 12 | 3% | 21,150 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 11 | 2% | 475 | — | — |
| Suspension | 11 | 2% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 7 | 2% | 9,250 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 2% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 7 | 2% | 1,300 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 1% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 4 | 1% | 5,675 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 1% | 54,960 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 0% | 315 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 0% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 0% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 0% | 34,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 0% | 3,500 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 0% | 26,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2019 Subaru Ascent recalls (9)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid, Forester, and 2019-2026 Ascent vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured with an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire selection and rims."
Risk: An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will mail a new certification label to owners, free of charge. Owners may also choose to have a dealer install the new label, free of charge. Letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed August 27, 2026. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-26.
Electrical system:wiring:interior/under dashPark outside
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ascent vehicles. The ground bolt that secures the ground terminal of the Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater may have been improperly fastened, which could result in melting of the ground terminal and surrounding components.
Risk: A melting ground terminal increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised to park their vehicle away from structures and to avoid leaving the vehicle unattended while the engine is running. An owner who notices or smells smoke coming from the dash or driver's footwell area should immediately stop operating the vehicle and turn the ignition switch to the "Off" position. Dealers will replace the PTC heater ground bolts and if necessary, replace the ground wire and the connector holder, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 6, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRL-22.
Power train:driveline:chain/belt; power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
Risk: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 19, 2022. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855. Vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall once available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-21.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.
Risk: If the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-20.
Power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. The transmission hydraulic sensor may inaccurately measure the hydraulic fluid pressure.
Risk: If the fluid pressure is measured higher than its actual value, the hydraulic pressure will be reduced. If this occurs, the transmission drive chain may not have the proper tension, resulting in a loss of drive power and an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control unit. The hydraulic sensor harness will be replaced on vehicles with certain stored diagnostic trouble codes. In addition, any vehicle confirmed to have experienced low drive chain tension will have the transmission assembly will be replaced. All repairs will be free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUV-07.
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving.
Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the short block engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUW-08.
Power train:driveline:driveshaft
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, possibly resulting in the front portion of the driveshaft disconnecting.
Risk: If the front end of the driveshaft separates, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft assembly, including the center support brace, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUI-94.
Structure:body:roof and pillars
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Subaru Ascent vehicles. These vehicles may be missing spot welds on, or around, the B-Pillar, compromising vehicle strength.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the missing spot welds may compromise the vehicle's strength, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle to check for missing spot welds. If the welds are missing, the vehicle will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTU-80.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Cvt is slipping and failing internally, cvt assembly requires replacement.
Subaru of America has a Bulletin out that changes the front suspension arms for both front ends. The dealership made this correction and now the front end rattles like there are loose parts. Dealership says they donât hear it. Wonât investigate more unless I pay them a diagnostic fee. If Subaru…
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Accent. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the hood was shaking and vibrating abnormally. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that an unknown adjustment was needed. Additionally, the shocks…
Immediately after pushing the lift gate release button on the dash, a loud and constant alarm tone began. The gate would then not open using the button on the dash, remote, or handle on the exterior of the lift gate door. To access the items in the rear (and to stop the alarm), we needed to get the…
The vehicle has 178k miles on it currently. I had to have a transmission and transfer case replaced at 68k miles. Done by Subaru. At 168k miles I had to have a new front pump in the transmission case replaced. Repair done by Subaru. Now at 178k miles the second replacement transmission has…
Other Subaru Ascent years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ascent | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 Ascent | 15 | 1 |
| 2024 Ascent | 50 | 1 |
| 2023 Ascent | 45 | 4 |
| 2022 Ascent | 56 | 2 |
| 2021 Ascent | 103 | 2 |
| 2020 Ascent | 322 | 5 |
| 2019 | 442 | 9 |
See all Subaru Ascent problems by year, every Subaru model, or the Subaru VIN decoder.
Similar Subaru models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Subaru Ascent?
Owners most often report electrical system, power train, visibility/wiper problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 160 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2019 Subaru Ascent?
Yes, 9 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2019 Subaru Ascent a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Ascent model years, the 2019 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.