2019 Subaru Ascent Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 160 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2019 Subaru Ascent, 36% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 10,550 miles. The words owners use most often: “battery died” (14% of reports).
- 160electrical system complaints
- 10,550median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 63%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Battery died: mentioned in 23 of 160 complaints (14%)
- Jump start: mentioned in 19 of 160 complaints (12%)
- Tailgate open: mentioned in 10 of 160 complaints (6%)
- Completely dead: mentioned in 8 of 160 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 86 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 160 complaints, 4 a fire.
Subaru Ascent electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Ascent | 2 | 13% | — |
| 2024 Ascent | 4 | 8% | — |
| 2023 Ascent | 4 | 9% | — |
| 2022 Ascent | 4 | 7% | — |
| 2021 Ascent | 18 | 17% | 1,667 |
| 2020 Ascent | 101 | 31% | 5,900 |
| 2019 Ascent | 160 | 36% | 10,550 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
All the safety systems become disabled and check Engine light goes on because transmission fluid is being pumped Out of a faulty secondary pressure sensor part 31878aa020,( defective and replaced with 31878aa021), into the engines wiring at the car computer, transmission computer, and bulkhead…
NHTSA Vehicle Safety Complaint Vehicle: 2019 Subaru Ascent VIN: [XXX] Mileage: 72,093 miles I am submitting this complaint because my 2019 Subaru Ascent experienced a serious transmission-related electrical failure that may represent a broader safety defect. Sewell Subaru of Dallas diagnosed an…
The battery is draining so quick that the car doesnt start at all. The battery drained completely in 3 days and itâs happening more often.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2019 Subaru Ascents have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 160 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2019 Subaru Ascent (36% of the 442 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2019 Subaru Ascent electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 10,550 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2019 Subaru Ascent?
The most frequent phrase is “battery died”, in 23 of 160 complaints, followed by “jump start” (19).
Other 2019 Subaru Ascent problems
See all 2019 Subaru Ascent problems or electrical system problems across all Ascent years.