2020 Subaru Ascent Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Ascent years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 322 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Ascent. That ranks 2nd out of 8 Ascent model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (101 complaints, 31%), typically at around 5,900 miles. Complaints mention 6 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 322owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 6complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2020 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 | 101 | 31% | 5,900 | “battery dead” (20%) | — |
| Power Train problems | 58 | 18% | 22,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 56 | 17% | 4,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 49 | 15% | 8,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 29 | 9% | 5,495 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 26 | 8% | 8,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 14 | 4% | 1,200 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 12 | 4% | 9,750 | — | — |
| Visibility | 11 | 3% | 6,600 | — | — |
| Structure | 10 | 3% | 4,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 8 | 2% | 300 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 2% | 24,850 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 1% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 4 | 1% | 5,400 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 1% | 1,200 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 1% | 82,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 0% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Other/i Am Not Sure | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Tether, Lower Anchor (on Car Seat or Vehicle) | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2020 Subaru Ascent recalls (5)
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.
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020 Ascent vehicles. Due to an incorrect tapered hole in the housing, the front tie rod ends may not fit properly. The improper fit can result in the tie rods and housings being deformed during assembly and service replacement if excessive torque is applied.
Risk: The tie rods may separate from the housing, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and right front tie rod ends and housings, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRL-21.
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.
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.
After replacing tires I started hearing noises from rear wheel. I searched online and it appears there is an issue with wheel bearings on several Subaru models (see YOUTUBE video by FIXBOOK dated July 12, 2026). The issue was confirmed by my Subaru dealer on 9/10/2026. Subary wheel bearings prior…
Subaru has a known problem/design with their LED daytime running lamps on the Ascent model. Dealerships are seeing a high failure rate of these LED lights, and it is always with the left side headlamp assembly. The LED strip quits working. In my case my car has about 42,000 miles on it with…
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was skipping. The failure was recurrent. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V955000 (Power Train); however, the dealer informed the contact that the recall…
1. The vehicle is experiencing a transmission malfunction/failure. The dealership was able to replicate the issue and confirm the malfunction, which caused the check engine light to illuminate. The vehicle is currently being evaluated by the dealership, and any failed components should be available…
The Transmission is slipping on my 2020 Ascent. I had the recall wrk-21 performed in July of 2025. Over the last 6 months the car has been hesitant to go at low speeds and shakes at high speeds. Over the last month the transmission started to slip while accelerating , especially up hill. There…
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 | 102 | 2 |
| 2020 | 322 | 5 |
| 2019 Ascent | 442 | 9 |
See all Subaru Ascent problems by year, every Subaru model, or the Subaru VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Subaru Ascent?
Owners most often report electrical system, power train, unknown or other problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 101 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2020 Subaru Ascent?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2020 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 2020 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.