2020 Subaru Ascent Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2020 Subaru Ascent, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 5,900 miles. The words owners use most often: “battery dead” (20% of reports).
- 101electrical system complaints
- 5,900median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Battery dead: mentioned in 20 of 101 complaints (20%)
- Jump start: mentioned in 10 of 101 complaints (10%)
- Roadside assistance: mentioned in 9 of 101 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 52 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 101 complaints, 1 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.
The pressure sensor coming out of the transmission has failed, and it's pushed transmission fluid throughout the engine harness, transmission harness, the bull harness in the dash and the 02 sensors. All of those have been damaged. The car is now unsafe to drive due to the pressure sensor failing…
Component- steering locks Safety risk - vehicle cannot be started. Therefore if in an area of risk - cannot start vehicle. This randomly happens pulling into parking spaces. It is repetitive. Iâm older and alone, scary when it happens as you are stranded. And call to Subaru roadside only option…
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Forward Collision Avoidance front camera became inoperable. The pre-collision, the braking control, and the Lane Departure warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2020 Subaru Ascents have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 101 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2020 Subaru Ascent (31% of the 322 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 2020 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 5,900 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2020 Subaru Ascent?
The most frequent phrase is “battery dead”, in 20 of 101 complaints, followed by “jump start” (10).
Other 2020 Subaru Ascent problems
- Power Train problems (58)
See all 2020 Subaru Ascent problems or electrical system problems across all Ascent years.