2021 Subaru Ascent Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Ascent years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Ascent. That ranks 3rd out of 8 Ascent model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (19 complaints, 19%), typically at around 88,271 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 1 fire, 3 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 102owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 19 | 19% | 88,271 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 18 | 18% | 1,667 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 16 | 16% | — | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 15 | 15% | 1,500 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 14 | 14% | 3,344 | — | — |
| Engine | 12 | 12% | 300 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 7 | 7% | 1,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 7 | 7% | 2,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 7 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 3% | 3,141 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 1% | 19,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Tether, Lower Anchor (on Car Seat or Vehicle) | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 Subaru Ascent recalls (2)
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.
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 my husband replaced the 12V battery in my 2021 Subaru Ascent Touring ($90,000, fully paid off), Apple CarPlay stopped connecting via USB entirely. Android Auto and Bluetooth continued working fine on the same phone, cable, and port, proving the defect was isolated to Subaru's CarPlay system…
My local Subaru dealership / service provider has told me my car needs a new transmission at 66k miles, due to an issue within the CVT solenoid causing slipping and lag that will eventually lead to catastrophic failure of the transmission - per the Subaru of America service tree. This issue began…
My 2021 Subaru Ascent (40,000 miles) suffered multiple major mechanical failures that pose ongoing safety concerns: 1. Engine Oil Leak: The vehicle developed an active engine oil leak at 20,000 miles, posing a risk of fluid contacting hot exhaust/engine components under the hood or causing low oil…
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to stall, and the transmission failed to properly operate. The vehicle was pulled over to a nearby shop and was advised to take the vehicle back to the facility that performed…
Oil leaking from upper and lower oil pan. Oil seeping from head gasket and CVT chain pump cover. RTV sealant failure. $4800 to repair. Subaru needs to solve these oil leak issues. Leaking oil is bad for the environment and engine failure could cause accidents and injury.
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 | 102 | 2 |
| 2020 Ascent | 322 | 5 |
| 2019 Ascent | 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 2021 Subaru Ascent?
Owners most often report power train, electrical system, unknown or other problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 19 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Subaru Ascent?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 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 2021 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.