Subaru Ascent Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 293 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Subaru Ascent across 7 model years. The 2019 model year has the most (160). The words owners use most often: “battery dead” (16% of reports).
- 293electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 48%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 dead: mentioned in 47 of 293 complaints (16%)
- Jump start: mentioned in 31 of 293 complaints (11%)
- Roadside assistance: mentioned in 17 of 293 complaints (6%)
- Doors open: mentioned in 15 of 293 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 140 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 293 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 7 a fire, 1 an injury.
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
Model years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
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.
My vehicle will abruptly break coming to a complete stop if a vehicle behind me approaches too quickly or gets too close to my vehicle. Yes the its uptoday on inspections and no errors show with in the vehicles computer system.
2024 Subaru Ascent â Intermittent Electrical / Ignition-Control Malfunction Vehicle: 2024 Subaru Ascent Mileage: Approximately 29,000 miles Chronology of Events August 19 Vehicle had been operating normally. First occurrence â grocery store â¢Returned to vehicle after shopping. â¢Opened rear…
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…
While driving, shortly after starting the trip (after traveling approximately a quarter mile), I felt what seemed like a bite or an electric shock on my left ankle, at floor level. I immediately pulled over and stopped the vehicle. My sock had a burn/hole in it, and I sustained three distinct marks…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Subaru Ascents have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 293 owner complaints about electrical system for the Subaru Ascent. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 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.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Subaru Ascent?
The most frequent phrase is “battery dead”, in 47 of 293 complaints, followed by “jump start” (31).
Other Subaru Ascent problems
- Power Train problems (186)
- Visibility/wiper problems (153)
- Engine problems (104)
See all Subaru Ascent problems.