Subaru Ascent

Where it stands out against its peers

• Electrical system: more complaints than 90% of 2019 cars — 37% of its 439 complaints, where an ordinary 2019 car has 20%.
• Visibility/wiper: more complaints than 96% of 2019 cars — 15% of its 439 complaints, where an ordinary 2019 car has 3%.
• Visibility: more complaints than 90% of 2019 cars — 3% of its 439 complaints, where an ordinary 2019 car has 1%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 123 owners reported this, 2 involving a fire
• POWER TRAIN — 64 owners reported this, 2 involving a crash
• VISIBILITY/WIPER — 60 owners reported this
• SERVICE BRAKES — 15 owners reported this
• ENGINE — 13 owners reported this
• VISIBILITY — 13 owners reported this
• SUSPENSION — 7 owners reported this

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

62% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 18V508000

  In the event of a crash, the missing spot welds may compromise the vehicle's strength, increasing the risk of injury.

  Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle to check for missing spot welds. If the welds are missing, the vehicle will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTU-80.

• 19V519000

  If the front end of the driveshaft separates, it can increase the risk of a crash.

  Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft assembly, including the center support brace, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUI-94.

• 19V855000

  If the fluid pressure is measured higher than its actual value, the hydraulic pressure will be reduced. If this occurs, the transmission drive chain may not have the proper tension, resulting in a loss of drive power and an increased risk of a crash.

  Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control unit. The hydraulic sensor harness will be replaced on vehicles with certain stored diagnostic trouble codes. In addition, any vehicle confirmed to have experienced low drive chain tension will have the transmission assembly will be replaced. All repairs will be free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUV-07.

• 19V856000

  An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.

  Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the short block engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUW-08.

• 20V218000

  If the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-20.

• 21V587000

  Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

  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.

• 21V954000

  The tie rods may separate from the housing, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.

  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.

• 21V955000

  An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.

  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.

2 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Subaru filed 36 bulletins about the 2026 Ascent.

• Electrical system: 11
• Engine: 4
• Power train: 2
• Forward collision avoidance: 1
• Fuel/propulsion system: 1
• Steering: 1
• Structure: 1
• Other: 15

• WRH-26 Certification Label Non-Compliance Recall- Parts and SSLP Process Updates. · August 2026
• This announcement provides WRH-26 recall information for owner contact and a vehicle disclosure form. · August 2026
• This announcement provides WRH-26 recall information for customers. · August 2026
• This announcement provides information on WRH-26 affected CPO and Used Vehicle Inventory. · August 2026
• Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) has initiated a non-compliance recall for certain 2026 model yearCrosstrek Hybrid vehicles, 2025-2026 model year Forester & Forester Hybrid vehicles, and 2019- 2026… · August 2026
• This announcement provides an update for retailer inventory affected by the WRH-26 non-compliance recall. · August 2026
• This announcement provides information on a temporary process for addressing affected SSLP vehicles under the WRH-26 recall. · August 2026
• This announcement is to inform retailers of the non-compliance recall/stop sale parts update and repair procedure. · August 2026

28 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.