2019 Subaru Ascent: owner complaints and recalls

Owners have filed 433 complaints about the 2019 Subaru Ascent and NHTSA has issued 9 recall campaigns. The most-reported system is electrical system, named in 158 of them.

433
Complaints
9
Recalls
10
Crash reports
6
Fire reports
8
Injuries
32.3
Severity index

Severity index 32.3 - Low. It weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints, so a vehicle attracting serious reports scores above one attracting many trivial ones (how this is calculated).

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 32.3p25 35p75 96cleanestworst
Where the 2019 Subaru Ascent sits against the quartiles of every vehicle we track.

Among the 123 2019 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2019 Subaru Ascent ranks 81 of 123 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 34% of its model-year peers. See the full 2019 ranking.

What actually fails

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 158 complaints (36.5%)158 36%Power TrainPower Train: 83 complaints (19.2%)83 19%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 66 complaints (15.2%)66 15%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 57 complaints (13.2%)57 13%EngineEngine: 47 complaints (10.9%)47 11%Service BrakesService Brakes: 27 complaints (6.2%)27 6%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 16 complaints (3.7%)16 4%VisibilityVisibility: 15 complaints (3.5%)15 3%
Systems named in complaints. One complaint can name several, so shares overlap.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM15836.5%
POWER TRAIN8319.2%
VISIBILITY/WIPER6615.2%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5713.2%
ENGINE4710.9%
SERVICE BRAKES276.2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM163.7%
VISIBILITY153.5%

Complaints filed per year

0601202018: 52019: 572020: 1132021: 1062022: 792023: 362024: 152025: 152026: 7 (partial year)181920113212223242526
Complaints filed per calendar year, not model year. The hatched bar is the current year and is still incomplete.
YearComplaints
20185
201957
2020113
2021106
202279
202336
202415
202515
2026 (year to date)7
Complaint volume is declining, consistent with a defect that was addressed by recall or that affected early builds.

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V85500002/12/2019POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. The transmission hydraulic sensor may inaccurately measure the hydraulic fluid pressure.
21V95500009/12/2021POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)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.
21V58700029/07/2021FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPSubaru 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.
20V21800016/04/2020FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPSubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.
19V85600002/12/2019ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving.
19V51900010/07/2019POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFTSubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, possibly resulting in the front portion of the driveshaft disconnecting.
18V50800002/08/2018STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARSSubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Subaru Ascent vehicles. These vehicles may be missing spot welds on, or around, the B-Pillar, compromising vehicle strength.
22V90700008/12/2022ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASHSubaru 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 surr
26V43600007/07/2026EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSSubaru 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
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.