2019 Subaru Ascent problems and recalls

Owners have filed 439 complaints on the 2019 Subaru Ascent, and NHTSA has issued 9 recalls. The most cited component is the Electrical System (160 complaints).

439
Complaints
9
Recalls
10
Crash reports
6
Fire reports
8
Injuries
37.3
Severity index

Severity index 37.3 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 37.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 98 of 123 by severity index among 2019 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 20% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2019 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 160 complaints (36.4%)160 36%Power TrainPower Train: 87 complaints (19.8%)87 20%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 66 complaints (15.0%)66 15%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 58 complaints (13.2%)58 13%EngineEngine: 47 complaints (10.7%)47 11%Service BrakesService Brakes: 27 complaints (6.2%)27 6%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 16 complaints (3.6%)16 4%VisibilityVisibility: 15 complaints (3.4%)15 3%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM16036.4%
POWER TRAIN8719.8%
VISIBILITY/WIPER6615.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5813.2%
ENGINE4710.7%
SERVICE BRAKES276.2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM163.6%
VISIBILITY153.4%

Complaints filed per year

0601202018: 52019: 572020: 1132021: 1062022: 792023: 362024: 152025: 152026: 13 (partial year)181920113212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20185
201957
2020113
2021106
202279
202336
202415
202515
2026 (year to date)13
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.2x those in 2020 to 2022 (66 against 298).

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

Other Subaru Ascent model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 7 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-05. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.