2020 Subaru Ascent problems and recalls

Owners have filed 320 complaints on the 2020 Subaru Ascent, and NHTSA has issued 5 recalls. The most cited component is the Electrical System (101 complaints).

320
Complaints
5
Recalls
6
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
5
Injuries
31.2
Severity index

Severity index 31.2 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 31.2p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 95 of 103 by severity index among 2020 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 8% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2020 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 101 complaints (31.6%)101 32%Power TrainPower Train: 58 complaints (18.1%)58 18%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 56 complaints (17.5%)56 18%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 49 complaints (15.3%)49 15%EngineEngine: 29 complaints (9.1%)29 9%Service BrakesService Brakes: 26 complaints (8.1%)26 8%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 14 complaints (4.4%)14 4%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 12 complaints (3.8%)12 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10131.6%
POWER TRAIN5818.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5617.5%
VISIBILITY/WIPER4915.3%
ENGINE299.1%
SERVICE BRAKES268.1%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM144.4%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE123.8%

Complaints filed per year

042852019: 42020: 822021: 852022: 692023: 222024: 252025: 132026: 20 (partial year)192021852223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20194
202082
202185
202269
202322
202425
202513
2026 (year to date)20
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.3x those in 2020 to 2022 (60 against 236).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
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.
21V95400009/12/2021STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLYSubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020 Ascent vehicles. Due to an incorrect tapered hole in the housing, the front tie rod ends may not fit properly. The improper fit can result in the tie rods and housings being deformed during assembly and service replacem
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.
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.