2020 Subaru Ascent: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 317 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 5 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
317
Complaints
5
Recalls
6
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
5
Injuries
22.1
Severity index
Severity index 22.1 - Low. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 103 2020 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2020 Subaru Ascent ranks 88 of 103 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 15% of its model-year peers. See the full 2020 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 101 | 31.9% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 56 | 17.7% |
| POWER TRAIN | 55 | 17.4% |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 49 | 15.5% |
| ENGINE | 29 | 9.1% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 26 | 8.2% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 14 | 4.4% |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 12 | 3.8% |
The single most-reported system is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, cited in 101 of 317 complaints (31.9%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 82 |
| 2021 | 85 |
| 2022 | 69 |
| 2023 | 22 |
| 2024 | 25 |
| 2025 | 13 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 17 |
Complaint volume is declining, consistent with a defect that was addressed by recall or that affected early builds.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V955000 | 09/12/2021 | POWER 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. |
| 21V954000 | 09/12/2021 | STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | Subaru 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 |
| 21V587000 | 29/07/2021 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | Subaru 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. |
| 22V907000 | 08/12/2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 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 surr |
| 26V436000 | 07/07/2026 | EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS | Subaru 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.