2021 Subaru Ascent: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 98 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 2 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
98
Complaints
2
Recalls
3
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
3
Injuries
42.9
Severity index
Severity index 42.9 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 90 2021 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2021 Subaru Ascent ranks 59 of 90 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 34% of its model-year peers. See the full 2021 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 17 | 17.3% |
| POWER TRAIN | 16 | 16.3% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 15 | 15.3% |
| LANE DEPARTURE | 15 | 15.3% |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 14 | 14.3% |
| ENGINE | 11 | 11.2% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 9 | 9.2% |
| STRUCTURE | 7 | 7.1% |
The single most-reported system is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, cited in 17 of 98 complaints (17.3%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 26 |
| 2022 | 22 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 9 |
Complaint volume is broadly steady year over year.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.