Recalled components: electrical system, equipment, steering, powertrain, and 1 more. Most-described problem: a dead battery or battery drain (65 complaints, 20%). Most-reported area: electrical system (101 complaints, 31%; median mileage when it happened: 5,900).
One of the Ascent years to avoid
The 2020 drew 240 owner complaints in its first three years, against 62 for a typical Ascent year: 3.8 times as many.
Years to avoid: 2019 and 2020; best year: 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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 surrounding components.
Risk: A melting ground terminal increases the risk of a fire.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Owners are advised to park their vehicle away from structures and to avoid leaving the vehicle unattended while the engine is running. An owner who notices or smells smoke coming from the dash or driver's footwell area should immediately stop operating the vehicle and turn the ignition switch to the "Off" position. Dealers will replace the PTC heater ground bolts and if necessary, replace the ground wire and the connector holder, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 6, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRL-22.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ascent vehicles.
NHTSA listing: ASCENT. Subaru campaign WRL-22.
Equipment
Jul 7, 2026
labels
Fails federal standard 110 (tire and rim labeling)
These vehicles were manufactured with an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire selection and rims."
Risk: An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Subaru will mail a new certification label to owners, free of charge. Owners may also choose to have a dealer install the new label, free of charge. Letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed August 27, 2026. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-26.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid, Forester, and 2019-2026 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 replacement if excessive torque is applied.
Risk: The tie rods may separate from the housing, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and right front tie rod ends and housings, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRL-21.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020 Ascent vehicles.
NHTSA listing: ASCENT. Subaru campaign WRL-21.
Powertrain
Dec 9, 2021
automatic transmission · control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
Risk: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 19, 2022. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855. Vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall once available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-21.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles.
The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
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.
NHTSA listing: ASCENT. Subaru campaign WRG-21.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2020 Subaru Ascent.
What owners report
Owners have filed 325 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Ascent. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Dead battery or battery drain65 · 20%
Median 6,600 miles at failure, from 27 reports with mileage
Cracked or shattered windshield64 · 20%
Median 6,100 miles at failure, from 45 reports with mileage
Median 5,900 miles at failure, from 52 reports with mileage
Powertrain60 · 18%
Median 22,500 miles at failure, from 16 reports with mileage
Visibility/wiper49 · 15%
Median 8,000 miles at failure, from 31 reports with mileage
Engine29 · 9%
Brakes26 · 8%
Fuel and propulsion system14 · 4%
Forward collision avoidance12 · 4%
Most named: automatic emergency braking (8); adaptive cruise control (5)
Unknown or other57 · 18%
Median 4,000 miles at failure, from 19 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Subaru Ascent recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2020 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2019 Ascent drew the most (281) and the 2020 drew 240.
Owner complaints
2020: 325 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Subaru Ascent
Model year
Complaints
2019
443
2020
325
2021
106
2022
56
2023
47
2024
51
2025
15
2026
5
Safety recalls
2020: 5 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Subaru Ascent
Model year
Recalls
2019
9
2020
5
2021
2
2022
2
2023
4
2024
1
2025
1
2026
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 325 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Subaru Ascent, the problems described most are a dead battery or battery drain (65), a cracked or shattered windshield (64), and shaking, shuddering or vibration (26). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2020 Subaru Ascent earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2020 Subaru Ascent?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2020 Subaru Ascent.
How do I check if my Ascent has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Subaru dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: ASCENT.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.