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2019 Subaru Ascent

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Ascent years

Owner complaints for the 2019 Subaru Ascent are substantially higher than the model-year median of 52.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

239 reports with mileage · 202 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 160 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 88 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports6 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

441 reports
Mileage unknown · May 27, 2022
Power Train

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V955000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer had not been made aware of…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V955000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI #11466369

Mileage unknown · May 24, 2022
Power Train

The car hesitates when I step on the gas, feeling like it stalled. This has happened since I purchased the vehicle and the dealer says I don't have a problem. I have pulled out into traffic only to have the car "stall' and I sit waiting to be hit. Subaru had a recall on this in 2020, but the dealer said I did not qualify for…

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The car hesitates when I step on the gas, feeling like it stalled. This has happened since I purchased the vehicle and the dealer says I don't have a problem. I have pulled out into traffic only to have the car "stall' and I sit waiting to be hit. Subaru had a recall on this in 2020, but the dealer said I did not qualify for anything beyond reprograming. The problem persists. No warning lights or other messages.

NHTSA ODI #11465874

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2022
Electrical System

My car battery went dead and I was unable to start the car. I was camping and fortunately the ranger had a battery jump box. There was nothing wrong with the battery. When I returned I asked the dealer about it and was told these new cars have so many things that need battery power and we must have opened the doors too many time…

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My car battery went dead and I was unable to start the car. I was camping and fortunately the ranger had a battery jump box. There was nothing wrong with the battery. When I returned I asked the dealer about it and was told these new cars have so many things that need battery power and we must have opened the doors too many times. On 12/27/2021, I decided to purchase a new battery plus the portable jump box because I frequently hike and camp in places far from phone signal and didn't want this happening again. Next camping trip it happened twice. We made sure to keep the doors shut to keep interior lights off and turned the light off when the rear gate was open. The jump box was a life saver as again we needed to jump the car. Then next day as the car sat with all the doors closed, I started hearing beeping sounds almost like an SOS. Lights flashed. The car beeped more and more. We tried starting it to no avail. Luckily, we were able to charge the jump box and successfully start the engine again. This vehicle was made for an active outdoor life style. It is a safety factor to not be able to start your car.

NHTSA ODI #11465806

1,500 miles · May 23, 2022
Power Train

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V955000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V955000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist and drifted to the right. The dealer was made aware of the failure but could not duplicate the failure. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,500. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI #11465746

25,000 miles · May 18, 2022
Visibility

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, he noticed a horizontal crack on the lower driver’s side windshield. The contact stated that there was no impact on the windshield to cause the crack. The contact had the vehicle repaired through his insurance company by an independent mech…

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The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, he noticed a horizontal crack on the lower driver’s side windshield. The contact stated that there was no impact on the windshield to cause the crack. The contact had the vehicle repaired through his insurance company by an independent mechanic. Recently, the same failure occurred in the same spot as before. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The contact stated that the failure obstructed his vision while driving. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

NHTSA ODI #11465096

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2022
Unknown Or Other

Windshield cracked while driving.

NHTSA ODI #11464767

Mileage unknown · May 10, 2022
Electrical System

The day I bought the car new I left the tailgate open all night the next day the battery was dead. This should not have happened to a brand new car. The next incident occurred this year on 3/18. I was sitting in the car waiting for my husband. I was there for about an hour. I was listening to the radio and talking on the phone.…

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The day I bought the car new I left the tailgate open all night the next day the battery was dead. This should not have happened to a brand new car. The next incident occurred this year on 3/18. I was sitting in the car waiting for my husband. I was there for about an hour. I was listening to the radio and talking on the phone. When I tried to start the car the battery was dead. The AAA person said the original battery was a piece of s**t. He recommended replacing it which I did.

NHTSA ODI #11464127

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2022
Power Train

This safety recall is open since November 2021 and the manufacturer still has not initiated repairs , how long are consumer supposed to drive their vehicles with this serious safety issue risking safety ? why has NHTSA not initiated action against the company ?

NHTSA ODI #11463599

50,000 miles · Apr 27, 2022
Visibility

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the contact observed a crack at the bottom of the windshield by passenger’s side pillar. The crack then extended up to the center of the windshield just underneath the rearview mirror. The contact observed that the crack increased by a …

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The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the contact observed a crack at the bottom of the windshield by passenger’s side pillar. The crack then extended up to the center of the windshield just underneath the rearview mirror. The contact observed that the crack increased by a few centimeters every time the vehicle was driven. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the local dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #11462516

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2022
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

Spent 5 hours at a tailgate/beach event with the rear lift gate open. I made sure that interior lights were off to avoid draining the battery with the lift gate open. When we were ready to leave, the car battery was dead. We were panicked because we have a 5mo old and had to track down another driver to borrow jumper cables. Onc…

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Spent 5 hours at a tailgate/beach event with the rear lift gate open. I made sure that interior lights were off to avoid draining the battery with the lift gate open. When we were ready to leave, the car battery was dead. We were panicked because we have a 5mo old and had to track down another driver to borrow jumper cables. Once home, we discovered that the lift gate will always draw power from the battery unless you trick the hatch lock with an off-market device or carabiner clip.

NHTSA ODI #11462185

Official recalls

9

26V436000 · Equipment:other:labels

Jul 7, 2026

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 fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire selection and rims."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

22V907000 · Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash

Dec 8, 2022

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 surrounding components.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A melting ground terminal increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

21V955000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm); Power Train:driveline:chain/belt

Dec 9, 2021

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:driveline:chain/belt

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.

Consequence: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

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.

Consequence: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

21V587000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Jul 29, 2021

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

20V218000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Apr 16, 2020

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-20.

19V855000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Dec 2, 2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. The transmission hydraulic sensor may inaccurately measure the hydraulic fluid pressure.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the fluid pressure is measured higher than its actual value, the hydraulic pressure will be reduced. If this occurs, the transmission drive chain may not have the proper tension, resulting in a loss of drive power and an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control unit. The hydraulic sensor harness will be replaced on vehicles with certain stored diagnostic trouble codes. In addition, any vehicle confirmed to have experienced low drive chain tension will have the transmission assembly will be replaced. All repairs will be free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUV-07.

19V856000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:crankcase (pcv)

Dec 2, 2019

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the short block engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUW-08.

19V519000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft

Jul 10, 2019

Subaru 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the front end of the driveshaft separates, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft assembly, including the center support brace, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUI-94.

18V508000 · Structure:body:roof And Pillars

Aug 2, 2018

Subaru 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash, the missing spot welds may compromise the vehicle's strength, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle to check for missing spot welds. If the welds are missing, the vehicle will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTU-80.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.