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2020 Subaru Ascent

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Ascent years

Owner complaints for the 2020 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

140 reports with mileage · 182 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 101 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

322 reports
4,000 miles · Feb 12, 2021
Structure

WHILE DRIVING 50MPH THE HOOD IS VIBRATING AND FLEXING. WHEN BEING PASSED BY OTHER VEHICLES THE FLEXING AND VIBRATING BECOMES DISTURBING VIOLENT. AT THIS POINT I AM IN FEAR OF THE HOOD BECOMING UNSECURED AND LIFTING UP WHILE CRASHING INTO THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IT APPEARS THAT THE HOOD'S SUBFRAME HAS BECOME DETACHED…

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WHILE DRIVING 50MPH THE HOOD IS VIBRATING AND FLEXING. WHEN BEING PASSED BY OTHER VEHICLES THE FLEXING AND VIBRATING BECOMES DISTURBING VIOLENT. AT THIS POINT I AM IN FEAR OF THE HOOD BECOMING UNSECURED AND LIFTING UP WHILE CRASHING INTO THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IT APPEARS THAT THE HOOD'S SUBFRAME HAS BECOME DETACHED. I AM FEAR FOR MY SAFETY WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11395885

10,785 miles · Feb 8, 2021
Electrical System

MY BATTERY HAS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME AFTER DRIVING FOR A SHORT DISTANCE AND PARKING AND USING ACCESSORY MODE X 10 MIN. THE SECOND AFTER SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR TWO DAYS. AT THAT POINT, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A "FAULTY CELL" IN MY ORIGINAL BATTER AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE THIRD TIME AFTER HAVING THE …

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MY BATTERY HAS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME AFTER DRIVING FOR A SHORT DISTANCE AND PARKING AND USING ACCESSORY MODE X 10 MIN. THE SECOND AFTER SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR TWO DAYS. AT THAT POINT, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A "FAULTY CELL" IN MY ORIGINAL BATTER AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE THIRD TIME AFTER HAVING THE REAR GATE AND DOORS OPEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MIN TO VACUUM THE CAR. THE FORTH AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE TO THE GROCERY STORE AND WAITING WITH THE CAR IN ACCESSORY MODE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES FOR MY GROCERIES TO BE BROUGHT OUT. THIS LAST TIME IT WAS BELOW FREEZING OUTDOORS. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE NEAR A STORE AND NOT HAVE MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I HAD CHOSEN TO DO GROCERY PICK-UP TO REDUCE MY PANDEMIC RISK, HOWEVER, I HAD TO WAIT INSIDE THE STORE FOR SOMEONE TO COME AND JUMP MY BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI #11395329

7,500 miles · Feb 3, 2021
Visibility/wiper

BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE JULY 2020. SO IT'S BEEN 8 MONTHS AND ALREADY THERE'S A CRACK IN OUR FRONT WINDSHIELD

NHTSA ODI #11394443

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2021
Service Brakes

RIGHT FRONT ROTOR WARPED DEALER CHANGED AT 6,000 MILES AND ROTOR IS WARPED AGAIN KEEPS HAPPENING (LIBERTY SUBARU EMERSON NJ) DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE ROTORS, FRONT OF VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ,

NHTSA ODI #11390383

3,000 miles · Jan 27, 2021
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY CONSTANTLY DIES DESPITE GETTING A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED, EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECENTLY DRIVEN AND EVERYTHING WAS TURNED OFF WHEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE.

NHTSA ODI #11390286

8,500 miles · Jan 24, 2021
Electrical System

MY 2020 SUBARU ASCENT TOURING HAS 8500 MILES ON IT. I PURCHASED IT IN NOVEMBER 2019. THE BATTERY HAS "DIED" ABOUT 5-6 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I DRIVE MY SUBARU USUALLY ON SHORT TRIPS AND ONE LONG TRIP PER YEAR. I HAVE REPORTED THE DEAD BATTERY ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES TO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER AND THEY ALWAYS SAY NOT…

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MY 2020 SUBARU ASCENT TOURING HAS 8500 MILES ON IT. I PURCHASED IT IN NOVEMBER 2019. THE BATTERY HAS "DIED" ABOUT 5-6 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I DRIVE MY SUBARU USUALLY ON SHORT TRIPS AND ONE LONG TRIP PER YEAR. I HAVE REPORTED THE DEAD BATTERY ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES TO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER AND THEY ALWAYS SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH MY BATTERY. I COULD DRIVE MY CAR ON A SHORT TRIP ONE DAY AND THEN THE NEXT DAY WHEN I TRY TO START MY CAR, THE BATTERY IS DEAD.

NHTSA ODI #11389629

15,000 miles · Jan 19, 2021
Electrical System

I WAS PARKED CURBSIDE WAITING FOR A FOOD ORDER WITH MY TWO KIDS IN THE BACK. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF THE CAR BEING TURNED OFF WHILE WE WERE IN THE CAR, AND ONCE WE GOT OUR FOOD. I WENT TO START UP THE CAR AND IT WOULD NO LONGER START. IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM STAYED ON SINCE WE WERE STILL IN THE CAR. AND E…

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I WAS PARKED CURBSIDE WAITING FOR A FOOD ORDER WITH MY TWO KIDS IN THE BACK. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF THE CAR BEING TURNED OFF WHILE WE WERE IN THE CAR, AND ONCE WE GOT OUR FOOD. I WENT TO START UP THE CAR AND IT WOULD NO LONGER START. IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM STAYED ON SINCE WE WERE STILL IN THE CAR. AND EVEN WITH THE PUSH BUTTON, EVEN WHEN I TRIED TO COMPLETELY POWER DOWN THE CAR, THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THEN WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN WITH THE PUSH BUTTON START, IT WOULD NO LONGER START. BUT THE CAR HAD PLENTY OF VOLTAGE. I ALSO COULDN'T GET THE DOME LIGHTS TO TURN OFF AND THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM WAS STILL ON. I COULDN'T POWER EVERYTHING DOWN SO I COULD DO A CLEAN START FROM ZERO. WHEN THE PARKING LOT SECURITY BROUGHT A BOOSTER PACK, SINCE THE TERMINALS AND CABLES HAD NO INDICATION OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE WE DIDN'T TRY TO JUMP THE CAR. WE PRESSED THE PUSH BUTTON TO TRY TO START THE CAR ON IT'S OWN AGAIN AND THE LIGHTS WOULD FLASH AND THERE WAS A RAPID TICKING SOUND. WE LEFT IT ALONE FOR ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP.

NHTSA ODI #11388767

3,326 miles · Jan 18, 2021
Visibility/wiper

SPONTANEOUS CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD AFTER A COLDEST NIGHT IN MY REGION VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WITH NO VISIBLE CRACK AND WHEN I WENT TO THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING TO DRIVE AWAY, THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ODI #11388739

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2021
Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other

V1.THE BATTERY DIED WITHIN 6 MONTHS 4 TIMES :FIRST TIME AUG. 21. 2020 , THAN DEC. 03.2021 , DEC 24.2021 AND JAN.04.2021 2.THE STEREO SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY SOUND CUTTING OFF FREQUENTLY. 3.BREAK PROBLEM. BEFORE 6 MONTHS THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AND ARE STILL MAKING GRINDING UNUSUAL NOISE. EVEN AFTER MULTIPLE DEALER…

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V1.THE BATTERY DIED WITHIN 6 MONTHS 4 TIMES :FIRST TIME AUG. 21. 2020 , THAN DEC. 03.2021 , DEC 24.2021 AND JAN.04.2021 2.THE STEREO SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY SOUND CUTTING OFF FREQUENTLY. 3.BREAK PROBLEM. BEFORE 6 MONTHS THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AND ARE STILL MAKING GRINDING UNUSUAL NOISE. EVEN AFTER MULTIPLE DEALER SERVICE NO IMPROVEMENT. ACTUAL BREAK ACTION NOT CONSISTENT AND NOT RELIABLE SAVE. 4.THE AC SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY - KICKS IN EVEN WHEN IN HEATING MODE. IN USING THE REMOTE START THE AC KICKS IN IMMEDIATELY AND CHANGING THE SETTINGS WILL NOT HELP. 5.THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON WHEN THERE IS NO PROBLEM? INSTEAD OF BEING A SAFETY FEATURE IT IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM FEATURE. BECAUSE IT IS NOT RELIABLE MAKES SAFE DRIVING VERY DIFFICULT ? AND WE HAD CONSIDERED THIS SYSTEM AS A PLUS WHEN DECIDING ON SUBARU ASCENT. 6.PROBLEMS WITH TRUNK OPENING ? SOMETIMES WILL NOT WORK WITH KEY OR FROM THE INSIDE ? HAS TO BE OPENED MANUALLY. 7.OIL LEVEL SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. 8.THE VIN NUMBER WAS LISTED TO HAVE A RECALL ? BUT WHEN CHECKING IT OUT IT SHOWED 0 RECALLS. WE CONSIDER THIS VERY STRANGE. 9.AFTER EACH VISIT TO THE DEALER, WE ARE TOLD THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE ? BUT ONE OR TWO DAYS LATER THE SAME PROBLEMS SHOW UP AGAIN. 10.BLUETOOTH SYSTEM KEEPS DELETING PHONES. 11.RPM GAUGE NOT FUNCTIONING. 12.MPG INDICATION NEVER CHANGES SHOWS ALWAYS SAME VALUE ? EVEN UNDER COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DRIVING CONDITIONS. I AM FILING THIS CLAIM FOR MAY DAUGHTER [XXX] BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR AT THE TIME. ALSO THE PROBLEMS ARE ONGOING SINCE THE DATE LISTED BELOW INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11388299

8,000 miles · Jan 9, 2021
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD BROKE WITHOUT ANY REASON. CAR ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD.

NHTSA ODI #11387280

Official recalls

5

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.

21V954000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly

Dec 9, 2021

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 replacement if excessive torque is applied.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The tie rods may separate from the housing, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

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.

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.