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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
6,600 miles · Jul 16, 2020
Unknown Or OtherVisibility

WINDSHIELD CRACKS EASY

NHTSA ODI #11339742

2,500 miles · Jul 6, 2020
Electrical SystemStructure

FOUND AROUND 1 INCH OF WATER SETTING UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT OF OUR 2020 SUBARU ASCENT TOURING, WITH ONLY 2500 MILES ON IT, AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR DAYS WITH RAIN STORMS. WIFE NOTICES A SLOSHING SOUND WHILE SHE DROVE IT 1 MILE AND BACK HOME. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY KEPT IT, BUT COULDN'T INITIALLY FIND THE LEAK. …

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FOUND AROUND 1 INCH OF WATER SETTING UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT OF OUR 2020 SUBARU ASCENT TOURING, WITH ONLY 2500 MILES ON IT, AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR DAYS WITH RAIN STORMS. WIFE NOTICES A SLOSHING SOUND WHILE SHE DROVE IT 1 MILE AND BACK HOME. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY KEPT IT, BUT COULDN'T INITIALLY FIND THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE HAD A COMPLAINT OF A WATER LEAK PRIOR, WITH NO DEALER ACTION. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF LOOKING, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A MISSING OR POORLY INSTALLED GROMMET ON THE FIRE WALL AROUND THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS, WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO FLOW INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CARPET AND PUTTING IN A NEW WIRING HARNESS, WHICH WOULD INDICATE A POTENTIAL FOR MOLD AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES DUE TO POOR GROMMET INSTALLATION ON THE FIREWALL. IF THIS VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SITTING OUTSIDE, THE ISSUE WOULDN'T OF BEEN FOUND FOR A LONG TIME, CAUSING MOLD AND POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL FIRES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL SAVE LIVES AND KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY, IF THEY CHECK THEIR FIREWALL GROMMETS FOR POOR INSTALLATION.

NHTSA ODI #11337661

400 miles · Jul 4, 2020
Electrical System

WE PURCHASED A NEW VEHICLE AND WITHIN 400 MILES THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. NO LIGHTS WERE LEFT ON OR NOR WAS THERE ANY EXTERNAL DRAIN ON THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED IN OUR GARAGE.

NHTSA ODI #11337424

6,400 miles · Jun 23, 2020
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CRACK GREW FROM A PIN HEAD SIZED CRACK TO APPROXIMATELY 24 INCHES WITHIN 72 HOURS; FROM THE LOWER SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO B…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CRACK GREW FROM A PIN HEAD SIZED CRACK TO APPROXIMATELY 24 INCHES WITHIN 72 HOURS; FROM THE LOWER SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB MOORE AUTO GROUP LOCATED AT 13000 BROADWAY EXT, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73114, (888) 667-8741 AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,400.

NHTSA ODI #11330310

3,340 miles · Jun 22, 2020
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OCEAN SUBARU OF FULLERTON (1100 S EUCLID ST, FULLERTON, CA 92832), AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED BY A ROCK AND WAS TO CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY FO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OCEAN SUBARU OF FULLERTON (1100 S EUCLID ST, FULLERTON, CA 92832), AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED BY A ROCK AND WAS TO CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,340.

NHTSA ODI #11330140

4,000 miles · Jun 15, 2020
Electrical System

BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD TWICE AND HAD TO BE JUMPED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11328937

20,000 miles · Jun 10, 2020
Power Train

FYI: REPORT IS BEING SUBMITTED BY CO-OWNER IN NC. REPORTED INCIDENT OCCURRED IN FLORIDA. AT AROUND 20,000 MILES THE DASHBOARD LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING ACCELERATION ISSUES. AT THE END OF THE COMMUTE TO WORK, APPROX 55 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR AND NO GEAR WO…

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FYI: REPORT IS BEING SUBMITTED BY CO-OWNER IN NC. REPORTED INCIDENT OCCURRED IN FLORIDA. AT AROUND 20,000 MILES THE DASHBOARD LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING ACCELERATION ISSUES. AT THE END OF THE COMMUTE TO WORK, APPROX 55 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR AND NO GEAR WOULD ENGAGE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST THE REMAINING 500 METERS TO WORK. CAR WAS TOWED TO SUBARU AND AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA THE TECHNICIANS AND SUBARU OF AMERICA DECIDED IT WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION FREE OF CHARGE UNDER WARRANTY. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT TIME OF REPORT. TIME MAY TELL IF THIS IS A MORE WIDESPREAD ISSUE OR SIMPLY A RANDOM OCCURRENCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11328149

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2020
Visibility/wiper

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY ON PRIVATE DRIVEWAY. WENT TO VEHICLE TO RETRIEVE PERSONAL ITEM AND THEN NOTICED A LARGE CRACK ORIGINATING ON THE LOWER RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. UNKNOWN WHAT CAUSED THE INCIDENT. CRACK WAS NOT APPARENT EARLIER IN THE DAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11327737

146 miles · May 29, 2020
Visibility/wiper

THIS IS A NEW CAR IN COLORADO. AT 146 MILES, MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. I HEARD A LOUD SOUND AND WITHIN MINUTES, MY WINDSHIELD HAD A LONG CRACK. AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED, I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY NINE IN CO, A FEW MILES FROM HOME. THERE WERE NO CARS AHEAD OR BEHIND OF ME AT ALL! *TR

NHTSA ODI #11326560

4,000 miles · May 26, 2020
StructureUnknown Or Other

A LARGE CRACK SUDDENLY APPEARED ON THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2020 ASCENT, AND EXPANDED RAPIDLY OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW HOURS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN JANUARY 2020. SUBARU WILL NOT COVER THE WINDSHIELD UNDER WARRANTY. THE COST TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND RE-CALIBRATE THE EYESIGHT SENSORS IS OVER $1,000 THROUGH SAFELITE. …

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A LARGE CRACK SUDDENLY APPEARED ON THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2020 ASCENT, AND EXPANDED RAPIDLY OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW HOURS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN JANUARY 2020. SUBARU WILL NOT COVER THE WINDSHIELD UNDER WARRANTY. THE COST TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND RE-CALIBRATE THE EYESIGHT SENSORS IS OVER $1,000 THROUGH SAFELITE. I'M CONCERNED THAT HAVING AN OUTSIDE COMPANY RE-CALIBRATE THE SENSORS WILL VOID THE WARRANTY, AND THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY CLARIFICATION. MY DEALERSHIP CANNOT REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD (AS THEY'VE INDICATED THIS MUST BE DONE BY A THIRD PARTY), AND CANNOT RE-CALIBRATE THE SENSORS FOR OVER A WEEK. THERE IS NO REASON FOR MY WINDSHIELD TO HAVE SUCH A LARGE CRACK, AS THERE ARE NO CHIPS VISIBLE AND I DO NOT RECALL ANYTHING STRIKING MY WINDSHIELD RECENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11325967

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.