Model year record

2020 Subaru Ascent

5 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 457 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 26V436000

Equipment: other: labels

Component
Equipment: other: labels
Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
541,237
Reported to NHTSA
2026-07-07

Defect description

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."

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 22V907000

Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash

Component
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash
Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
271,694
Reported to NHTSA
2022-12-08
Owners notified
2023-01-25

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A melting ground terminal increases the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V954000

Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly

Component
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly
Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
1,305
Reported to NHTSA
2021-12-09
Owners notified
2022-02-07

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V955000

Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)

Component
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
198,255
Reported to NHTSA
2021-12-09
Owners notified
2022-08-19

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V587000

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
175,968
Reported to NHTSA
2021-07-29
Owners notified
2021-09-24

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Electrical system1025,800 mi
Power train7225,000 mi
Unknown or other611,800 mi
Visibility/wiper508,000 mi
Engine369,700 mi
Service brakes286,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system151,200 mi
Suspension12300 mi
Visibility: windshield116,600 mi
Structure: body104,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking99,500 mi
Exterior lighting89,700 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control51,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: warnings59,500 mi
Lane departure: assist59,800 mi
Air bags430,000 mi
Vehicle speed control41,200 mi
Steering382,000 mi
Wheels3
Back over prevention: warnings2
Engine and engine cooling2120,000 mi
Seats2
Forward collision avoidance119,737 mi
Lane departure: warning11,000 mi
Other/i am not sure1
Power train: automatic transmission1
Seat belts1
Structure14,000 mi
Tires1
Tether, lower anchor (on car seat or vehicle)1

The 2019 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2021 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.