Model year record

2021 Subaru Ascent

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 184 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.

Owner complaints

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

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Power train28101,541 mi
Electrical system221,667 mi
Unknown or other22
Engine19300 mi
Visibility/wiper153,187 mi
Lane departure: assist131,500 mi
Service brakes11
Structure: body8
Steering6800 mi
Lane departure: warning5800 mi
Forward collision avoidance: warnings41,500 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control3140 mi
Fuel/propulsion system3
Wheels3
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking2
Power train: automatic transmission275,000 mi
Seat belts2
Tires2
Tether, lower anchor (on car seat or vehicle)2
Vehicle speed control2
Visibility: windshield2360 mi
Air bags119,000 mi
Lane departure: blind spot detection1
Seats1
Steering: rack and pinion16,200 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate1
Suspension1
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems1
Visibility132,000 mi

The 2020 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2022 model has about 1.5 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.