Subaru Ascent Reliability
1,256 NHTSA complaints (2019–2026). Complaint rate: 32.7 per 1,000 vehicles.
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 2019–2020 Subaru Ascent. The 2022–2023 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
Too New
Need 3+ years on the road for reliable complaint data.
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Subaru Ascent Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 280 | 0.4% |
| POWER TRAIN | 158 | 0.6% |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 150 | 0.0% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 145 | 3.4% |
| ENGINE | 94 | 4.3% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 76 | 6.6% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 35 | 8.6% |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 25 | 0.0% |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 24 | 4.2% |
| VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR | 24 | 0.0% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019AVOID | — | 545 | 17 | 13 | View 2019View→ |
| 2020AVOID | — | 389 | 11 | 2 | View 2020View→ |
| 2021 | — | 132 | 4 | 2 | View 2021View→ |
| 2022GOOD | — | 72 | 12 | 4 | View 2022View→ |
| 2023GOOD | — | 51 | 7 | 3 | View 2023View→ |
| 2024TOO NEW | — | 55 | 6 | — | View 2024View→ |
| 2025TOO NEW | — | 10 | 1 | 1 | View 2025View→ |
| 2026TOO NEW | — | 2 | 0 | — | View 2026View→ |
See also: Subaru Ascentaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
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