Subaru Ascent
Owners filed 1,042 complaints across 8 model years of the Subaru Ascent. The 2019 drew the most (443).
Which Subaru Ascent years should you avoid?
Going by 1,042 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the Subaru Ascent years to avoid are 2019 and 2020.
- 2019443 complaints, 5.5× a typical Ascent year, most often about the electrical system.
- 2020324 complaints, 4.0× a typical Ascent year, most often about the electrical system.
Too new to judge: 2025 and 2026. Complaints take a few years to arrive, so a new model year looks better than it is.
How this is worked out: each year is compared with a typical year of the same model, which takes most of the difference in sales out of it, and its share of serious failures is compared with every other car of the same model year, because older cars were complained about differently. A year needs 25 complaints to be judged at all. Complaints are unverified owner reports. Full method →
Every Subaru Ascent model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026Too new | 4 | 1 | — | — | Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking | Routine | |
| 2025Too new | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Exterior | Routine | |
| 2024 | 51 | 1 | — | 3 | Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Exterior | Routine | |
| 2023 | 45 | 4 | 1 | 4 | Service Brakes | Routine | |
| 2022 | 56 | 2 | 2 | 6 | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2021 | 104 | 2 | 1 | 3 | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2020Avoid | 324 | 5 | 1 | 6 | Electrical System | Above average | |
| 2019Avoid | 443 | 9 | 6 | 10 | Electrical System | Above average |
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, October 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.