Subaru Ascent Reliability & Common Problems
By Adrian V. LockhartUpdated 970 NHTSA owner complaints researched
Pictured: 2023 Subaru Ascent (same design as 2023 to 2026), same generation as the 2026 model.
Model years researched
5
2019–2022 and 2024
Owner complaints researched
970
filed with NHTSA through Oct 4, 2026
Recall campaigns
13
1 with a park-outside or do-not-drive warning
Years to avoid
None
no year shows serious known problems
Counts are owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not failure rates: they depend on how many were sold and how long each year has been on the road.
The Subaru Ascent is a three-row SUV with a 2.4L turbo four-cylinder boxer engine, sold since the 2019 model year and refreshed for 2023. Its complaints are led by a flat battery or a car that won't start and by windshields that crack on their own, and these dominate the 2019 and 2020 models far more than the later years. Our method marks no Ascent year as one to avoid. The 2019 to 2022 models are marked check the recall was done because of a park-outside fire recall.
Reliability
Is the Subaru Ascent Reliable?
The Ascent's complaint picture changes with the model year, so it helps to look at groups of years. The 2019 and 2020 models are by far the most complained about, and a flat battery or a car that won't start is the largest single problem in both, followed by windshields that crack with little or no impact. Owners often report the battery trouble early, within roughly the first 12,000 miles on the 2019 and about 7,000 on the 2020. Many say the battery was replaced, sometimes more than once, and the problem came back.
The 2021 and 2022 models have far fewer complaints, and the mix shifts. On the 2021 the transmission matters more: transmission failure needing replacement and hesitation or slipping together make up a large part of its complaints. On the 2022 the top complaint is brake vibration or warped rotors, with windshield cracking and transmission shudder behind it. These are small samples, so one or two problems can move the shares a lot.
The transmission is the most serious recurring theme. Owners describe the continuously variable transmission slipping, shuddering, hesitating and in some cases failing outright, and most of those who report a repair outcome say it did not fix the problem. Transmission failure is reported at a median of about 50,000 miles, much later than the battery complaints. Recall 21V955000 for the 2019 and 2020 says a programming error in the transmission control unit may let the clutch engage before the drive chain is completely clamped, and that the chain may then slip and break, causing a loss of drive power. It covers only those two years, so transmission complaints on the 2021 and 2022 have no matching recall.
The 2024 is different again. Its top complaint is a driver-side mirror that vibrates, and owners who report on repairs say the fix did not work. That is a visibility annoyance rather than a mechanical failure, and the year has no serious pattern and no do-not-drive or park-outside recall. The 2023, 2025 and 2026 models have too few complaints to judge, and the 2023 is the only one of them with several recalls on record, covering a driveshaft, front lower control arm ball joints and tires.
Keep the limits in mind. Complaint counts depend on how many Ascents were sold and how long they've been on the road, so the older years naturally have more of them, and they are not failure rates. One complaint can also describe more than one problem. Park-outside recall 22V907000 covers the 2019 to 2022 models, so check the VIN on any of those.
Common problems
Most Common Subaru Ascent Problems
Across the 2019–2022 and 2024 Ascent (970 complaints researched). A complaint can describe more than one problem, so these counts overlap.
Battery drain or no-start
Serious250 complaints · 26% of all researchedmedian 9,700 mi
Owners describe a battery that goes flat, often while the car is parked, and a car that won't start, with jump starts and replacement batteries along the way. It is serious because it can leave you stranded, and most owners who report a repair outcome say it did not fix the problem. It is concentrated in the 2019 and 2020, usually early in ownership, with the 2021 far lower and the 2022 barely present. There is no recall for it, and the complaints don't establish a cause.
Windshield cracks on its own
Minor183 complaints · 19% of all researchedmedian 9,300 mi
The windshield chips or cracks, sometimes spreading to the edge within a day and sometimes with no clear impact. It is a repair nuisance and a visibility issue rather than a crash risk, and some owners say the dealer denied service. It is reported most on the 2019 and 2020, with fewer on the 2021 and 2022 and almost none on the 2024. Mileage varies widely, from the first few thousand miles into the tens of thousands, and there is no recall for it.
Hesitation or slipping while driving
Serious69 complaints · 7% of all researchedmedian 20,500 mi
The transmission hesitates, lurches or slips while driving, and owners describe a car that feels jumpy at low speeds or briefly revs without picking up speed. It is serious because it can lead to a loss of power. It is reported on the 2019 to 2022, with the highest share on the 2021, and not on the 2024. Recall 21V955000 for the 2019 and 2020 is mentioned in some of these complaints, but it covers only those two years.
Transmission failure needing replacement
Serious52 complaints · 5% of all researchedmedian 50,000 mi
The transmission fails and owners are told it needs to be replaced, with CVT slipping, shuddering and loss of power when accelerating. It is one of the most serious problems on the page because of the cost and loss of drive power, and it tends to appear later than the battery trouble. It is reported on the 2019 to 2022, with the highest share on the 2021, and recall 21V955000 covers the 2019 and 2020 only.
Brake noise and early wear
Minor37 complaints · 4% of all researchedmedian 11,700 mi
Owners report noisy brakes and early wear. It is a minor problem as owners describe it, and most who report a repair outcome say it did not fix the issue. It is reported on every year from 2019 to 2022 and in a single complaint on the 2024, with the highest shares on the 2021 and 2022, and there is no recall for it. Worth a test drive and a brake check on any used example.
Liftgate fails to operate properly
Serious32 complaints · 3% of all researchedmedian 8,000 mi
The liftgate won't open or close properly, and some owners link it to a flat battery. Complaints cluster early in ownership. It is reported mostly on the 2019, with a few on the 2020 to 2022 and none on the 2024. It is not covered by a recall, and since it can overlap with the battery complaints, check that the liftgate and battery work normally before you buy.
Transmission shudder or judder
Serious31 complaints · 3% of all researchedmedian 18,700 mi
The transmission shudders or judders, and owners who report on repairs say the repair did not fix it. It is reported on the 2019 to 2022 and in one complaint on the 2024, with the highest share on the 2022. Recalls 21V955000, 19V856000 and 19V855000 are mentioned by owners, but those cover only the 2019 and 2020 or the 2019 alone, and none of them is described as a shudder fix.
Many warning lights at once
Minor30 complaints · 3% of all researchedmedian 9,900 mi
Several warning lights come on at once and safety features such as EyeSight may switch off, sometimes with reduced power. It is a minor problem in itself, but it can be a sign of an electrical or battery issue. It is reported most on the 2019 and a few times on each later year through 2024, usually early in ownership. No recall addresses it, and the cause is not established.
By year
Subaru Ascent Reliability by Year
Each year is judged on its own complaints. Complaint counts are context, not a ranking: they depend on how many were sold and how long they've been on the road.
First generation: 2019–2026
Engines: 2.4L turbo four-cylinder (boxer). Refresh for 2023.
- 2019Check recallBattery drain or no-start (33%); Windshield cracks on its own (20%); Hesitation or slipping while driving (7%)441 complaints · 9 recalls
- 2020Check recallBattery drain or no-start (29%); Windshield cracks on its own (21%); Hesitation or slipping while driving (7%)322 complaints · 5 recalls
- 2021Check recallWindshield cracks on its own (18%); Transmission failure needing replacement (13%); Hesitation or slipping while driving (11%)102 complaints · 2 recalls
- 2022Check recallBrake vibration or warped rotors (13%); Windshield cracks on its own (11%); Transmission shudder or judder (7%)55 complaints · 2 recalls
- 2023Too fewToo few complaints to name a problem45 complaints · 4 recalls
- 2024No patternDriver-side mirror vibrates (58%); Wireless CarPlay connection drops (4%); EyeSight freezes or stops working (4%)50 complaints · 1 recall
- 2025Too fewToo few complaints to name a problem15 complaints · 1 recall
- 2026Too fewToo few complaints to name a problem3 complaints · 1 recall
Years to avoid
Subaru Ascent Years to Avoid
Our method marks no Ascent year as one to avoid. The 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 are marked check the recall was done, because park-outside recall 22V907000 for a fire risk matters more than their complaint pattern. The 2024 shows no pattern of serious problems. The 2023, 2025 and 2026 have too few complaints to judge.
- No pattern of serious problems
- 2024
- Too few complaints to judge
- 202320252026
Subaru Ascent years to avoid: why each year got its verdict →
Recalls
Subaru Ascent Recalls
The recall to check first is 22V907000, a park-outside fire recall for the 2019 to 2022. It says a ground bolt for the PTC heater may be improperly fastened, which could melt the ground terminal, and owners are advised to park away from structures and not leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running. Next come 21V955000, the transmission control unit programming recall for the 2019 and 2020, and the fuel pump recalls 21V587000 for the 2019 and 2020 and 20V218000 for the 2019, which warn of an engine stall. Check any Ascent's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy, because a dealer does recall repairs free.
- Park outside22V907000Electrical system, 2019–2022 models
All 13 Ascent recalls, by model yearCheck a VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls ↗
Model years
Explore Subaru Ascent Model Years
FAQ
Subaru Ascent Questions
Is the Subaru Ascent reliable?
It depends on the model year. The 2019 to 2022 models are marked check the recall was done because of a park-outside fire recall, and the 2019 and 2020 draw many battery and windshield complaints. The 2024 shows no pattern of serious problems, and the 2023, 2025 and 2026 have too few complaints to judge.
What are the most common Subaru Ascent problems?
Owners most often describe a flat battery or a car that won't start, windshields that crack on their own, and transmission trouble such as hesitation, slipping and failure. Brake noise and early wear, liftgate faults and warning lights that come on together are reported less often.
Which Subaru Ascent years have battery problems?
Battery drain and no-start complaints are concentrated in the 2019 and 2020. The 2021 has far fewer, the 2022 has about one, and the 2024 has none. Owners usually report it early in ownership.
Does the Subaru Ascent have transmission problems?
Owners describe the CVT hesitating, slipping, shuddering and in some cases failing, on the 2019 to 2022 models. Recall 21V955000 covers the 2019 and 2020 for a transmission control unit programming error. The 2021 and 2022 have no matching recall, and most owners who report a repair outcome say the fix didn't resolve the problem.
Are there any Subaru Ascent recalls I should check?
Yes. Recall 22V907000 is a park-outside fire recall for the 2019 to 2022. The 2019 and 2020 also have transmission and fuel pump recalls. Enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see what is open on a specific vehicle.
What about the newer Subaru Ascent years?
The 2023, 2025 and 2026 have too few complaints to judge. The 2023 has recalls for the driveshaft, front lower control arm and tires, so check the VIN. The 2024 shows no pattern of serious problems, though owners often report a vibrating driver-side mirror.