Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 2019. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2026.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 Ascent | 15 | 1 |
| 2024 Ascent | 50 | 1 |
| 2023 Ascent | 45 | 4 |
| 2022 Ascent | 56 | 2 |
| 2021 Ascent | 103 | 2 |
| 2020 AscentMost complaints | 324 | 5 |
| 2019 AscentMost complaints | 443 | 9 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Electrical system293
- Power train188
- Unknown or other154
- Visibility/wiper153
- Engine104
- Service brakes83
- Visibility54
- Forward collision avoidance49
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 40 Ascent vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 9 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022 | 6 | 0 |
| 2021 | 10 | 2 |
| 2020 | 11 | 1 |
| 2019 | 11 | 5 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 9 model-year variants; 9 of 9 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 2027 SUBARU ASCENT SUV ICE AWD | ★★★★★ | 17.0 % |
| 2026 | 2026 SUBARU ASCENT SUV N/A AWD | ★★★★★ | 17.0 % |
| 2025 | 2025 Subaru Ascent SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 17.0 % |
| 2024 | 2024 Subaru Ascent SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 17.0 % |
| 2023 | 2023 Subaru Ascent SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 17.0 % |
| 2022 | 2022 Subaru Ascent SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 17.0 % |
| 2021 | 2021 Subaru Ascent SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 17.0 % |
| 2020 | 2020 Subaru Ascent SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 17.0 % |
| 2019 | 2019 Subaru Ascent SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 17.0 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 8 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 10.4–11.0 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Ascent AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Regular gasoline | 12.4 | 9.2 | 11.0 |
| 2025 | Ascent AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Regular gasoline | 12.3 | 9.4 | 11.0 |
| 2024 | Ascent AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Regular gasoline | 12.3 | 9.4 | 11.0 |
| 2023 | Ascent AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Regular gasoline | 12.3 | 9.4 | 11.0 |
| 2022 | Ascent AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Regular gasoline | 11.7 | 9.0 | 10.5 |
| 2021 | Ascent AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Regular gasoline | 11.6 | 9.0 | 10.4 |
| 2020 | Ascent AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Regular gasoline | 11.6 | 9.0 | 10.4 |
| 2019 | Ascent AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Regular gasoline | 11.6 | 9.0 | 10.4 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
New registrations in Europe
3 new Subaru Ascent cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2019 and 2022, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2022 the largest markets were Spain (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 173 (WLTP) |
| 2021 | 1 | — |
| 2019 | 1 | 297 (NEDC) |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Recalls
13 campaigns cover the Ascent; the latest 12 are below.
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."
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Ascent vehicles. The left or right front lower control arm may have an improperly tightened ball joint castle nut which can result in retention pin failure and separation of the ball joint from the lower control arm.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Ascent vehicles equipped with 20-inch wheels. The internal tire bead may have been damaged during the wheel mounting process.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. The transmission hydraulic sensor may inaccurately measure the hydraulic fluid pressure.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, possibly resulting in the front portion of the driveshaft disconnecting.
NHTSA recalls