Subaru Ascent
Reliability, NHTSA Complaints & Recall History
8 model years analyzed (2019–2026). All data sourced directly from the NHTSA public complaints and recall database — the same data used by federal regulators.
Checking a specific Subaru Ascent? Run a VIN check for its exact history.
⭐ NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
AI Reliability Analysis
Below AverageThe Subaru Ascent has a high number of complaints (980) and recalls (17) for 2019-2026 models, with electrical system issues being the most common problem. Power train and visibility/wiper concerns are also frequent, and there have been 30 crash-related complaints, indicating notable reliability concerns.
Consider a 2023 or later model year, as earlier years have more complaints, and ensure all recalls are performed before purchase. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on electrical and transmission systems.
- Electrical system failures (e.g., battery, wiring, infotainment)
- Power train issues (e.g., transmission, drivetrain)
- Visibility/wiper problems (e.g., windshield, wipers)
🔔 NHTSA Safety Recalls
17 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2019–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
🔧 Most-Reported Problem Areas
Based on component keywords extracted from all 980 NHTSA complaints.
📋 NHTSA Complaint Reports
980 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The contact owns a 2026 Subaru Accent. The contact stated that there was a failure related to the brake pedal design. The contact stated that there was an approximate one-inch difference in spacing between the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal in previous model vehicles. The contact stated that there was an approximate four-inch gap between the brake and accelerator pedals, while previous models had an approximate three-inch space. The contact stated that the difference created a hazardous driving condition and increased the risk of unintended pedal application. Additionally, there were several instances where a crash could have occurred due to the pedal spacing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, it was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that several complaints were received with the same issue and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,040.
While driving the passenger door window behind the driver burst, then began falling into the car. The safety issue would have occurred if one of my grandchildren were sitting there. Also, the startling event of it just bursting and possible causing a jerk in the car. The dealer said that they have not heard of this and would not repair under warranty (brand new car, purchased in September). Police investigated and saw nothing that would have caused an outside force to break the window. No warnings
I hit a deer on CA 395 north, my braking system worked and my air bags deployed, and then my engine immediately caught fire. I’m lucky i was able to get out of the car through a back door. Every police and fire who responded said they have never seen a car catch fire after hitting a deer and i should report a vehicle malfunction
I own a 2025 Subaru Ascent Limited. At approximately 20,000 miles, one of the original tires (factory-installed) developed a straight split along the tread/shoulder area. The cut was very straight, almost like along a seam, and I could see metal/steel cords exposed through the opening. There was no major impact, curb strike, or pothole event that I’m aware of, and there was no obvious sidewall or wheel damage. The Subaru dealer inspected the tire and replaced it, but I do not have the tire in my possession, so I no longer have the exact tire brand/model or DOT number. I have photos of the damage and a repair order from the dealer showing the tire replacement. I have also reported this incident to Subaru’s customer advocate department because I am concerned this may be a safety-related tire or manufacturing issue on a relatively new vehicle with low mileage.
The driver side rearview mirror shakes and vibrates under normal driving conditions. This is distracting and nauseating to the driver. This is a safety issue because this mirror is used for checking for vehicles before changing lanes.
Driver side mirror vibrates making the view in the mirror blurry. The distorted picture causes confusion and safety hazard as it's very difficult to see in day and almost impossible at night. Vibrations are noticeable in the driver's side B pillar. According to the dealership, this is related to the car's frame, no further details were provided so far. Car has been in the service for almost two weeks due to this issue.
The drivers side mirror glass shakes while driving. Visibility in the mirror is extremely limited making it impossible to see vehicle approaching or to judge distance. After dark the mirror is useless.
No particular incident happened, but the driver's side view mirror vibrates when moving especially at high speeds and/or bumpy roads. Worse at night as when you look, headlights in rear are shaking and make me dizzy and not look. The passengers side is nice and stable. Doesn't vibrate and shake.
The driver side mirror is unusable. The mirror it self shakes so much while driving you cannot see anything clearly or safely.
2023 Subaru Ascent, under manufacturer basic warranty. Factory OEM battery has repeatedly failed. Voltage drops below 11.5V in normal use. Three documented failures in six weeks. SAFETY INCIDENT: Vehicle died on a public street and became completely immobilized. Brake warning light activated. Vehicle would not move even after a jump start. Passengers had to exit in a live traffic lane. A second vehicle was used to transport a replacement battery. The original battery is in my possession and available for inspection. A subsequent failure occurred when the original battery was reinstalled for a manufacturer-required diagnostic. Vehicle again would not start. KNOWN DEFECT: Subaru TSB 07-213-22R (revised 03/28/24) covers the 2023-24 Ascent battery and acknowledges the factory specification as inadequate, directing dealers to replace the battery, tray, cover, and holding rod with higher-capacity parts. This TSB was not proactively applied to my vehicle. The dealer did not identify or disclose it at earlier service visits where the battery concern was reported and "could not be reproduced." No recall or proactive owner notification has been issued. Dealers are not applying the TSB preventively. A complaint is open with Subaru of America Customer Advocacy. The manufacturer has declined to reimburse the out-of-pocket emergency replacement and has required a dealer diagnostic that has been repeatedly blocked by manufacturer/dealer procedural requirements.
In 2024, 2025, and 2026, I have had 2 incidents in each year where the cruise control is set to 60 to 65 mph and the cruise control then accelerates the car past 100 mph. When this occurs, tapping the break does NOT disengage the cruise control. All 6 times I have had to slam the breaks to a full dead stop while the car tries to accelerate anyway. April 4, 2026 and April 14, 2026 are the most recent occurrences and all occurrences so far for this issue have been during a downhill road incline. The dealer has dismissed the problem every time and has been unable to fix or reproduce the problem on demand. The random frequency of this problem can easily lead to a significant accident for the driver or others in the vicinity. And the lack of resolution from the Subaru dealer has lead me to report the issue here in hopes that if this is occurring for other vehicles that the company takes an actual resolution to solve the issue in their cruise control function.
I was entering an intersection to make a left-hand turn. I was driving at a low speed. My foot was pressing the accelerator and the car entered the intersection. In the middle of the intersection, the car wheels suddenly stopped turning. There was nothing in front of the car. Cars behind me began honking since my car stopped suddenly and unexpectedly while I saw a notice displayed on the car messaging, but I do not know what it said. I am unsure if the car engine turned off or not, but I remember turning on my hazard lights, putting the car in park and pressing the start button. I was able to drive out of the intersection to a safe location and turned off the car engine. I restarted the car and drove immediately to the dealer where I purchased the car from for them to evaluate it. It is currently being submitted for diagnostics at the car dealer. I told them I would make this safety report while I waited.
When crossing a bridge at 40 mph with wide open lanes and shoulders the vehicle on cruise control suddenly braked aggressively and came to a full stop in the middle of a state highway bridge. Conditions were daylight, headed towards sun, no shadows on bridge. The road surface was smooth asphalt. There were shoulders as wide as the active lanes. There was no warning and very little time for a driver reaction. This type of vehicle behavior will most certainly cause rear end collisions.
Incident Description – Event 1 On August 28, 2025, at approximately 4:45 p.m. while driving on Sugar Ridge Road, my 2023 Subaru Ascent suddenly jerked violently into the left lane without warning while the EyeSight Driver Assist system was active. I had to take immediate corrective action to maintain control and avoid a head-on collision. This behavior has occurred on multiple occasions under similar circumstances. My husband has also experienced the same issue while driving, which demonstrates this is not an isolated event. Incident Description – Event 2 On multiple other occasions, while the EyeSight Driver Assist system was engaged, the vehicle veered dangerously close to a semi-truck traveling beside us. I had to react instantly to prevent sideswiping the truck, which could have resulted in a severe accident. We have noticed this behavior occurs nearly every time we are alongside a semi-truck on the highway.
The passenger-side mirror on my Ascent has been damaged and removed since March 2025. I paid for the part on April 8, 2025 and was told it would arrive in a few weeks. As of July 1, 2025, the part has been delayed until August. The mirror is critical for visibility and safe operation. My wife drives this car daily with our infant. Subaru has refused to provide a rental, and the car is unsafe. I’ve contacted Subaru Corporate with no resolution, despite my continued persistence in contacting them through visits to their dealership in Plano, TX and several emails.
The windshield on the 2023 is extremely susceptible to cracking easily. Chips turn to cracks within minutes
Formal Complaint Summary (VIN: [XXX] ) I am submitting this formal complaint concerning a 2023 Subaru Ascent Onyx Edition Limited (VIN: [XXX] ), which continues to experience brake-related safety defects despite recall repairs and repeated service attempts during the warranty period. Subaru of America issued Service Bulletin 06-92-24 in July 2024, which extended warranty coverage and acknowledged systemic issues with front brake components—specifically brake pulsation, squealing, pedal softness, and vibration. Subaru developed new components and repair protocols to address these issues, including new rotors, tie bars, pad kits, and a revised installation process. In September 2024, I brought the vehicle to CMA’s Subaru of Winchester after experiencing symptoms covered under the recall. Subaru replaced all required recall components. However, the defect returned in March 2025, while driving from Indianapolis to Winchester, now worse than before—resulting in violent steering wheel vibration, loud grinding noises, and unsafe braking behavior, particularly during downhill braking. Instead of replacing the parts again, Subaru resurfaced the upgraded rotors—despite the bulletin’s warnings against doing so. This resurfacing served as a temporary patch, not a true fix, and failed to resolve the underlying safety issue. I have made 21 lease payments totaling $13,707.96 and paid a $6,000 down payment, totaling $19,707.96 in out-of-pocket costs. Subaru has offered only a $2,500 goodwill payment, which I rejected. Relief Requested: I am requesting a full reimbursement with buy back under Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Investigation to the reoccurring break issues despite being serviced for a recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I am filing a formal complaint against Subaru of America regarding a safety defect in my 2023 Subaru Ascent (VIN: [XXX] ) and their failure to honor warranty and recall obligations. Subaru issued recall TSB 06-92-24 to address front brake vibration by replacing rotors and pads with upgraded parts. My vehicle received this repair in September 2024. Less than 9,000 miles later, the exact same symptoms returned—steering wheel shaking and brake pulsation. In April 2025, Subaru resurfaced the upgraded rotors instead of replacing them, violating their own TSB, which prohibits unnecessary resurfacing and mandates rotor replacement if runout exceeds 0.05 mm. An independent inspection dated April 9, 2025, confirmed: Left front rotor measures 29.0 mm with 0.5 mm runout (10x Subaru’s limit) Right front rotor also measures 29.0 mm Subaru’s dealership claimed the rotors were 30.09 mm and 29.50 mm—inaccurate and misleading Subaru returned the vehicle in an unsafe condition with documented brake system defects. Their customer service insists the vehicle is “operating as designed,” despite clear evidence to the contrary. I am requesting regulatory review and a full buyback or enforcement of proper warranty compliance. Photos, inspection documents, and invoices are available. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The warning lights on the car flashed and the car shut down. I was on the highway. I called 911 and they told me to quickly and safely exit the car. Less than a minute later, the engine combusted and the car was engulfed in flames.
The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that the Eyesight system was intermittently inoperable. A message indicating that the Eyesight function was disabled was displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that the Eyesight icon turned from green to white with a line across. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure could not be replicated. The dealer advised the contact to keep records of occurrences of the failure. The contact followed the dealer's instructions. The contact stated that upon following up with the dealer, the dealer informed the contact that the regional field engineer had been notified of the failure and advised that there was no remedy to correct the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000.
Showing 20 of 980 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check a Specific Subaru Ascent
This page shows fleet averages across all 8 model years. Enter a VIN to see the exact accident history, odometer records, title brands, and open recall status for a specific car.
📖 Understanding This Data
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Subaru Ascent has 980 complaints on record across 8 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Subaru Ascent has 17 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 30 of the Subaru Ascent's 980 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the AI Rating Calculated?
The AI reliability rating (Below Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. The rating provides a plain-English summary for buyers who want a quick verdict without parsing raw numbers. It is one input in your buying decision — always verify with a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Subaru Ascent vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Subaru Ascent vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Subaru Ascent has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
Is This Data Saved in Firebase & Indexed by Google?
Yes — intentionally. When you first visit this page, our server fetches live data directly from the NHTSA public API (no key required), processes it, and caches it in Google Firebase Firestore for 24 hours. The fully rendered HTML — with all NHTSA complaints, recalls, NCAP ratings, and investigations — is then indexed by Google Search. This is by design: caching real government data in Firebase lets us serve comprehensive vehicle safety pages instantly, while giving Google Bots rich structured content to rank for searches like "Subaru Ascent reliability" or "NHTSA recalls." No personal data is stored — only public NHTSA records are cached. You can always verify everything directly at nhtsa.gov.