2019 Ford Explorer vs 2019 Subaru Ascent
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2019 Ford Explorer | 2019 Subaru Ascent |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 294 | 441 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 9 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 134 | 627 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 2 | 10 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–22 | 23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 54,136 mi | 14,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Subaru Ascent |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 19 | 160 |
| Structure | 148 | 12 |
| Power Train | 35 | 88 |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 66 |
| Engine | 19 | 47 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 14 | 16 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 26 |
| Suspension | 11 | 11 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 16 | 24 |
| Stalling | 15 | 21 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 8 |
| Overheating | 5 | 0 |
| Battery drain | 0 | 50 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 18 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 13 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 13 |
2019 Ford Explorer
2019 Subaru Ascent
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Subaru Ascent years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.