2019 Subaru Ascent vs 2019 Toyota Highlander
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2019 Subaru Ascent | 2019 Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 441 | 480 |
| Recall campaigns | 9 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 627 | 162 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 22 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23 | 22–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 14,000 mi | 13,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Ascent | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 88 | 194 |
| Electrical System | 160 | 56 |
| Engine | 47 | 69 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 16 | 86 |
| Visibility/wiper | 66 | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 26 | 18 |
| Structure | 12 | 12 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 11 | 11 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Battery drain | 50 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 24 | 9 |
| Stalling | 21 | 62 |
| Hesitation / surging | 18 | 26 |
| Won’t start | 13 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 13 | 43 |
| Loss of power | 11 | 25 |
| Clunking / rattling | 8 | 5 |
2019 Subaru Ascent
2019 Toyota Highlander
Compare all Subaru Ascent vs Toyota Highlander 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.