2020 Ford Explorer vs 2020 Subaru Ascent
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 | 2020 Ford Explorer | 2020 Subaru Ascent |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,212 | 322 |
| Recall campaigns | 33 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 360 | 519 |
| Investigations | 3 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 35 | 6 |
| Fire reports | 10 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–28 | 23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 27,000 mi | 6,633 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Subaru Ascent |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 484 | 58 |
| Electrical System | 185 | 101 |
| Engine | 113 | 29 |
| Service Brakes | 80 | 26 |
| Back Over Prevention | 104 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 55 | 49 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 70 | 12 |
| Exterior Lighting | 52 | 5 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 62 | 18 |
| Shifting problems | 60 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 43 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 39 | 15 |
| Vibration / shaking | 36 | 23 |
| Clunking / rattling | 33 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 28 | 10 |
| Electrical failures | 11 | 5 |
2020 Ford Explorer
2020 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.