2020 Subaru Ascent vs 2021 Subaru Ascent
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2020 Subaru Ascent | 2021 Subaru Ascent |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 318 | 100 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 507 | 361 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 6 | 3 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23 | 23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 6,617 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Ascent | Subaru Ascent |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 101 | 17 |
| Power Train | 56 | 18 |
| Visibility/wiper | 49 | 14 |
| Engine | 29 | 12 |
| Service Brakes | 26 | 9 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 12 | 7 |
| Lane Departure | 4 | 15 |
| Structure | 10 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Battery drain | 27 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 23 | 5 |
| Stalling | 18 | 5 |
| Hesitation / surging | 15 | 6 |
| Won’t start | 10 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 9 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 5 | 0 |
2020 Subaru Ascent
2021 Subaru Ascent
Compare all Subaru Ascent 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.