2021 Ford Explorer vs 2021 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 | 2021 Ford Explorer | 2021 Subaru Ascent |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 423 | 102 |
| Recall campaigns | 26 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 292 | 373 |
| Investigations | 2 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 14 | 3 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–27 | 23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 43,500 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Subaru Ascent |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 120 | 19 |
| Engine | 48 | 12 |
| Electrical System | 42 | 18 |
| Visibility/wiper | 23 | 14 |
| Back Over Prevention | 36 | 0 |
| Structure | 23 | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 19 | 9 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 19 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 32 | 5 |
| Loss of power | 16 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 14 | 6 |
| Vibration / shaking | 14 | 5 |
| Check engine light | 11 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 9 | 0 |
2021 Ford Explorer
2021 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.