2021 Subaru Ascent reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Ascent over 6 years — 21 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Ascent years here — over the median of the other years, which is 17. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Labels and Interior under-dash wiring.

2019 Subaru Ascent — Photo by Kevauto, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Complaints

102

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (19 of 102), then Electrical system (18) and Lane departure (15). Those filings include 3 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 3 that report an injury.

Next to 2020 and 2022

The 2020 Ascent has 322 complaints, 80 per year, and the 2022 has 55 complaints, 13 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Subaru Ascent. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (2)

Recall Labels 2026-07-07 · NHTSA campaign 26V436000

Summary Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid, Forester, and 2019-2026 Ascent vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured with an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire selection and rims."

Remedy Subaru will mail a new certification label to owners, free of charge. Owners may also choose to have a dealer install the new label, free of charge. Letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed August 27, 2026. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-26.

Recall electrical system, wiring, interior under-dash wiring 2022-12-08 · NHTSA campaign 22V907000

Summary Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ascent vehicles. The ground bolt that secures the ground terminal of the Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater may have been improperly fastened, which could result in melting of the ground terminal and surrounding components.

Remedy Owners are advised to park their vehicle away from structures and to avoid leaving the vehicle unattended while the engine is running. An owner who notices or smells smoke coming from the dash or driver's footwell area should immediately stop operating the vehicle and turn the ignition switch to the "Off" position. Dealers will replace the PTC heater ground bolts and if necessary, replace the ground wire and the connector holder, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 6, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRL-22.

Complaints by component (102 total)

Powertrain

Electrical system

Lane departure

Visibility and wipers

Engine

Service brakes

Forward collision avoidance

Steering

Structure

Visibility

Fuel and propulsion system

Speed control

Tires

Wheels

Air bags

Seat belts

Seats

Suspension

Tether and lower anchor

Show 11 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"After my husband replaced the 12V battery in my 2021 Subaru Ascent Touring ($90,000, fully paid off), Apple CarPlay stopped connecting via USB entirely. Android Auto and Bluetooth continued working fine on the same…"
Electrical system, Unknown or other · filed 2026-08-31
"My local Subaru dealership / service provider has told me my car needs a new transmission at 66k miles, due to an issue within the CVT solenoid causing slipping and lag that will eventually lead to catastrophic failure…"
Powertrain · filed 2026-08-28
"My 2021 Subaru Ascent (40,000 miles) suffered multiple major mechanical failures that pose ongoing safety concerns: 1. Engine Oil Leak: The vehicle developed an active engine oil leak at 20,000 miles, posing a risk of…"
Powertrain, Engine · filed 2026-07-29
"The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to stall, and the transmission failed to properly operate. The vehicle was pulled over to a…"
Powertrain · filed 2026-07-24
"Oil leaking from upper and lower oil pan. Oil seeping from head gasket and CVT chain pump cover. RTV sealant failure. $4800 to repair. Subaru needs to solve these oil leak issues. Leaking oil is bad for the environment…"
Engine · filed 2026-07-11

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2021 Subaru Ascent SUV AWD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Ascent	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AV-S8)	All-wheel drive	21	27	23 MPG	$2800
Ascent Limited/Touring	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AV-S8)	All-wheel drive	20	26	22 MPG	$2950

Specs and fitment

1st generation (BT), 2019–present

Body styles SUV

Oil 0W-20 synthetic (2.4L turbo; 5W-30 if 0W-20 unavailable) , 5.4 qt capacity

Tire size 245/50R20, 245/60R18 (trim dependent)

Towing capacity 5,000 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 22V907000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ascent vehicles. The ground bolt that secures the ground terminal of the Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater may have been improperly fastened, which could result in melting of the ground terminal and surrounding components. A melting ground terminal increases the risk of a fire. Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicle away from structures and to avoid leaving the vehicle unattended while the engine is running. An owner who notices or smells smoke coming from the dash or driver's footwell area should immediately stop operating the vehicle and turn the ignition switch to the "Off" position. Dealers will replace the PTC heater ground bolts and if necessary, replace the ground wire and the connector holder, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 6, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRL-22. When NHTSA lists multiple Subaru nameplates in one campaign, the published unit count is shared across them.

Compare

Previous year 2020 Subaru Ascent Next year 2022 Subaru Ascent See every Subaru Ascent model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Subaru Ascent reliable?

What are common problems with a 2021 Subaru Ascent?

Is the 2021 Subaru Ascent more reliable than the years next to it?

Has the 2021 Subaru Ascent been recalled?

The 2021 Subaru Ascent has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Subaru Ascent?

Owners have filed 102 complaints about the 2021 Subaru Ascent with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Subaru Ascent get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Subaru Ascent is 22.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a Subaru Ascent use?

The Ascent 2.4L turbo US manual specifies 0W-20 synthetic, with 5W-30 only when 0W-20 is unavailable.

When did the Subaru Ascent launch in the US?

The first US Ascent model year is 2019 (1st generation / BT).

What tire sizes does a Subaru Ascent use?

Common US sizes include 245/60R18 and 245/50R20 depending on trim.