Reliable Auto DB

2025 Subaru Ascent reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2025 Subaru Ascent holds 15 complaints after 2 years, a rate of 8 per year. It is too early to rank against other Ascent years: a year is compared here only after 3 years on the road. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Labels.

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

15

Per year

8

Recalls

1

Years on the road

2

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (2 of 15), then Engine (2) and Steering (2). Those filings include 2 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2024 and 2026

The 2024 Ascent has 50 complaints, 17 per year, and the 2026 has 0 complaints, 0 per year.

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 2025 Subaru Ascent. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

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.

Complaints by component (15 total)

Electrical system
2
Engine
2
Steering
2
Structure
2
Visibility
2
Visibility and wipers
2
Air bags
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Lane departure
1
Service brakes
1
Speed control
1
Tires
1
Show 4 more Show less
Crash-flagged

2

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

7202582026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The contact owned a 2025 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking spot with a foot on the brake pedal, the engine suddenly revved loudly and unintendedly accelerated. The vehicle crashed into…"
    Speed control · filed 2026-09-21
  • "Was getting out the car the door shut car door and side curtain on drivers side and drivers seats airbag deployed. My children were in the car no injuries during event. But, could have depending on when the airbags…"
    Air bags · filed 2026-08-17
  • "2025 Subaru Ascent has a popping noise randomly usually when turning left. Dealership services can not find the source."
    Steering · filed 2026-07-23
  • "The car will spontaneously brake for no reason while driving forward and reverse. The steering wheel will spontaneously steer you out of the lane. The doors will lock while you are in the car and you can't get out for…"
    Steering, Electrical system, Service brakes · filed 2026-06-26
  • "Traveling in my 2025 Subaru Ascent with cruise control set at 50mph. Bright sunny day, no shadows on the road and no vehicles in front of me. My vehicle slammed on the brakes out of nowhere. Held deceleration about 5-7…"
    Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-06-25

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2025 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 20 26 22 MPG $2950
Ascent Limited/Touring/Onyx all-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S8) All-wheel drive 19 25 21 MPG $3100

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 2024 Subaru Ascent See every Subaru Ascent model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2025 Subaru Ascent reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2025 Subaru Ascent holds 15 complaints after 2 years, a rate of 8 per year. It is too early to rank against other Ascent years: a year is compared here only after 3 years on the road. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Labels.

What are common problems with a 2025 Subaru Ascent?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (2 of 15), then Engine (2) and Steering (2). Those filings include 2 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2025 Subaru Ascent more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2024 Ascent has 50 complaints, 17 per year, and the 2026 has 0 complaints, 0 per year.

Has the 2025 Subaru Ascent been recalled?

The 2025 Subaru Ascent has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2025 Subaru Ascent?

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 2025 Subaru Ascent with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2025 Subaru Ascent get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2025 Subaru Ascent is 21.5 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.