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2020 Subaru Ascent Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 5 NHTSA recalls and 322 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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This model year has more owner complaints than most other years of the Subaru Ascent

The 2020 model year has more NHTSA owner complaints than the average of the years compared below. Review the recalls and common complaints, and have any vehicle inspected.

F
35/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2020 Subaru Ascent

The 2020 Subaru Ascent shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

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5
NHTSA Recalls
5 recalls on record
322
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
6
Crash Reports
1 fire report
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NHTSA Recalls — 2020 Subaru Ascent (5)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Subaru dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be…
NHTSA #21V955000
🔧 Steering: Linkages: Tie Rod Assembly
The tie rods may separate from the housing, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right front tie rod ends and housings, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru customer service…
NHTSA #21V954000
🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number…
NHTSA #21V587000
🔧 Electrical System: Wiring: Interior/Under Dash
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…
NHTSA #22V907000
🔧 Equipment: Other: Labels
An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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…
NHTSA #26V436000
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Most Common Problems — 2020 Subaru Ascent

Based on 322 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Electrical System
98
Power Train
57
Visibility/wiper
45
Unknown Or Other
43
Service Brakes
18
Visibility
10
Structure
9
Engine
9
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Subaru Ascent — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2020 model year is highlighted.

2019 442 complaints 2020 322 complaints 2021 103 complaints 2022 56 complaints 2023 45 complaints 2024 50 complaints 2014 Data unavailable 2015 Data unavailable 2016 Data unavailable 2017 Data unavailable 2018 Data unavailable

→ Decode a Subaru VIN — free Subaru VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.

⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2019, 2020 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2022, 2023, 2024 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2020 Subaru Ascent

Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 Subaru Ascent has 5 recall campaigns and 322 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2020 Subaru Ascent have?
The 2020 Subaru Ascent has 5 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Subaru Ascent?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2020 Subaru Ascent are: Electrical System, Power Train, Visibility/wiper, Unknown Or Other. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent safe to buy?
The 2020 Subaru Ascent has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 5 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Subaru Ascent should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Subaru Ascent are: 2022, 2023, 2024. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2019, 2020.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.