2021 Subaru Ascent Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 2 NHTSA recalls and 103 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

68/100

Elevated Reported Activity — 2021 Subaru Ascent

The 2021 Subaru Ascent shows elevated recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Make sure any recall campaigns are resolved before purchase and have the vehicle inspected thoroughly.

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NHTSA Recalls

2 recalls on record

103

Owner Complaints

Filed with NHTSA

Crash Reports

1 fire report

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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Subaru Ascent (2)

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

🔧 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 — 2021 Subaru Ascent

Based on 103 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Power Train

Electrical System

Visibility/wiper

Service Brakes

Unknown Or Other

Steering

Engine

Lane Departure

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Subaru Ascent — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

→ 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 — 2021 Subaru Ascent

Is the 2021 Subaru Ascent reliable?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Subaru Ascent has 2 recall campaigns and 103 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 2021 Subaru Ascent have?

The 2021 Subaru Ascent has 2 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 2021 Subaru Ascent?

The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Subaru Ascent are: Power Train, Electrical System, Visibility/wiper, Service Brakes. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.

Is the 2021 Subaru Ascent safe to buy?

The 2021 Subaru Ascent has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 2 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.