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2020 Subaru Ascent

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Ascent years

Owner complaints for the 2020 Subaru Ascent are substantially higher than the model-year median of 52.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

140 reports with mileage · 182 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 101 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Visibility complaints

11 reports
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60,000 miles · Aug 3, 2023
Visibility

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that he parked the vehicle in the parking garage overnight and when he went to get into the vehicle the next morning, he noticed that the windshield was cracked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehic…

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The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that he parked the vehicle in the parking garage overnight and when he went to get into the vehicle the next morning, he noticed that the windshield was cracked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #11536360

29,200 miles · Nov 29, 2022
Visibility

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the parking lot, the windshield suddenly cracked without impact. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 29,200. The contact stated …

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The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the parking lot, the windshield suddenly cracked without impact. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 29,200. The contact stated that they reached a settlement with the manufacturer where they paid for the majority of the windshield repair.

NHTSA ODI #11495335

26,000 miles · Sep 6, 2022
Visibility

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while her fiancé was driving 65 MPH, the contact was seated in the passenger’s side seat and noticed a crack on the driver’s side windshield, starting from the rearview mirror. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The veh…

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The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while her fiancé was driving 65 MPH, the contact was seated in the passenger’s side seat and noticed a crack on the driver’s side windshield, starting from the rearview mirror. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.

NHTSA ODI #11482975

1,000 miles · Apr 28, 2021
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED SHE NOTICIED TINY DOTS ON THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH OBSTRUCTED HER VIEW WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER CAMELBACK VW (1499 E CAMELBACK RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85014, (602) 648-9181) AND THE MECHANIC WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED SHE NOTICIED TINY DOTS ON THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH OBSTRUCTED HER VIEW WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER CAMELBACK VW (1499 E CAMELBACK RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85014, (602) 648-9181) AND THE MECHANIC WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000.

NHTSA ODI #11414284

22,000 miles · Dec 29, 2020
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL, HE NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT IN THE CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LANDERS MCLARTY SUBARU (5790 UNIVERSITY DR NW, HUNTSVILLE, AL 35816: (256) 382-2425) AND THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO WINDSHIELD REPAIR CENT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL, HE NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT IN THE CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LANDERS MCLARTY SUBARU (5790 UNIVERSITY DR NW, HUNTSVILLE, AL 35816: (256) 382-2425) AND THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO WINDSHIELD REPAIR CENTER. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,000.

NHTSA ODI #11385458

20,000 miles · Nov 27, 2020
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN THE DRIVER'S VIEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. TINDOL SUBARU (1901 E FRANKLIN BLVD, GASTONIA, NC 28054 (704) 867-…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN THE DRIVER'S VIEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. TINDOL SUBARU (1901 E FRANKLIN BLVD, GASTONIA, NC 28054 (704) 867-8341) WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.

NHTSA ODI #11376526

3,100 miles · Aug 28, 2020
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CRACKING NOISE DETECTED AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CRACKING NOISE DETECTED AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,100.

NHTSA ODI #11351763

6,600 miles · Jul 16, 2020
Unknown Or OtherVisibility

WINDSHIELD CRACKS EASY

NHTSA ODI #11339742

6,400 miles · Jun 23, 2020
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CRACK GREW FROM A PIN HEAD SIZED CRACK TO APPROXIMATELY 24 INCHES WITHIN 72 HOURS; FROM THE LOWER SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO B…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CRACK GREW FROM A PIN HEAD SIZED CRACK TO APPROXIMATELY 24 INCHES WITHIN 72 HOURS; FROM THE LOWER SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB MOORE AUTO GROUP LOCATED AT 13000 BROADWAY EXT, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73114, (888) 667-8741 AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,400.

NHTSA ODI #11330310

3,340 miles · Jun 22, 2020
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OCEAN SUBARU OF FULLERTON (1100 S EUCLID ST, FULLERTON, CA 92832), AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED BY A ROCK AND WAS TO CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY FO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OCEAN SUBARU OF FULLERTON (1100 S EUCLID ST, FULLERTON, CA 92832), AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED BY A ROCK AND WAS TO CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,340.

NHTSA ODI #11330140

Official recalls

5

26V436000 · Equipment:other:labels

Jul 7, 2026

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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 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.

22V907000 · Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash

Dec 8, 2022

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

21V954000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly

Dec 9, 2021

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020 Ascent vehicles. Due to an incorrect tapered hole in the housing, the front tie rod ends may not fit properly. The improper fit can result in the tie rods and housings being deformed during assembly and service replacement if excessive torque is applied.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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 at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRL-21.

21V955000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm); Power Train:driveline:chain/belt

Dec 9, 2021

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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 replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 19, 2022. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855. Vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall once available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-21.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:driveline:chain/belt

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.

Consequence: 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 replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 19, 2022. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855. Vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall once available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-21.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.

Consequence: 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 replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 19, 2022. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855. Vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall once available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-21.

21V587000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Jul 29, 2021

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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 for this recall is WRG-21.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.