CarRecallWatchThe 2020 Subaru Ascent has 5 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 324 complaints with NHTSA, including 6 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Electrical System (101 reports).
2020 Subaru Ascent recalls
Incorrect Weight Label Can Lead to Overloading and Crash Risk
Certain Subaru Ascent and Forester vehicles were built with an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label, so the vehicles do not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 for tire selection and rims.
Wiring Under Dash Can Melt and Cause Fire
A ground bolt for the heater's PTC unit under the dashboard may have been improperly tightened.
Steering Tie Rods May Separate, Causing Loss of Control
Some 2020 Subaru Ascent vehicles have front tie rod ends that may not fit properly into their housings, because the tapered hole in the housing is incorrect.
Transmission Can Lose Drive Power, Raising Crash Risk
Certain 2019-2020 Subaru Ascent and 2020 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles have a programming error in the transmission control unit.
Fuel pump may fail, causing engine stall while driving
The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail on certain Subaru and Toyota 86 vehicles.
Most common 2020 Subaru Ascent problems
Problem areas named in the 324 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 101 |
| Power Train | 59 |
| Unknown Or Other | 57 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 49 |
| Engine | 29 |
| Service Brakes | 26 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 18 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 14 |
| Visibility | 11 |
| Structure | 10 |
What owners report
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, while driving at various undisclosed speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly failed to accelerate and lost power. The contact also stated that the vehicle felt sluggish while driving. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with chain slippage in the clutch, causing the loss of power. The contact was informed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure via telephone. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.
I have experienced problems with the rear lift gate on multiple occasions. It is working intermittently and locking me out. The beeping while the car is in motion is continuous and it drained the battery; I had to purchase a new battery. Another time we had to disconnect the battery (as suggested by the dealership) and reconnect it to fix the problem.
After replacing tires I started hearing noises from rear wheel. I searched online and it appears there is an issue with wheel bearings on several Subaru models (see YOUTUBE video by FIXBOOK dated July 12, 2026). The issue was confirmed by my Subaru dealer on 9/10/2026. Subary wheel bearings prior to 2026 were subject to poor design resulting in premature corrosion, complete failure and possible separation from the under carriage. New Subaru wheel bearing was redesigned in 2026 (part 28473XC00E), but Subaru never recalled the defective wheel bearings in Tribeca, WRX, Forester, Ascent, Outback models sold prior to 2026?
Subaru has a known problem/design with their LED daytime running lamps on the Ascent model. Dealerships are seeing a high failure rate of these LED lights, and it is always with the left side headlamp assembly. The LED strip quits working. In my case my car has about 42,000 miles on it with estimated 1,500 hours of operation. LED lights are designed to last a minimum of 30,000 and up to 100,000 hours. I see these models all the time with their left daytime lamps out. These lamps are provided for safety reasons and to bring visibility to other drivers. Even Subaru dealer's state that this is a known problem and always the left headlight assembly. FYI, the whole assembly needs to be re
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was skipping. The failure was recurrent. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V955000 (Power Train); however, the dealer informed the contact that the recall repair was completed on July 15, 2025. The contact was the vehicle owner on that date and stated that the vehicle was never taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with CVT failure and advised that the vehicle was outside warranty coverage. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.
2020 Subaru Ascent questions
Does the 2020 Subaru Ascent have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2020 Subaru Ascent: Incorrect Weight Label Can Lead to Overloading and Crash Risk; Wiring Under Dash Can Melt and Cause Fire; Steering Tie Rods May Separate, Causing Loss of Control; Transmission Can Lose Drive Power, Raising Crash Risk; Fuel pump may fail, causing engine stall while driving. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Subaru Ascent?
Based on 324 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (101), Power Train (59), Unknown Or Other (57).
How do I check if a recall on my 2020 Subaru Ascent has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.