FaultScore

Worst years for a Subaru Ascent

Owners have filed 1,331 complaints about the Subaru Ascent with NHTSA across model years 2019 to 2026. More of them are about the electrical system than anything else.

Avoid

2019 Subaru Ascent

558 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly electrical system.

Cleanest on record

2025 Subaru Ascent

19 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Subaru Ascent year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2026 2 0 0 Brakes
2025 A 19 1 1 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
2024 B 64 6 0 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
2023 C 64 8 3 Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
2022 C 79 12 4 60,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
2021 C 141 4 2 2,500 Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
2020 D 404 14 2 6,300 Electrical System
2019 D 558 17 13 12,000 Electrical System

What breaks on a Subaru Ascent

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Electrical System 290 21.8%

Worst in 2019

Worst in 2019

Worst in 2019

Worst in 2019

Engine & Cooling 106 8.0%

Worst in 2019

Worst in 2021

Brakes 87 6.5%

Worst in 2019

Worst in 2019

Worst in 2019

Steering 23 1.7%

Worst in 2019

Airbags 21 1.6%

Worst in 2019

Suspension 20 1.5%

Worst in 2019

Acceleration & Cruise Control 16 1.2%

Worst in 2019

Tires 14 1.1%

Worst in 2023

Exactly what failed on a Subaru Ascent

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Automatic Emergency Braking 25 14.6%
Body 25 14.6%
Windshield 25 14.6%
Exterior 24 14.0%
Warnings 20 11.7%
Assist 18 10.5%
Adaptive Cruise Control 17 9.9%
Warning 10 5.8%
Warnings 4 2.3%
Blind Spot Detection 3 1.8%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Subaru Ascent, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Aug 2018 peak 50 Aug 2026

Subaru Ascent problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Subaru Ascent

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.