2020 Subaru Ascent problems and complaints
Owners have filed 322 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Ascent. The most-reported areas: Electrical System (101), Power Train (58), Unknown Or Other (56).
Key takeaways
- 322 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 6 involve a crash, 1 a fire, 5 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 101 | 31% |
| Power Train | 58 | 18% |
| Unknown Or Other | 56 | 17% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 49 | 15% |
| Engine | 29 | 9% |
| Service Brakes | 26 | 8% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 14 | 4% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 12 | 4% |
| Visibility | 11 | 3% |
| Structure | 10 | 3% |
| Suspension | 8 | 2% |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Subaru Ascent SUV AWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Wheels - filed 2026-09-11
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 ...
Exterior Lighting - filed 2026-09-04
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 ...
Power Train - filed 2026-08-27
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...
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More for the 2020 Subaru Ascent
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.