2020 Subaru Ascent recalls

5 safety recalls, 324 owner complaints. Official NHTSA data.

5Recalls
324Complaints
7Crashes & fires reported
N/ANHTSA overall rating

Not every 2020 Subaru Ascent is affected by every recall. Check your VIN to see open recalls on your exact vehicle.

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2020 Subaru Ascent recall list

Equipment recall

26V-436
July 8, 2026 · Subaru of America, Inc.
Problem
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."
Safety risk
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.

Electrical System recall

Park outside22V-907
December 8, 2022 · Subaru of America, Inc.
Problem
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.
Safety risk
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.

Power Train recall

21V-955
December 9, 2021 · Subaru of America, Inc.
Problem
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.
Safety risk
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.

Steering recall

21V-954
December 9, 2021 · Subaru of America, Inc.
Problem
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.
Safety risk
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.

Fuel System, Gasoline recall

21V-587
July 29, 2021 · Subaru of America, Inc.
Problem
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.
Safety risk
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.

2020 Subaru Ascent owner complaints

324 complaints filed with NHTSA, including 6 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries and 0 deaths.

Problems by component

Electrical System101
Power Train59
Unknown or Other57
Visibility/Wiper49
Engine29
Service Brakes26
Fuel/Propulsion System14
Forward Collision Avoidance12
Visibility11
Structure10

Recent complaints

October 20, 2026Power Train

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.

October 19, 2026Unknown or Other

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.

September 11, 2026Wheels

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?

September 4, 2026Exterior Lighting

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 replaced,

August 27, 2026Power Train

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 recall FAQ

Does the 2020 Subaru Ascent have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2020 Subaru Ascent. The most recent, filed July 8, 2026, concerns the equipment.

What are the most common 2020 Subaru Ascent problems?

Owners have filed 324 complaints with NHTSA. The most reported area is electrical system (101 reports), followed by power train.

Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent safe?

NHTSA has not published an overall crash test rating for the 2020 Subaru Ascent.

How do I get a recall fixed on my 2020 Subaru Ascent?

Contact any authorized Subaru dealer. Recall repairs are free, even if you are not the original owner or the warranty has expired.