2021 Subaru Ascent owner complaints
104 complaints filed with NHTSA, including 3 crashes, 1 fire, 3 injuries and 0 deaths.
Problems by component
Forward Collision Avoidance7 Recent complaints
October 24, 2026Power Train
Trying to turn onto the street from a parking lot the vehicle wasn't accelerating as expected and I wasn't able to turn as expected. I am taking the car in soon to be diagnosed with an issue.
October 14, 2026Visibility/Wiper
I purchased a new 2021 Subaru Ascent in XXX. In XXX, at about 36,000 miles, I discovered water leaking into the cabin through the panoramic moonroof during rain and brought it to Lynnes Subaru ([XXX]) immediately. Through repeat visits and recurrences, Lynnes failed to diagnose it, blaming clogged drains. In fall 2025 they identified it, with help from a Subaru corporate regional engineer, and performed a moonroof replacement. Because I acted quickly EACH TIME water entered, there was no odor or upholstery damage at that time. Water intrusion continued in areas not visible inside the cabin (seatbelt recess). [XXX] and SOA knew right away water was still entering the vehicle. SOA told me to w
August 31, 2026Electrical SystemUnknown or Other
After my husband replaced the 12V battery in my 2021 Subaru Ascent Touring ($90,000, fully paid off), Apple CarPlay stopped connecting via USB entirely. Android Auto and Bluetooth continued working fine on the same phone, cable, and port, proving the defect was isolated to Subaru's CarPlay system, not my device. I spent significant time and money troubleshooting this myself: multiple cables (including two labeled "Apple certified"), a full infotainment factory reset, and a software update attempt, none of which fixed it. The issue only resolved after I purchased yet another cable at my own expense, with zero meaningful help from Subaru. When I filed a formal complaint, I received a response
August 28, 2026Power Train
My local Subaru dealership / service provider has told me my car needs a new transmission at 66k miles, due to an issue within the CVT solenoid causing slipping and lag that will eventually lead to catastrophic failure of the transmission - per the Subaru of America service tree. This issue began on July 23, 2026, when a slew of warning lights illuminated on the dash and my car went into limp mode, not accelerating properly. It eventually began driving normally and all dash warning lights dissipated. Dealership couldn't see the car at that time, then I was out of town for about a week. Came back, experienced the same issues within 2 days of driving the car. I was able to get it into the deal
July 29, 2026Power TrainEngine
My 2021 Subaru Ascent (40,000 miles) suffered multiple major mechanical failures that pose ongoing safety concerns: 1. Engine Oil Leak: The vehicle developed an active engine oil leak at 20,000 miles, posing a risk of fluid contacting hot exhaust/engine components under the hood or causing low oil levels during operation. Repair time more than 35 days due to parts not available. 2. Loose Factory Engine Mounts: At 25,000 miles, excessive engine shifting, vibration when braking, the dealer discovered loose engine mounts. 3. Transmission Valve Body Failure: At 40,000 miles The transmission Valve Body Failure and need replacement.