Subaru Ascent: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
1,047 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Subaru Ascent, model years 2019 to 2026. 2 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2019 (transmission 6.4×); 2020 (transmission 4.2×). Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Ascent | 443 | transmission 6.4× | 9 | |
| 2020 Ascent | 324 | transmission 4.2× | 5 | |
| 2021 AscentFEW REPORTS | 106 | — | 2 | |
| 2022 AscentFEW REPORTS | 56 | — | 2 | |
| 2023 AscentFEW REPORTS | 47 | — | 4 | |
| 2024 AscentFEW REPORTS | 51 | — | 1 | |
| 2025 AscentFEW REPORTS | 15 | — | 1 | |
| 2026 AscentFEW REPORTS | 5 | — | 1 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Subaru models
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Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 20192020