BrakeNewsOwner complaints, read early

Your vehicle report

2021 Subaru Ascent

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
104
Received Jan 2021 to Oct 2026
Official recalls listed
2
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
2
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Glass shatters or cracks without impact16 complaints · 15% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Battery drains and dies when parked9 complaints · 8.6% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed8 complaints · 7.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #22V907000Park outsideSubaru 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.
  • Recall #26V436000Subaru 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."
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 3 crashes, 1 fire, 3 people injured, 0 deaths.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 11 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

2 more problems

Brakes

Electrical & lights

Airbags, belts & seats

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Steering, suspension & tires

Body, doors & glass

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 2021 Subaru Ascent
5
Show as a table
MonthComplaints
January 20214
February 20211
March 20214
April 20211
May 20212
June 20215
July 20211
August 20211
September 20212
October 20212
November 20212
December 20211
January 20220
February 20220
March 20223
April 20220
May 20223
June 20221
July 20223
August 20221
September 20224
October 20224
November 20222
December 20221
January 20231
February 20230
March 20230
April 20232
May 20232
June 20232
July 20232
August 20234
September 20230
October 20231
November 20230
December 20230
January 20241
February 20242
March 20240
April 20243
May 20242
June 20242
July 20240
August 20243
September 20241
October 20241
November 20240
December 20240
January 20250
February 20250
March 20250
April 20252
May 20251
June 20252
July 20252
August 20250
September 20252
October 20250
November 20250
December 20253
January 20263
February 20260
March 20260
April 20264
May 20260
June 20261
July 20263
August 20262
September 20260
October 20262
Total104

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Glass shatters or cracks without impact1615%–
Battery drains and dies when parked98.6%–
Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed87.7%–
Transmission fails or loses power while driving87.7%8.4×BrakeNews flag · First signal: Apr 2025
Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.8%
Water leaks into cabin during rain43.9%17.2×BrakeNews flag · First signal: Oct 2026
Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.3%
CVT transmission fails or loses power43.9%–
Tires blow out or tread separates32.9%–
Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips32.9%–
Cruise control fails to disengage32.9%–
Transmission shudders during acceleration at low speeds32.9%–
Front brake rotors warp and wear early32.9%–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #22V907000December 8, 2022271,694 vehicles affected

    Park outside: NHTSA advises this until the repair is done.

    electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash

    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.

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #26V436000July 7, 2026541,237 vehicles affected

    equipment: other: labels

    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."

    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.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2021 Subaru Ascent.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN