2019 Subaru Ascent Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 7 Ascent years
The 2019 Subaru Ascent ranks worst of 7 model years, with 441 complaints, a complaint index of 100, and 9 recalls. Electrical System issues lead at 37% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 10,500 miles.
- Complaints
- 441
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes / fires
- 10 / 6
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22.5
- 20.5 city / 26.5 hwy
Top 2019 Subaru Ascent problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System163 (37%)
- Transmission & Powertrain88 (20%)
- Visibility & Wipers81 (18%)
- Other59 (13%)
- Engine51 (12%)
- Brakes29 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires17 (4%)
- Fuel System16 (4%)
- Structure & Body14 (3%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras11 (2%)
What owners report
- Owners report electrical fires starting while the vehicle was parked or shortly after driving, sometimes traced to a battery or wiring issue.
- Some owners describe the EyeSight pre-collision braking system failing to engage or stop the vehicle, resulting in low-speed crashes into poles or walls.
- Several complaints describe airbags failing to deploy during moderate-speed crashes, including head-on and rear-end impacts.
- Owners report sudden unintended acceleration or lurching forward/backward while parking, including one case tied to a transmission recall.
- A brake pedal reportedly felt stuck or unresponsive during a low-speed parking lot maneuver, leading to a collision.
- One owner reported the front end catching fire and the vehicle burning after a collision with a deer.
2019 Subaru Ascent recalls
9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V436000Jul 7, 2026Other541,237 vehicles
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."
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.
- NHTSA 22V907000Dec 8, 2022Electrical System271,694 vehiclesPark Outside
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.
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.
- NHTSA 21V955000Dec 9, 2021Transmission & Powertrain198,255 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
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.
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.
2019 Subaru Ascent fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20.5 MPG
- Highway
- 26.5 MPG
- Combined
- 22.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,875
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2019 compared with other Ascent years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2019 Subaru Ascent a bad year?
- Among the 7 model years with data, 2019 has the highest complaint index at 100 and is ranked worst, with 441 complaints and a verdict of Avoid relative to other Ascent years.
- What are the main problems with the 2019 Subaru Ascent?
- NHTSA complaints show Electrical System issues make up 37% of reports (163 complaints), followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 20% and Visibility & Wipers at 18%.
- Does the 2019 Subaru Ascent have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2019 Ascent, covering areas including Electrical System, Transmission & Powertrain, Fuel System, and Engine, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2019 Ascent compare to later model years?
- Complaint counts drop sharply in later years: 2020 has 322 complaints (index 83), 2021 has 102 (index 50), and by 2023 and 2025 the verdict improves to Best with index 17 and 0 respectively.