2021 Subaru Ascent Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
50/100
#4 most-complained of 7 Ascent years
The 2021 Subaru Ascent has a Complaint Index of 50, ranking 4th worst out of 7 model years and earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 102 complaints, 2 recalls, and a top problem area of Transmission & Powertrain at 19% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 102
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes / fires
- 3 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22.5
- 20.5 city / 26.5 hwy
Top 2021 Subaru Ascent problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain19 (19%)
- Electrical System18 (18%)
- Other17 (17%)
- Visibility & Wipers17 (17%)
- Lane Departure15 (15%)
- Engine14 (14%)
- Brakes9 (9%)
- Structure & Body8 (8%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras7 (7%)
- Steering7 (7%)
What owners report
- Windshields crack spontaneously without impact, with cracks that spread several inches over days.
- Batteries drained completely at very low mileage, around 1667 miles, in some cases requiring replacement.
- Steering wheel became unresponsive during a slight turn at low speed, leading to a loss of control and a crash into a guard rail.
- A vehicle accelerated unexpectedly while parking and struck a parked car, curbs, and a building.
- Smoke and flames emerged from the engine compartment after a check engine light appeared, with the fire fully engulfing the vehicle within minutes.
- Airbags failed to deploy in a low-speed intersection crash, resulting in a fractured sternum.
2021 Subaru Ascent recalls
2 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.
2021 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.
2021 compared with other Ascent years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Subaru Ascent reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Ascent carries a Complaint Index of 50 and a Caution verdict, ranking 4th worst among the 7 model years with data.
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 Subaru Ascent?
- NHTSA data shows Transmission & Powertrain issues lead at 19% of complaints, followed by Electrical System at 18% and Visibility & Wipers at 17%.
- Does the 2021 Subaru Ascent have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2021 Ascent, including an electrical system recall over an improperly fastened PTC heater ground bolt that advises parking away from structures, and a Gross Axle Weight Rating labeling issue.
- How does the 2021 Ascent compare to other Ascent years?
- The 2021 Ascent's Complaint Index of 50 is better than 2019 (100, Avoid) and 2020 (83, Avoid), but worse than 2022 (67), 2023 (17), 2024 (33), and 2025 (0).
- What mileage do 2021 Ascent problems typically show up at?
- NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage at failure of 3,164 miles for the 2021 Ascent overall, though Transmission & Powertrain issues showed a much higher median of 88,270.5 miles.