The Lemon Index

All cars · Subaru Ascent · 2021

2021 Subaru Ascent. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index127100 = average car
Complaints77NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold59,980U.S. model year
Per 100K sold128complaints
Year rank#2 of 4#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 1

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
2.4L 4-cyl turboAuto (AV-S8)AWD21 / 27 / 23Regular$2,700

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 1,500 and 9,000 miles. Median 3,200, from 20 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Lane assist1,500500–3,8005
Steering2,500500–8,1005

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Lane assist19%
Electrical18%
Wipers & visibility17%
Transmission & drivetrain10%
Steering9%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
10331304

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 2

  • 26V436000 Jul 2026 Equipment / Other / Labels

    Defect. 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.

  • 22V907000 Dec 2022 Electrical System / Wiring / Interior/Under Dash

    Defect. 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 gr

Manufacturer communications 384

Subaru filed 384 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • This bulletin provides important information regarding diagnosis and replacement of the…
  • SOA821B600 Battery Supersession

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Subaru Ascent SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardStandardStandard

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2019299360118,169Electrical
202034826267,623Electrical
20211277759,980Lane assist
2022594663,704Transmission & drivetrain
2023604560,543Brakes
20241005056,286Visibility

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data