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2021 Subaru Ascent

Verified July 23, 2026Sources: NHTSA · EPA · vPIC

Compare
Safety
5
of 5 stars
Recalls
2
on record
MPG
23
combined

Open recalls on record

2 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.

Recalls2
Complaints98
Safety
Fuel

Vehicle Summary

2021 Subaru Ascent

2 recalls
98 complaints
23 MPG combined
5/5 safety rating

Before You Buy

Check all recalls are completed
Review consumer complaints
Verify no crash-related complaints
Get a pre-purchase inspection
Check vehicle history report
Verify title is clean

Safety record at a glance

Recall campaigns
2
Owner complaints
98
Complaints citing a crash
3

These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalised by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.

2 Recalls on Record

1 of these is high-severity. Contact a dealer to verify these have been completed.

Enter your VIN to check if specific recalls apply to your vehicle.

Safety recalls

2 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.

  • 22V907000high

    Electrical issue

    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.

  • 26V436000high

    Incorrect or missing label

    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."

Consumer complaints

98 owner reports filed with NHTSA.

98
Total
3
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries

Most reported components

  • ENGINE24
  • VISIBILITY17
  • ELECTRICAL15
  • BRAKES9
  • ADAS8

Notable Issues

98 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 3 reports involve injuries. 3 reports involve a crash.

Most reported problems

engine problems (stalling, power loss, warning lights)24
visibility issues (wipers, defrost, mirrors)17
electrical issues (battery, wiring, infotainment)15

Specifications & ratings

Specifications

Body class
SUV
Drive type
FWD
Engine
2.5L 4-cyl
Fuel type
Regular Gasoline
Transmission
Automatic
Seats
5

Fuel economy

21

City

27

Hwy

23

Comb

Annual cost
$2,600
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

NHTSA crash ratings

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Data sources

Explore related

Adjacent model years

All Subaru Ascent years

Common problems

Subaru Ascent problems

1,003 owner complaints analysed

Systems recalled

Safety timeline

Full timeline
  1. Recall

    Recall 26V436000

    An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

  2. Recall

    Recall 22V907000

    A melting ground terminal increases the risk of a fire.