2020 Subaru Ascent
Common Problems
Ranked from 167 federal NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
12 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Battery repeatedly dying
72complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe battery has died multiple times without any apparent reason or external drain.
Related recall: 22V907000
- 2
Windshield spontaneous cracking
45complaintsMedium severityOtherWindshields have cracked without any apparent impact or cause.
Related recall: 26V436000
- 3
Engine Stall or Failure to Start
44complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine stalls or fails to start, requiring multiple attempts and sometimes a jump start.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Windshield Cracking Without Impact
18complaintsHigh severityOtherThe windshield cracks without any apparent impact or reason, often spreading over time.
Related recall: 26V436000
- 5
Unexplained Battery Issues
8complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe battery dies unexpectedly, often after short trips or while parked, requiring frequent jump starts.
Related recall: 22V907000
- 6
Windshield Cracking Without Apparent Cause
8complaintsLow severityOtherThe windshield cracks spontaneously without any obvious impact or cause.
Related recall: 26V436000
- 7
CVT Transmission Problems
4complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe CVT transmission skips gears, shudders, and jerks, leading to poor performance and frequent repairs.
$3,500–$6,500est. cvt replacement · 8–14 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 21V955000
- 8
Suspension Noise
4complaintsMedium severitySuspensionThe suspension produces loud noises when driving over bumps, though no warning lights are illuminated.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Transmission Slippage and Shifting Issues
4complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission slips and shifts poorly, leading to jerky acceleration and reduced performance.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 21V955000
- 10
Unreliable Recall Repair
4complaintsMedium severityOtherRecall repairs for known issues are delayed or unavailable, leaving owners without a functional vehicle.
Related recall: 26V436000
- 11
Airbag Malfunction
2complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe airbags fail to deploy properly during a collision, increasing the risk of injury.
Related recall: 22V907000
- 12
Brake Shuddering and Noise
2complaintsMedium severityBrakesThe brakes shudder and make loud noises during acceleration, indicating potential brake system issues.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.