2021 Subaru Ascent recalls and problems

The 2021 Subaru Ascent has 2 recalls and 106 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is power train.

Park outside warning. Owners are advised to park outside and away from buildings until the repair is done, because of a fire risk. Campaign: 22V907000.

Pictured: a 2020 model; the 2021 may differ in details. Photo: 2020 Subaru Ascent by DestinationFearFan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How the 2021 compares

High

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

High complaint count among 8 Ascent model years — 3rd most.

2recalls

106complaints

4crashes

1fires

4injuries

3,187median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

2 recalls

Equipment

Jul 7, 2026 · NHTSA campaign 26V436000 · 541,237 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Electrical System

Dec 8, 2022 · NHTSA campaign 22V907000 · 271,694 vehicles

Park outside

Problem: 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 & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Power Train21

Electrical System18

Visibility18

Unknown or other16

Lane Departure15

Engine13

Service Brakes9

Forward Collision Avoidance8

Steering7

Structure7

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2021 vs. other Subaru Ascent years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2021. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2021 Subaru Ascent have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns covering the 2021 Subaru Ascent, the latest from Jul 7, 2026 (equipment). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Subaru Ascent?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention power train (21), electrical system (18), visibility (18). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.

Is it safe to drive the 2021 Subaru Ascent?

1 recall advises parking outside because of a fire risk. Only vehicles with the recall open are affected — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.