Midsize and three-row SUVs · model years 2019 to 2021
Subaru Ascent vs Honda Pilot: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Ascent looks better on 3 and the Pilot on 2, with 2 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 23, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2019 to 2021 | Ascent | Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 2.2% | 1.9% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 1.3% | 1.5% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 12,000 | 30,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 3.3 | 6.0 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 0 | 4 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Ascent owners complain about most is electrical, and it is the same for the Pilot. Complaints citing windshield and wipers make up 15% of all Ascent complaints, against 2.5% on the Pilot. The Pilot leans the other way on engine: 24% of its complaints, against 10% for the Ascent.
Subaru AscentHonda Pilot
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Ascent is dead battery (27% of its complaints). On the Pilot it is infotainment problems (24% of its complaints), against 4.0% on the Ascent.
| Problem | Ascent | Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| Battery dies or the car will not start | 27% 237most in 2019 · 10k mi | 7.6% 138most in 2019 · 29k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 4.0% 356k mi | 24% 446most in 2019 · 7k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 7.1% 61most in 2019 · 14k mi | 18% 331most in 2019 · 35k mi |
| Windshield cracks or distorts | 18% 154most in 2019 · 11k mi | 1.4% 25 |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 7.1% 61most in 2019 · 10k mi | 5.2% 95most in 2019 · 6k mi |
| Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard | 8.9% 77most in 2019 · 25k mi | 1.9% 3551k mi |
| Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) | 0.9% 8 | 8.3% 152most in 2019 · 40k mi |
| Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves | 1.4% 12 | 7.3% 134most in 2019 · 45k mi |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Ascent owners report problems earlier. Half the Ascent complaints that give a mileage come before 12,000 miles; for the Pilot the halfway point is 30,000. 90% of Ascent reports and 65% of Pilot reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Subaru AscentHonda Pilot
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 459 for the Ascent and 513 for the Pilot.
Worst and best years
The 2019 Ascent draws 3.3 times the complaints of a typical Ascent year for its age. The 2016 Pilot draws 3.2 times the complaints of a typical Pilot year for its age.
Subaru AscentHonda Pilot
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Pilot draws more recalls: 6.0 campaigns per model year against 3.3 for the Ascent. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Subaru Ascent
10 recall campaigns and 0 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: transmission and drivetrain (3), fuel system (2) and engine and engine cooling (1).
- 22V-907 (electrical) covers 3 model years
- 26V-436 (equipment) covers 3 model years
Honda Pilot
18 recall campaigns and 4 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: structure (4), backup camera (2) and tires (2).
- 20V-439 (backup camera) covers 3 model years
- 20V-440 (electrical) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- PE25008: Engine failure (open)
- EA25004: No restart after auto start/stop engages (open)
- RQ24013: Engine failure (closed)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
Crashes turn up in about the same share of complaints on both (2.2% and 1.9%). Fire reports: 8 for the Ascent and 11 for the Pilot.
Subaru AscentHonda Pilot
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Subaru Ascent or the Honda Pilot more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Ascent looks better on 3 and the Pilot on 2, with 2 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Ascent has 865 complaints and the Pilot 1,824 for model years 2019 to 2021, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Ascent or the Pilot?
The Ascent has 10 recall campaigns and the Pilot 18 across model years 2019 to 2021. The Pilot draws more recalls: 6.0 campaigns per model year against 3.3 for the Ascent.
What are the most common problems on the Ascent and the Pilot?
The most reported problem on the Ascent is dead battery (27% of its complaints). On the Pilot it is infotainment problems (24% of its complaints), against 4.0% on the Ascent.
More comparisons
- Toyota Highlander vs Honda Pilot2014 to 2024
- Chevrolet Traverse vs Honda Pilot2014 to 2026
- Honda Pilot vs Kia Telluride2020 to 2025
- Hyundai Palisade vs Honda Pilot2020 to 2026
- Nissan Pathfinder vs Honda Pilot2014 to 2026
- Subaru Ascent vs Toyota Highlander2019 to 2021
- Acura MDX vs Honda Pilot2014 to 2025