2019 Subaru Ascent · symptom sheet
Battery dies or the car will not start
- 137owner reports
- 12,000median miles
- $250median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 6, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
161 of the 441 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 137 of those describe dead battery, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2019 Ascent.
Tick what matches of 137 reports
Dead battery on other Ascent years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2021.
What this problem usually is
These owners walk out to a car that's dead. Some find it drained after sitting only a day or two, some need a jump start every week, and some have had the battery replaced more than once without the problem going away. A good number describe the dealer testing the battery, calling it fine, and sending them home.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (134 reports), the starter (8 reports) and the alternator (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the electrical system covers the 2019 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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.
All 9 recalls on the 2019 Subaru Ascent, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
What owners paid
8 of the 137 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $207 to $500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 7,590 and 19,000 miles, from the 74 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2019 Subaru Ascent that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts.This is an revised ...
Subaru Battery Drain Product Liability Litigation.
Battery Drain Class Action Settlement- Warranty Extension Training.
Announcement to Subaru Retailers regarding the preliminary settlement in a class action lawsuit regarding battery drain in certain Subaru vehicles.
What owners wrote
“The battery drains prematurely. I have been stranded waiting for 3 + hours for roadside assistance due to dead batter 3 times in December 2021. The dealer told me that due to the number of computers in the 2019 Subaru Acsent that it had to be driven at least twice a week to avoid this problem. The dealer had to replace the battery under the warranty because it burned up when they tried to charge it. touring sub”
Filed Jan 6, 2022
“Recently have had issues with the battery. I've had to jump the car 4 times in the last month. The car was purchased in August 2021. I believe the electrical system is draining the battery.”
Filed Dec 23, 2021
“Left tailgate open for ~5 hours and the parasitic draw of that action left our battery dead. We were stranded in the middle of nowhere and had to get the battery jumped. After getting jumped... our electronics, especially the safety systems were no longer operable.”
Filed Nov 21, 2021
“Battery drains and vehicle inoperable. First time had to have towed to dealer- Adventure Subaru- who said problem not identified. Happens repeatedly. Left stranded .”
Filed Oct 16, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 137 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Windshield cracks or distorts 75 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 40 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 36 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 26 reports