First generation
2020 Subaru Ascent
The most reported problem on the 2020 Subaru Ascent is dead battery, with 90 complaints, usually around 7,000 miles.
- 322owner complaints
- 5recalls
- 6involved a crash
- 8,810median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 11, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Ascent doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2020 model year.
Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent reliable?
The 2020 Subaru Ascent has 322 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, 1.4 times the median of 233 for 2020 SUVs on this site. Of the 7 Ascent model years since 2019, it has the 2nd most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2019 and 2021
- Complaints ease off across these three model years. Counted per year on the road, the 2019 draws 55, the 2020 46 and the 2021 17.
- Top problem
- Dead battery leads with 90 of the 322 complaints (28%), ahead of windshield at 60. Dead battery tends to show up early. Of the 54 owners who gave a mileage for it, half were under about 7,000 miles and a quarter under about 4,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- Only 7 of the 322 complaints (2%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, well under the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 6 reports mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire and 5 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 3 of 6, fall under phantom braking.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- Dead battery has a recall on the same system (22V-907). Windshield and brake wear have none. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2021 at 85 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 13. So far in 2026, 22 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: battery dies or the car will not start, 90 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
322 complaints is 1.5 times the median 2020 model on this site and 1.4 times the median 2020 SUV. Among the 3 Ascent model years here it ranks 2nd for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2020 Subaru Ascent
Subaru filed 519 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2020 Subaru Ascent. 40 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. 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.
Battery dies or the car will not start 3 bulletins · 90 complaints
Subaru Battery Drain Product Liability Litigation.
Battery Drain Class Action Settlement- Warranty Extension Training.
1 more on this problem
Announcement to Subaru Retailers regarding the preliminary settlement in a class action lawsuit regarding battery drain in certain Subaru vehicles.
Windshield cracks or distorts 3 bulletins · 60 complaints
This bulletin announces availability of new door window regulator assemblies and door glass run channel seals in response to limited concerns of erratic operation of the anti-entrapment feature and / or the door glass either not closing or closing very slowly.
This announcement is in regard to settlement in a class action lawsuit for vehicles that will receive a limited warranty extension for original equipment Subaru windshields experiencing a qualifying crack.
1 more on this problem
This bulletin announces the design change made to the rear gate glass, it is intended to address cases of rust build up along the edge of the rear gate opening of the rear quarter panel.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 3 bulletins · 26 complaints
This bulletin provides diagnosis and procedure information to be applied when diagnosing potential fluid leaks on front and rear brake calipers. This information has been developed to reduce unnecessary brake caliper replacement.
This bulletin announces availability of new front brake pad kit established to address concerns of a squeaking sound heard when coming to a stop and / or a pulsation (judder) heard/felt during braking.
1 more on this problem
This bulletin announces availability of new front brake pad kit established to address concerns of a squeaking sound heard when stopping.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 13 bulletins · 19 complaints
This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
This bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for Harman Infotainment Systems when DTC B2255 is detected. This update should prevent unnecessary replacement of the head unit or USB cable.
11 more on this problem
This Service Bulletin is to inform you of the diagnosis procedure of the Harman Infotainment System when DTC B2255 is detected.
This Service Information Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns.
This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential information during diagnosis and repair of the Infotainment concerns. (Applicable to all models with Harman or Denso CP1 Infotainment).
This bulletin provides helpful information about operating conditions observed in the field for Technicians to use when diagnosing customer concerns which may arise while operating Harman Gen 3 Navigation and Display Audio systems.
This service bulletin announces the addition of diagnostics for DTC B224C: RADIO ANTENNA FAULTS to the service manuals of the models listed.
This bulletin describes two operational concerns and the repair method for addressing them on the Harman Gen 3.1 Display Audio (Mid) and Navigation -equipped (High) head units.
This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to follow when diagnosing customer concerns of the Navigation systemâs functionality.
This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to follow when diagnosing a customer concern of the display screen being either frozen (unresponsive) or black (blank).
This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to use when diagnosing concerns of the Apple CarPlay and / or Android Auto feature not connecting or launching properly when a compatible device is connected to the head unit.
This Service Information bulletin provides a procedure to use for addressing a customer concern of a delayed or slow response when using the soft keys on the touch screen of the audio / navigation head unit.
Plus 1 older ones not listed here.
Car won't start 1 bulletin · 16 complaints
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 ...
Transmission slips 9 bulletins · 12 complaints
This Bulletin provides updated diagnostic procedures to follow and a brief questionnaire to complete when diagnosing an alleged Chain Slip condition on the TR580 and TR690 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed.
This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on the TR690 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
7 more on this problem
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) has initiated this safety and emissions Recall for certain 2019 - 2020 model year Ascent vehicles, 2020-2021 model year turbo Legacy vehicles, and 2020-2021 model year turbo Outback vehicles in which the Continuously Variable ...
This Service Information Bulletin provides updated diagnostic procedures to follow and a brief questionnaire to complete when diagnosing an alleged Chain Slip condition on the TR580 and TR690 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is initiating this safety and emissions Recall for certain 2019-2020 model year Ascent vehicles, 2020 model year turbo Legacy vehicles, and 2020 model year turbo Outback vehicles in which the Continuously Variable Transmission ...
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is initiating a new safety and emissions Recall for certain 2019 - 2020 model year Ascent vehicles, 2020 model year turbo Legacy vehicles, and 2020 model year turbo Outback vehicles in which the Continuously Variable ...
The WRK-21 recall includes TCM reprogramming to prevent CVT chain slip. If, during the recall inspection, a vehicle is confirmed to have already experienced severe enough CVT chain slip, the CVT assembly will be replaced.
Diagnostic Information for Alleged Chain Slip Condition on TR580 / TR690 Transmissions.
This Service Information Bulletin provides updated diagnostic procedures to follow when diagnosing an alleged Chain Slip condition on the TR580 and TR690 model CVT transmissions.
Transmission fails or needs replacement 2 bulletins · 9 complaints
This bulletin announces availability of a new transmission harness for use when diagnosis of DTC P0842 -TRANSMISSION FLUID PRESSURE SENSOR / SWITCH âAâ CIRCUIT LOW determines the sensor itself is OK but the transmission wiring harness is NG.
This bulletin announces availability of a new transmission harness for use when diagnosis of DTC P0842 determines the sensor itself is OK but the transmission wiring harness is NG.
Suspension noise, struts or alignment 6 bulletins · 8 complaints
This Bulletin provides guidance for diagnosing a leaking front or rear suspension strut.
This bulletin announces changes in design to the front strut assemblies which will address cases of rumbling and/or rattling coming from the undercarriage while going over bumps.
4 more on this problem
This bulletin addresses rumbling and or rattling coming from the undercarriage while traveling over bumps. Subaru has made a design change to the front strut assemblies to address this issue.
This bulletin provides a procedure to address customer concerns of surface rust accumulating in the top center retaining nut area of the front strut mounts.
This bulletin provides an inspection procedure to follow when addressing customer concerns of a rattling, knocking or klunk type sound when going over slight bumps and / or uneven road surfaces.
This bulletin provides an inspection procedure to follow when addressing customer concerns of a rattling, knocking of klunk type sound when going over slight bumps and/ or uneven road surfaces.
Complaints filed by year
85 complaints came in 2021. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2020 Subaru Ascent
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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 and remedy
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.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 19, 2022. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855. Vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall once available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-21.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020 Ascent vehicles. Due to an incorrect tapered hole in the housing, the front tie rod ends may not fit properly. The improper fit can result in the tie rods and housings being deformed during assembly and service replacement if excessive torque is applied.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right front tie rod ends and housings, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRL-21.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
All 5 recalls on the 2020 Subaru Ascent, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2020 Subaru Ascent?
Dead battery, with 90 of the 322 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 7,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2020 Subaru Ascent problems start?
Of the 173 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 4,000 miles and half by about 9,000.
Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent better or worse than the 2019 and 2021?
Counted per year on the road, the 2020 has fewer complaints than the 2019 and more complaints than the 2021: 46 a year against 55 and 17.
How many 2020 Subaru Ascent complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
7 of them (2%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for dead battery on the 2020 Subaru Ascent?
Yes, NHTSA lists a recall on the same system: 22V-907. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.