2020 Subaru Ascent · symptom sheet
Battery dies or the car will not start
- 90owner reports
- 7,200median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 13, 2024 · checked Oct 2, 2026
101 of the 322 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 90 of those describe dead battery, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2020 Ascent.
Tick what matches of 90 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 (87 reports) and the starter (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the electrical system covers the 2020 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 5 recalls on the 2020 Subaru Ascent, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 4,000 and 10,785 miles, from the 54 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 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
“Excessive battery drain for no reason. The vehicle has a random battery drain for no apparent reason. This vehicle has less than 26K miles on it and has needed a charge or jump-start more than 10+ times. We have been able to replicate the problem numerous times, once charged, the battery and alternator pass tests.”
Filed Aug 23, 2022 · 26,000 miles
“Started having electrical and audio glitches ultimately causing the battery to completely drain”
Filed Dec 22, 2021
“This is the second time I've had a dead battery problem with my 2020 Subaru Ascent. The first time was 4/2021 and they replaced the battery. The second time is today - dead battery, could not charge or jump start. Tow truck coming to take it to a Subaru dealer.”
Filed Dec 21, 2021
“Battery dead something is happening with the trunk. I think it drained the battery. This is the second time this happened”
Filed Oct 31, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 90 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 60 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 26 reports