Recalls
5campaigns
1 equipment · 1 electrical · 1 steering
Source: NHTSA
Complaints
322filed
Owner reports, 2019–2026 shown
Source: NHTSA ODI
Crash tests
5★overall
★★★★★ Frontal 5★ · Side 5★ · Rollover 4★
Source: NHTSA NCAP
Fuel economy
23mpg combined
$2,840/yr at this week's prices
Source: EPA · EIA
Specs
2.4 L 4-cyl· AV-S8 CVT
2 engine and transmission configurations
Source: NHTSA vPIC
Recalls (5)
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2020 Subaru Ascent. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Listed for 2020 Subaru Ascent. Not checked against your VIN.
Incorrect Weight Rating on Label/FMVSS 110
Equipment · other · labels
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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."
- Consequence
- 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.
Repair progress not yet reported541,237 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 26V436000
Listed for 2020 Subaru Ascent. Not checked against your VIN.
Park outside: fire risk. NHTSA advises parking outside and away from buildings until the recall repair is done.
Improperly Fastened Ground Bolts May Cause Fire
Electrical system · wiring · interior/under dash
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- A melting ground terminal increases the risk of a fire.
- 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.
95.6% repairedof 271,694 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 22V907000
Listed for 2020 Subaru Ascent. Not checked against your VIN.
Tie Rods May Separate
Steering · linkages · tie rod assembly
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- The tie rods may separate from the housing, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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.
97.3% repairedof 1,305 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 21V954000
Listed for 2020 Subaru Ascent. Not checked against your VIN.
Drive Chain May Break Causing Loss of Drive Power
Power train · automatic transmission · control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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.
96.6% repairedof 198,255 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 21V955000
Listed for 2020 Subaru Ascent. Not checked against your VIN.
Fuel Pump May Fail
Fuel system, gasoline · delivery · fuel pump
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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.
95.1% repairedof 175,968 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 21V587000
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (322)
322 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
6involved a crash
1involved a fire
5injuries reported
0deaths reported
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 322 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 101 | 31.4% |
| Power train | 58 | 18% |
| Unknown or other | 57 | 17.7% |
| Visibility/wiper | 49 | 15.2% |
| Engine | 29 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 26 | 8.1% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 14 | 4.3% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 12 | 3.7% |
| Visibility | 11 | 3.4% |
| Structure | 10 | 3.1% |
How 2020 compares with other Ascent years
Best and worst Ascent years →2019441
2020322
2021102
202255
202345
202450
202515
20263
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 441 | 9 |
| 2020 | 322 | 5 |
| 2021 | 102 | 2 |
| 2022 | 55 | 2 |
| 2023 | 45 | 4 |
| 2024 | 50 | 1 |
| 2025 | 15 | 1 |
| 2026 | 3 | 1 |
This year (2020)Other yearsStill collecting reports
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Overall★★★★★
Frontal crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 5★★★★★★
Side crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 5★★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
RolloverRollover risk 17%★★★★☆
Compare fairly. Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Ratings apply to the tested configuration.
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2020 Subaru Ascent suv awd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 23 mpg combined
23
mpg combined
21
city
27
highway
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,900
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 386 g/mi
- EPA class
- Standard Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
$2,840per year
$237per month
652gallons a year
Miles ÷ 23 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 27 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 401 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2020 Ascent for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2020 Subaru Ascent FAQ
How many recalls does the 2020 Subaru Ascent have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns: 26V436000 (equipment), 22V907000 (electrical), 21V954000 (steering), 21V955000 (power train), 21V587000 (fuel pump). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2020 Subaru Ascent problems?
Owners filed 322 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (101), Power train (58), Unknown or other (57) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2020 Subaru Ascent get?
EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT version at 21 city, 27 highway and 23 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2020 Subaru Ascent get?
NHTSA rated the 2020 Subaru Ascent suv awd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (17% rollover risk).
How does the 2020 Ascent compare with other years?
Among the 2019–2021 Subaru Ascent model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (102) and the 2019 the most (441). The 2020 drew 322. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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