Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2023 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 ↗Incorrect Weight Rating on Label/FMVSS 110
- 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.
Driveshaft May Disconnect
- Summary
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
- Consequence
- Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRN-23.
Ball Joint May Separate from Lower Control Arm
- Summary
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Ascent vehicles. The left or right front lower control arm may have an improperly tightened ball joint castle nut which can result in retention pin failure and separation of the ball joint from the lower control arm.
- Consequence
- Ball joint separation while the vehicle is in motion can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the lower control arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 30, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRJ-23.
Damaged Tire Bead May Cause Loss of Air Pressure
- Summary
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Ascent vehicles equipped with 20-inch wheels. The internal tire bead may have been damaged during the wheel mounting process.
- Consequence
- A damaged tire may experience a sudden loss of air pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace all four tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 6, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-23.
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 (45)
45 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 45 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 10 | 22.2% |
| Unknown or other | 8 | 17.8% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 7 | 15.6% |
| Visibility/wiper | 6 | 13.3% |
| Tires | 5 | 11.1% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 8.9% |
| Air bags | 3 | 6.7% |
| Engine | 3 | 6.7% |
| Power train | 3 | 6.7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 6.7% |
How 2023 compares with other Ascent years
Best and worst Ascent years →| 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 |
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
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2023 Subaru Ascent suv awd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 22 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,050
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 398 g/mi
- EPA class
- Standard Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 22 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 | 20 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 398 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 25 / 21 | $3,200 | 419 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2023 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
2023 Subaru Ascent FAQ
How many recalls does the 2023 Subaru Ascent have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 26V436000 (equipment), 23V647000 (power train), 23V392000 (suspension), 23V258000 (tire). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2023 Subaru Ascent problems?
Owners filed 45 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (10), Unknown or other (8), Forward collision avoidance (7) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2023 Subaru Ascent get?
EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT version at 20 city, 26 highway and 22 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2023 Subaru Ascent get?
NHTSA rated the 2023 Subaru Ascent suv awd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (17% rollover risk).
How does the 2023 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 2023 drew 45. 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.