2019 Subaru Ascent Problems, Recalls & Reliability
556 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2019 Subaru Ascent, alongside 9 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 11,569 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2019 Subaru Ascent sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings.
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Where 2019 sits among all Ascent years
What owners report
“The vehicle only had 6,228 miles on the odometer and the battery died. It was purchased in april 2019 and battery died in july 2020.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Ascent
“The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V955000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Ascent
“The windshield cracked with no obvious damage. The crack did not start at a chip. Cracked while not driving and no recent rock hits.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Ascent
“Windshield cracked from a small rock while driving on a highway 6 months after purchase”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Ascent
“My vehicle smokes when starting it. A lot of white smoke that can fill a parking lot. The smoke has a strong chemical smell.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Ascent
“The parking/emergency brake lever was accidently activated while traveling at highway speed of 70mph. The lever is in a BAD location and close to where cell phone is charged, cup holders are and transmission shift lever. Cell phone charge cable caught on lever and LOCKED up rear brakes at 70MPH.…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Ascent
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 275 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 14,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 6,100 and 22,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (9)
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…
Fix: 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 are…
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…
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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 of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614.…
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. The transmission hydraulic sensor may inaccurately measure the hydraulic fluid pressure.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control unit. The hydraulic sensor harness will be replaced on vehicles with certain stored diagnostic trouble codes. In…
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power…
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the short block engine will be…
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, possibly resulting in the front portion of the driveshaft disconnecting.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft assembly, including the center support brace, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer…
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Subaru Ascent vehicles. These vehicles may be missing spot welds on, or around, the B-Pillar, compromising vehicle strength.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle to check for missing spot welds. If the welds are missing, the vehicle will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began July 31,…
Technical service bulletins
615 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2019 Subaru Ascent. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2019 Ascent TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2019 Subaru Ascent reliable?
The 2019 Subaru Ascent drew 556 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2019 Subaru Ascent problems?
The top reported problems for the 2019 Subaru Ascent are electrical (167 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (87), and visibility & wipers (81).
At what mileage do 2019 Subaru Ascent problems show up?
Owners most often report 2019 Subaru Ascent problems around 14,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 6,100 and 22,000 miles.
Does the 2019 Subaru Ascent have recalls?
9 recall campaigns apply to the 2019 Subaru Ascent. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.