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2021 Subaru AscentProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 106 owner complaints about the 2021 Subaru Ascent, most often about the power train. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 22V-907 the manufacturer reports only 94% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 5, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2021 Subaru Ascent has problems
106 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
21Power train
18Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
15Visibility/wiper
15Lane departure
13Engine1 crash/fire/injury
9Service brakes
8Forward collision avoidance2 crash/fire/injury
7Steering
7Structure
1610 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 21 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 18 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 15 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 15 | 0 |
| Engine | 13 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 9 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 8 | 2 |
| Steering | 7 | 1 |
| Structure | 7 | 0 |
| 10 other systems | 16 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2021 Subaru Ascent recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2024 Q4
Wiring: interior/under dash
Park outsideRisk. A melting ground terminal increases the risk of a fire.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.
Best & worst years
2021 vs. every other Ascent year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Ascent median. How we score
'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2021 Subaru Ascent safety ratings
2021 Subaru Ascent SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.0% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Standard
- Lane departure warning: Standard
In owners' words
What Ascent owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Twin Falls Subaru left me in a dangerous position with my transmission failing catastrophically on the highway 72 hours after major service is a severe safety hazard My 2021 Subaru Ascent with 56,420 miles, still under the 60,000 mile/5 year warranty, went to Twin Falls Subaru with diagnostic codes…
Trying to turn onto the street from a parking lot the vehicle wasn't accelerating as expected and I wasn't able to turn as expected. I am taking the car in soon to be diagnosed with an issue.
My local Subaru dealership / service provider has told me my car needs a new transmission at 66k miles, due to an issue within the CVT solenoid causing slipping and lag that will eventually lead to catastrophic failure of the transmission - per the Subaru of America service tree. This issue began…
Own a 2021 Ascent?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.