Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2020 Subaru Ascent
NHTSA data on file today
The 2020 Subaru Ascent has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 324 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #26V436000 Incorrect Weight Rating on Label/FMVSS 110 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V907000 Improperly Fastened Ground Bolts May Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V955000 Drive Chain May Break Causing Loss of Drive Power NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V954000 Tie Rods May Separate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V587000 Fuel Pump May Fail NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 101 complaints
- Power Train 59 complaints
- Unknown or Other 57 complaints
- Visibility/Wiper 49 complaints
- Engine 29 complaints
- Service Brakes 26 complaints
Of the 324 complaints on file, 6 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 324 complaints, owners report 5 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $9,000–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2020 Subaru Ascent has substantial owner complaint counts and five recall campaigns, indicating some concerns about its reliability. While the data points to several areas of potential issues, the number of complaints suggests the frequency of major failures remains relatively low overall. Therefore, the reliability outlook is average with some caution in specific areas.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 50,000–70,000 miles | $200–$800 | common |
| power train | 60,000–90,000 miles | $500–$2,000 | occasional |
| visibility/wiper | Unknown | $100–$400 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Tire rotations and alignment
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant system flush
- Major engine service
- Cabin air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Electrical system malfunctions
- Transmission shift issues
- Frequent wiper problems
- Engine stalling
- Dashboard warning lights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2020 Subaru Ascent at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.