Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2021 Subaru Ascent
NHTSA data on file today
The 2021 Subaru Ascent has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 105 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
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 20 complaints
- Electrical System 18 complaints
- Unknown or Other 16 complaints
- Lane Departure 15 complaints
- Visibility/Wiper 15 complaints
- Engine 12 complaints
Of the 105 complaints on file, 4 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 105 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$14,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
With 103 owner complaints and two recalls, the 2021 Subaru Ascent presents typical challenges for its class. Evidence for widespread issues is limited, but attention should be paid to certain systems.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power train | 60,000–100,000 miles | $1,200–$3,500 | occasional |
| Electrical system | 50,000–80,000 miles | $800–$2,500 | occasional |
| Visibility/wiper | 30,000–70,000 miles | $150–$500 | occasional |
| Lane departure | 40,000–90,000 miles | $300–$1,200 | 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 pad replacement
- Tire rotations and balancing
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant replacement
- Air filter replacement
- Brake fluid replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Delayed transmission shifts
- Malfunctioning electrical components
- Unresponsive wiper system
- Lane assist warning errors
- Engine overheating
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2021 Subaru Ascent at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.