Half of all complaints arrive by 1 year of age, so 26% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 293 complaints, typically at 1.5 years.
Subaru Ascent years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | 10 | too new | |
| 2024 | 50 | 25 | too new | |
| 2023 | 44 | 29 | too new | |
| 2022 | 54 | 34 | too new | |
| 2021 | 101 | 50 | too new | |
| 2020 | 319 | 85 | yes | |
| 2019 | 438 | 107 | yes |
Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2019 Ascent asks a median $16,900, against $18,000 for a 2020, the next model year: about 6% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.
Among the 2 Subaru Ascent years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2019, 2020; the three worth hunting are 2020, 2019.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 27.9% | covered | |
| 1 year | 54.5% | covered | |
| 2 years | 74% | covered | |
| 3 years | 84.6% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 92.9% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 96.1% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 98.9% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 74% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 26% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 28% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Subaru Ascent, the early trouble is Electrical System and Power Train — reported at around 1.5 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1.5 yrs | 1 | 7 | |
| Power Train | 2.7 yrs | 2 | — | |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 yrs | — | — | |
| Unknown Or Other | 1.8 yrs | 5 | 3 | |
| Engine | 2.3 yrs | 4 | 6 | |
| Service Brakes | 1.5 yrs | 7 | — | |
| Visibility | 0.8 yrs | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2.1 yrs | 13 | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the Ascent's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Highlander draws 2.92, the Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.35 and the Ford Explorer 5.03, against 2.99 for the Ascent.
| Same class as the Ascent | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Highlander | 128 | 2001–2026 | |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 335 | 1993–2026 | |
| Ford Explorer | 390 | 1991–2026 | |
| BMW X5 | 198 | 2000–2026 | |
| Cadillac Escalade | 129 | 1999–2026 | |
| Hyundai Palisade | 33 | 2020–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Subaru Ascent reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 2.99 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.
When do Ascent problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 1 year of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 1.5 years, followed by Power Train.
Will the warranty cover Ascent problems?
Mostly yes: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and 74% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 28% of the complaints here.
Is the Ascent more reliable than the Toyota Highlander?
No: 2.99 complaints per production run for the Ascent against 2.92 for the Toyota Highlander.
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