The 2021 Subaru Ascent has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 271,694 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 137 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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 ground terminal and surrounding components.
Consequence
A melting ground terminal increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy
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 driver's footwell area should immediately stop operating the vehicle and turn the ignition switch to the "Off" position. …
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
17
1fires
POWER TRAIN
15
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
15
1injuries
VISIBILITY/WIPER
14
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
12
ENGINE
10
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES
9
STEERING
6
1crashes
STRUCTURE:BODY
6
LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
4
Total complaints137
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“On may 14, 2026, while driving a 2021 subaru ascent (approx. 94,291 miles) on a texas expressway at highway speed during rush hour, I experienced a sudden and significant loss of engine power. There were no warning lights, no safety system activation, and no advance indication of the failure. The…”
“On may 14, 2026, while driving a 2021 subaru ascent (approx. 94,291 miles) on a texas expressway at highway speed during rush hour, I experienced a sudden and significant loss of engine power. There were no warning lights, no safety system activation, and no advance indication of the failure. The…”
“On may 14, 2026, while driving a 2021 subaru ascent (approx. 94,291 miles) on a texas expressway at highway speed during rush hour, I experienced a sudden and significant loss of engine power. There were no warning lights, no safety system activation, and no advance indication of the failure. The…”
“I am submitting this complaint regarding a 2021 subaru ascent that I purchased new from herb gordon subaru in maryland. The incident occurred while driving on I-95 at approximately 75 mph with my family, including children, in the vehicle. The vehicle experienced a sudden and complete powertrain…”
“I am a cpst. I use the joie mint latch with my own child. On multiple occasions I have found on multiple occasions that when securing the lower rigid latch it will flip to green (secure) when it is not actually latched. It is during install when "jiggling" it into position. I am concerned parents…”
“Issue 1: complete transmission failure was diagnosed by subaru dealer march 24, 2026 at 5 years and 6 months after purchase with an odometer reading of 45,000 miles (drive train warranty 5 yrs/60,000 miles). Had to purchase and have installed a rebuilt subaru transmission. First noticed…”
“Issue 1: complete transmission failure was diagnosed by subaru dealer march 24, 2026 at 5 years and 6 months after purchase with an odometer reading of 45,000 miles (drive train warranty 5 yrs/60,000 miles). Had to purchase and have installed a rebuilt subaru transmission. First noticed…”
“While driving my subaru ascent, a check engine warning light appeared on the dashboard. Shortly afterward, I noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. I immediately pulled over and turned the vehicle off. Within moments, flames began coming from under the hood. The fire spread rapidly, and…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2021 Subaru Ascent as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.