4S4WMAKD8T34022682026 SUBARU AscentTouring
2026 SUBARU Ascent was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. There is 1 open recall on record — verify these have been repaired before purchase. 4 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA — review the complaint section for the most common failure patterns.
Executive Summary
2026 SUBARU Ascent
2026 SUBARU Ascent was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. There is 1 open recall on record — verify these have been repaired before purchase. 4 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA — review the complaint section for the most common failure patterns.
- 1 open recall — verify these have been repaired before purchase
- Complaint rate is accelerating — issues appear to be getting worse, not better
- Engine or platform shared with models that have documented failure issues
4 owner complaints filed — top areas: Other (75%), Brakes (25%).
Title Brand Check
Mined from auction damage fields and listing titles — not a DMV title history pull
No auction records available. Title brand status could not be verified — request title history from seller or state DMV.
Vehicle Specifications
Decoded from NHTSA vPIC database
- Make
- SUBARU
- Model
- Ascent
- Year
- 2026
- Trim / Series
- Touring
- Body Style
- Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
- Vehicle Type
- MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV)
- Drive Type
- AWD/All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel Type
- Gasoline
- Engine
- 4-cyl 2.4L 260 hp
- Transmission
- Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
- Manufacturer
- SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC
- Assembly
- LAFAYETTE, INDIANA, UNITED STATES (USA)
- Curb Weight
- 4,603 lbs
- GVWR
- Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)
Assembly Plant Quality
Subaru of Indiana Automotive (Lafayette)
Builds Subaru Outback and Legacy. Consistently ranked among the top US assembly plants.
- ✓JD Power Platinum Plant Award
- ✓JD Power IQS top-ranked non-premium midsize car
Safety Intelligence
Composite analysis from NHTSA recall, complaint, and crash data
✓ No high-risk recall components found
2.5L FB25: documented oil consumption and piston ring wear — Subaru extended warranty programs issued
Driver Assistance Features
ADAS equipment data from NHTSA vPIC database
NHTSA Safety Recalls
1 RECALLNHTSA VIN-specific recall lookup returned no data for this VIN. The 1 recall below are model-wide and may or may not apply to this exact vehicle depending on production date. Verify at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
1 of 1 recall has a low industry completion rate — statistically likely unrepaired.
Statistical model based on recall age, component type, and manufacturer. Not a repair confirmation. Demand dealer service records.
SUBARU has an excellent recall completion rate (93%) — owners typically receive a remedy within 15 months.
Avg time to remedy open recall: ~15 months · Source: NHTSA Recall Completion Rate Reports
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
SummarySubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid, Forester, and 2019-2026 Ascent vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured with an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire selection and rims."Read full details...
~86% of these vehicles are statistically unrepaired
High RiskSource: NHTSA statistical model by recall age & component type
Recall Intelligence
Detailed analysis of recall history and severity
Manufacturer Recall Response Time
Time between first owner complaint and recall issuance
Recall was issued within 5 months of first complaints — relatively prompt response.
Complaint Intelligence
4 complaints analyzed across 2 system categories
Forward Collision Avoidance leads owner complaints (50%), most reported when the vehicle was under 1 yr old. Also common: Unknown Or Other (25%), Service Brakes (25%).
Based on 4 complaints with a reported incident date. Too few owners cited mileage (0) to report a reliable failure-mileage range.
⚠ Complaint rate is accelerating — issue may be getting worse
Owner Complaints
4 safety complaints filed with NHTSA
This happened three individual times, all traveling at highway speed under similar conditions. The panel began flashing in red claiming that no driver was responsive and threw on the ABS breaks. I was able to regain control after disengaging the adaptive cruise control system. At the time the the daytime road conditions were clear, I was clearly visible to the driver monitoring system infrared camera, and both hands were at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel. The dealer has been made aware of this but have been reluctant to address it, claiming that this happens to everyone. This could easily have resulted in a rear-end collision had there been more traffic on the highway.
My company FANCY S owns this 2026 Subaru Ascent, purchased new on XXX from Subaru of Glendale. The vehicle is under Safety Recall 26V-436 (Subaru WRH-26) for an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label, a non-compliance with FMVSS No. 110. Subaru's interim letter in XXX said the corrective label is "not yet available," and Subaru does not plan to mail remedy labels to owners until January 2027. Nearly three months have passed and there is still no remedy for our vehicle. This is a company vehicle that cannot be placed in commercial service while this safety recall remains open: our commercial insurer has flagged the open safety recall, and Subaru itself warns that loading based on the incorrect GAWR could overload the vehicle and increase crash risk. We continue to pay financing and insurance on a vehicle we cannot use. The remedy is a simple corrective label overlay. Subaru's own bulletin WRH-26R already publishes the procedure and the exact part for this vehicle: Part No. 99095XC000 (ID "H"). Furthermore, Subaru's official recall lookup shows the second 2026 Ascent our company purchased in October 2026 (VIN [XXX]) under the very same WRH-26 recall with the status COMPLETED - the corrective label was obtained and installed for that vehicle - while our XXX vehicle remains "Open - Remedy not yet available." On XXX we wrote to Subaru of America and to three Subaru retailers requesting expedited release of the label for this VIN. No remedy has been provided yet. I am asking NHTSA to press Subaru of America to provide a timely remedy for this vehicle instead of making owners wait until January 2027 for a paper label that already exists. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2026 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at highway speeds, the vehicle experienced phantom braking and independently came to an abrupt stop. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,000.
The contact owns a 2026 Subaru Accent. The contact stated that there was a failure related to the brake pedal design. The contact stated that there was an approximate one-inch difference in spacing between the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal in previous model vehicles. The contact stated that there was an approximate four-inch gap between the brake and accelerator pedals, while previous models had an approximate three-inch space. The contact stated that the difference created a hazardous driving condition and increased the risk of unintended pedal application. Additionally, there were several instances where a crash could have occurred due to the pedal spacing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, it was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that several complaints were received with the same issue and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,040.
Legal & Regulatory Actions
Known class action lawsuits, settlements, and manufacturer extended warranty programs
5-Year Ownership Cost Estimate
Based on EPA fuel data, standard depreciation, and US average insurance/maintenance costs
Estimates use EPA fuel economy data, AAA 2024 national averages for insurance and maintenance, and a standard depreciation curve. Actual costs vary by location, driving habits, and vehicle condition.
5-Year Total Cost of Ownership
Estimated based on EPA fuel data, risk-adjusted maintenance, and depreciation
Estimated 5-year cost of ownership: $35,844 (~$597/mo). Repair risk buffer is standard due to vehicle risk profile.
Negotiation Ammunition
Use these data-backed findings to negotiate the price down
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Tailored for the 2026 SUBARU Ascent — specific failure modes your mechanic must check, not a generic list
Recall Probability Forecast
Estimated likelihood of a new recall in the next 18 months based on NHTSA signals
20% estimated recall probability — some indicators present but not alarming.
- ▸Accelerating complaint rate — increasing pressure on NHTSA to act
Maintenance Schedule
OEM-specified service intervals for this vehicle
Maintenance intervals vary significantly by make, model, year, engine, and driving conditions. Always follow the manufacturer's official schedule — not generic industry estimates.
Tip: Request the seller's service records and compare against the manufacturer schedule. Missing intervals are a negotiation point.
Insurance Cost Estimate
Estimated annual premiums based on vehicle profile, theft data, and NHTSA safety ratings
Based on 2024 national avg ($2,011/yr full coverage). Individual rates vary by driver, location & insurer. Always compare 3+ quotes.
State-Specific Legal Protections
What consumer laws apply to this vehicle purchase in your state
Select your state to see what consumer protection laws, lemon law coverage, and title disclosure requirements apply to this vehicle purchase.
Complete Data Table
All decoded fields in a single flattened view
Vehicle Identity
| VIN | 4S4WMAKD8T3402268 |
| Model Year | 2026 |
| Make | SUBARU |
| Model | Ascent |
| Trim | Touring |
| Vehicle Type | MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV) |
Body & Configuration
| Body Style | Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV] |
| Drive Type | AWD/All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline |
| Transmission | Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) |
Engine
| Engine Cylinders | 4 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.4 |
| Horsepower | 260 |
Manufacturer
| Manufacturer | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC |
| Assembly City | LAFAYETTE |
| Assembly Country | UNITED STATES (USA) |
VIN Structure
| WMI (Chars 1–3) | 4S4 |
| Check Digit (Char 9) | 8 |
| Model Year Code (Char 10) | T |
| Plant Code (Char 11) | 3 |
| Sequence (Chars 12–17) | 402268 |
Safety Data
| NHTSA Recall Count | 1 |
| NHTSA Complaint Count | 4 |
VIN Structure Decode
ISO 3779 character-by-character breakdown of this Vehicle Identification Number
Disclaimer: Data sourced from NHTSA public APIs and scraped auction listings. For informational purposes only. Not a substitute for a paid vehicle history report. Retrieved: 11/2/2026, 4:32:44 PM.