Subaru Ascent Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Every Subaru Ascent model year (20192022) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, injuries, and deaths. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Subaru Ascent Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2019

0 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Problem score: 0

#2 WORST
2020

0 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Problem score: 0

#3 WORST
2021

0 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Problem score: 0

Best Subaru Ascent Years to Buy

#1 BEST
2019

0 recalls · 0 complaints

Main area: No significant complaints

Problem score: 0

#2 BEST
2020

0 recalls · 0 complaints

Main area: No significant complaints

Problem score: 0

#3 BEST
2021

0 recalls · 0 complaints

Main area: No significant complaints

Problem score: 0

Found the right year? Verify that specific Ascent with a free VIN report.

Subaru Ascent — Year-by-Year Problem Report

YearRecallsComplaintsProblem ScoreVerdict
202200
0
Excellent
202100
0
Excellent
202000
0
Excellent
201900
0
Excellent

Higher scores indicate more reported safety issues across recalls, complaints, and injury data.

Subaru Ascent Shopping Guide by Era

2018–Present

Best: 2022

Recent Ascent models benefit from updated safety systems and revised engineering. Lower problem scores typically appear in this era. The 2022 stands out with just 0 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year Ascent should I avoid?+

Avoid the 2019 Subaru Ascent if possible. It has 0 recalls, 0 owner complaints, and the most common complaint category is No complaints on record. The overall problem score is 0 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year Ascent to buy?+

The 2019 Subaru Ascent is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 0. It has only 0 recalls and 0 complaints on record with NHTSA.

Which Ascent has the fewest problems?+

The 2019, 2020, 2021 model years have the fewest documented problems across recall and complaint databases. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.

More Subaru Ascent Research

Check a Specific Subaru Ascent VIN

Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.

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