The 2023 Subaru Ascent is associated with 43 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 4 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database. The most frequently reported component area is Other / Uncategorized, accounting for 7 reports (16% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 2 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2.4l 4-cyl powertrain configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 21 to 22 MPG combined.
Key Data Findings
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 43 reports
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 4 campaigns
- • Top Reported Defect Area: Other / Uncategorized (7 / 16%)
- • Safety Incident Signals: 4 crash / 1 fire / 3 injury reports
- • NHTSA Overall Safety Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
- • EPA Efficiency: 21–22 MPG (2 variants)
Data Note: Compiled directly from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
| Ascent | 2.4L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S8) | 20 MPG | 26 MPG | 22 MPG | — | $2,800 / yr |
| Ascent Limited/Touring/Onyx AWD | 2.4L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S8) | 19 MPG | 25 MPG | 21 MPG | — | $2,950 / yr |
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
| SUV AWD | | | | | 17% |
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Standard and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2023 Subaru Ascent models.
View complete 2023 Subaru Ascent crash test & safety breakdown →
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2023 Subaru Ascent problems & component breakdown (19 categories) →
Affected Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Defect Summary: Subaru 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."
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Subaru will mail a new certification label to owners, free of charge. Owners may also choose to have a dealer install the new label, free of charge. Letters informing owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed August 25, 2026. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-26.
Affected Component: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Defect Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRN-23.
Affected Component: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
Defect Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Ascent vehicles. The left or right front lower control arm may have an improperly tightened ball joint castle nut which can result in retention pin failure and separation of the ball joint from the lower control arm.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the lower control arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 30, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRJ-23.
View all 2023 Subaru Ascent recalls & campaign history (4 campaigns) →