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BrakesPart report

2020 Subaru Ascent Brakes Problems

Complaints
26about this part
Share
8%of 324 total for the year
Median mileage
8,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 26 complaints about the brakes of the 2020 Subaru Ascent, 8% of the 324 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 8,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Vehicle has 6700 miles. Vehicle has been in to dealer 2x already for brake issues. Front brakes started making vibration, grinding and vibration issues. Issue exacerbated while going downhill or lightly being on the brakes. They've replaced brake rotors, pads and calipers the first time. Second time they replaced pads and rotors. 250 miles later going down hill the brakes are vibrating and making a growling noise”

NHTSA complaint #11387212, filed 2021-01, 3,500 miles

“Jerky acceleration between 35-50 MPH. Cvt switching gears up and down. Noticed at 600 miles. This happens sporadically , when it does happen the jolt snaps my head back. Brakes continue to squeal after 600 miles.”

NHTSA complaint #11318327, filed 2020-03, 600 miles

“Brake pads not replaced while at dealership for non-uniform brake rotors. I believe not replacing the brake pads at the time of resurfacing the brake rotors will result in the brake rotors becoming non-uniform again. There is a service bulletin from Subaru stating an brake pad design update, but was not offered it because the dealer does not believe the non-uniform rotor is caused by the obsolete brake pad design. Vehicle has around 8,000 miles and vibration in steering wheel when braking from highway speeds prompted service call.”

NHTSA complaint #11403446, filed 2021-03, 8,000 miles

“Battery dead 7 times (beginning fall of 2020) or drained too low to properly use vehicle causing all doors to lock (issue when stranded in non-populated area with child in car) or hatch unable to close. All items in vehicle are off. Appears to be electrical in nature and possibly related to in going Subaru power-gate hatch issues. Have also had hatch open on own stationary & low speed. Often left stranded. Hard pulsating and grind on brakes at low to moderate speed causing car to pull and feel like not going to stop in motion on curved road, highway, city street. …”

NHTSA complaint #11397519, filed 2021-02, 10,000 miles

“The emergency brake occasionally comes on for no apparent reason. It has happened multiple times before but, never while driving until today. The button appeared to be stuck when I went to disengage it as well which made no sense. There was nothing in the way for it to get stuck. Upon further research in the Subaru forums it appears ours is not the only one to have experienced this. This leads me to believe there may be an unknown issue.”

NHTSA complaint #11611705, filed 2024-08

Related service bulletins

Brakes: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202517%
202412%
20231022%
20221120%
202199%
2020268%
2019266%

Other parts of the 2020 Subaru Ascent

Electrical system
101 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
60 complaintsOther or unknown
59 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
59 complaintsEngine
29 complaintsFuel system
14 complaintsForward collision avoidance
12 complaintsBody and structure
10 complaintsSuspension
8 complaintsExterior lighting
5 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsLane departure
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2020 Subaru Ascent

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology