2025 Subaru Ascent Problems
Compared with other Subaru Ascent years
Too new to compare
- Model years are compared once their first three years of complaints are in; the 2025 can be compared from 2028.
- Most reported part: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (4 complaints).
- 1 recall campaign on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2022
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 15filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 22,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 / 5stars overall
- EPA fuel economy
- 22 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl AWD · 20 city / 26 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2025 Subaru Ascent (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2025 Subaru Ascent. The part named most often is visibility, with 4 complaints (27% of the total), followed by electrical system (2) and engine (2). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 22,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 120 technical service bulletins for this model year. Visibility complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 70 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system2 13%
- Engine2 13%
- Other or unknown2 13%
- Steering2 13%
- Body and structure2 13%
- Air bags1 6.7%
- Brakes1 6.7%
- Lane departure1 6.7%
Also reported: Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1).
Example complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “No particular incident happened, but the driver's side view mirror vibrates when moving especially at high speeds and/or bumpy roads. Worse at night as when you look, headlights in rear are shaking and make me dizzy and not look. The passengers side is nice and stable. Doesn't vibrate and shake.”
NHTSA complaint #11668970, filed 2025-06Electrical system: “The car will spontaneously brake for no reason while driving forward and reverse. The steering wheel will spontaneously steer you out of the lane. The doors will lock while you are in the car and you can't get out for about 30 seconds. The deck door will come down on you unexpectedly while loading items. It has hit us in the head or makes us twist our back to lift it up. The stereo system has a mind if it's own. The eye site goes on and off for no reason. These safety issues concern us. We have had it in the service department three times and they can't duplicate the problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #11746812, filed 2026-06Engine: “I hit a deer on CA 395 north, my braking system worked and my air bags deployed, and then my engine immediately caught fire. I’m lucky i was able to get out of the car through a back door. Every police and fire who responded said they have never seen a car catch fire after hitting a deer and i should report a vehicle malfunction”
NHTSA complaint #11706345, filed 2025-12Other or unknown: “The driver side rearview mirror shakes and vibrates under normal driving conditions. This is distracting and nauseating to the driver. This is a safety issue because this mirror is used for checking for vehicles before changing lanes.”
NHTSA complaint #11686992, filed 2025-09Mileage when problems were reported
100% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 22,000 and 22,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
This model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2025 Subaru Ascent. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascent · SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 5 / 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 17.0% risk |
Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2025 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking standard.
Neighbouring years: 2024: same overall rating; 2026: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2025 Subaru Ascent version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascent AWD | 2.4L 4-cyl | CVT | 20 | 26 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Ascent Limited/Touring/Onyx AWD | 2.4L 4-cyl | CVT | 19 | 25 | 21 | $3,200 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 26V436000Jul 7, 2026Equipment › Other › LabelsCovers: Subaru Ascent 2019–2026, Forester 2025–2026, Crosstrek Hybrid 2026
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…
Recall details for the 2025 Subaru Ascent → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 120 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11037943Oct 5, 2026Other or unknown, Electrical system. This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines.
- 11037946Sep 29, 2026Engine, Electrical system. This Bulletin provides a diagnostic procedure for customer concerns about hesitation, reduced acceleration, or lack of power when driving uphill or under heavy engine load.
- 11037942Sep 28, 2026Electrical system, Transmission and drivetrain. This announcement provides information on an enhancement of the TechShare CVT diagnostic assitance application.
- 11037940Sep 18, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
- 11037930Sep 15, 2026Other or unknown. This announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year Subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
- 11037921Sep 15, 2026Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). This bulletin announces a repair procedure developed to address cases of the driver side mirror glass vibrating at highway speeds.This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 11037929Sep 14, 2026Other or unknown, Electrical system. This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 11037927Sep 14, 2026Electrical system. This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 11037925Sep 4, 2026Electrical system, Other or unknown. This bulletin provides additional examples, diagnostics tips and installation tips as helpful aids to be used when working with sunroof seals and sunroof frame assemblies on Ascent models. This is…
- 11037923Sep 4, 2026Other or unknown. This announcement provides an update to the WRH-26 certification label recall.
Other model years of the Subaru Ascent
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | 22,000 | 1 | 5 | 22 | — | Too new |
| 2024 | 51 | 11,200 | 1 | 5 | 22 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 45 | 19,500 | 4 | 5 | 22 | 37 · Typical | Too new |
| 2022 | 56 | 38,000 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 17 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2021 | 104 | 3,164 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 50 · Typical | Stable |
| 2020 | 324 | 6,126 | 5 | 5 | 23 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2019 | 443 | 12,274 | 9 | 5 | 23 | 100 · More | Falling |
All Subaru Ascent model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2025 Subaru Ascent have?
NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2025 Subaru Ascent as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2025 Subaru Ascent is reported most often?
Visibility is named most often, in 4 complaints (27% of the total), followed by electrical system with 2.
Has the 2025 Subaru Ascent been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How did the 2025 Subaru Ascent do in NHTSA crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2025 Subaru Ascent 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.
What gas mileage does the 2025 Subaru Ascent get?
The EPA rates the 2025 Subaru Ascent (Ascent, 2.4L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 20 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,050 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2025 Subaru Ascent reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 22,000 miles and the middle half falls between 22,000 and 22,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.