2020 Subaru Ascent Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

29Engine complaints

9.2%Of all 316 complaints

#5Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM101 · 32%

Unspecified / other56 · 17.7%

POWER TRAIN54 · 17.1%

VISIBILITY/WIPER49 · 15.5%

ENGINE29 · 9.2%

Share of the 316 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2020 Subaru Ascent overview page.

What owners report

“ODOMETER: 1,289 MILES VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, DROVE 3 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT…”NHTSA complaint 11267561 — filed 10/09/2019

“WE ARE ON OUR SECOND SUBARU ASCENT, FIRST ONE BOUGHT BACK FOR THE SAME ISSUE. UPON STARTING THE CAR, THE CABIN WILL FILL WITH A…”NHTSA complaint 11257956 — filed 09/25/2019

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2020 Subaru Ascent have engine problems?

Engine is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2020 Subaru Ascent: 29 of 316 complaints on file (9.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2020 Subaru Ascent have in total?

316 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 6 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, 5 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.