Is your car affected?
Check by VIN to confirm the
exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (2)
Park outsideElectrical system: wiring, interior/under dash
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ascent vehicles. The ground bolt that secures the ground terminal of the Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater may have been improperly fastened, which could result in melting of the ground terminal and surrounding components.
Risk and remedy
Risk: A melting ground terminal increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicle away from structures and to avoid leaving the vehicle unattended while the engine is running. An owner who notices or smells smoke coming from the dash or driver's footwell area should immediately stop operating the vehicle and turn the ignition switch to the "Off" position. Dealers will replace the PTC heater ground bolts and if necessary, replace the ground wire and the connector holder, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 6, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRL-22.
Equipment: other, labels
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."
Risk and remedy
Risk: An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 were mailed August 27, 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.
Canadian recalls (3)
Show 3 Canadian recalls
Label
2026-07-07 · campaign 2026-329
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the compliance label lists an incorrect gross axle weight rating (GAWR). This could lead you to overload the vehicle, which could cause poor handling or a tire failure.
Note: For the Forester model, this recall affects both gas and hybrid models. For the Crosstrek model, only the Crosstrek Hybrid model is affected.
Safety Risk:
Poor handling or a tire failure could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Actions:
Subaru will mail a new compliance label to each owner. If you'd like help to install the label, you can contact a Subaru dealer to have it installed free of charge.
Label
2024-08-15 · campaign 2024-546
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the compliance label may be missing information in French. The words listed on the label for "Tires", "Rims", "Front" and "Rear" appear in English only, when they should be listed as "Tires/Pneus", "Rims/Jantes", "Front/Avant" and "Rear/Arriere". Canadian regulations require this information to be listed on the label in both English and French.
Safety Risk:
These small errors do not affect vehicle safety.
Corrective Actions:
This is not a recall. Subaru has corrected the compliance label for all new vehicles.
Electrical
2022-12-08 · campaign 2022-703
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the bolt for the ground terminal on the auxiliary heater may not have been properly tightened. As a result, the ground terminal and nearby parts could overheat and melt.
Safety Risk:
Wiring that overheats and melts could create the risk of a fire.
Corrective Actions:
Subaru will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the PTC (positive temperature coefficient) heater ground bolt. The ground wire and the connector holder will be replaced, if necessary. Subaru advises not remote start your vehicle using Subaru Starlink Connected Services (if equipped) or an aftermarket remote starter (if installed). Subaru also advises not leave the vehicle running while unattended, and that you should park it outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until the recall repairs have been completed.
Owner complaints (104)
Owners filed 104 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Ascent (3 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries reported). Among 8 model years of this model, it ranks #3 for the most complaints (median 56).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Power train | 20 | |
| Electrical system | 18 | |
| Unknown or other | 16 | |
| Visibility/wiper | 15 | |
| Lane departure | 15 | |
| Engine | 12 | |
| Service brakes | 9 | |
| Steering | 7 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2021 Subaru Ascent.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2021 Subaru Ascent SUV AWD | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2021 Subaru Ascent version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Ascent 2.4 L Automatic (AV-S8) | 21 | 27 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Ascent Limited/Touring 2.4 L Automatic (AV-S8) | 20 | 26 | 22 | $3,050 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.