2020 Subaru Ascent Recalls

NHTSA lists 5 open recalls for the 2020 Subaru Ascent. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer, however old the vehicle is.

Recall data as of Oct 16, 2026 — NHTSA. For a live answer, run the check yourself, or see the latest recalls.

Wiring Interior/Under Dash

PARK OUTSIDE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

What's wrong:
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:
A melting ground terminal increases the risk of a fire.
What to do:
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.

NHTSA campaign 22V907000 — quote this at the dealer.Reported Dec 8, 2022.

Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

What's wrong:
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
Risk:
An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
What to do:
Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 19, 2022. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855. Vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall once available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-21.

NHTSA campaign 21V955000 — quote this at the dealer.Reported Dec 9, 2021.

Linkages Tie Rod Assembly

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

What's wrong:
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020 Ascent vehicles. Due to an incorrect tapered hole in the housing, the front tie rod ends may not fit properly. The improper fit can result in the tie rods and housings being deformed during assembly and service replacement if excessive torque is applied.
Risk:
The tie rods may separate from the housing, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.
What to do:
Dealers will replace the left and right front tie rod ends and housings, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRL-21.

NHTSA campaign 21V954000 — quote this at the dealer.Reported Dec 9, 2021.

Delivery Fuel Pump

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

What's wrong:
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk:
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
What to do:
Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.

NHTSA campaign 21V587000 — quote this at the dealer.Reported Jul 29, 2021.

Other Labels

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

What's wrong:
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:
An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
What to do:
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.

NHTSA campaign 26V436000 — quote this at the dealer.Reported Jul 7, 2026.

Owner complaints

322filed with NHTSA · 25 in the last 12 months
Filed by yearpeak 2021
151617181920212223242526
Electrical System
101
Power Train
58
Visibility/Wiper
49
Engine
29

6 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 5 injuries

Reported by owners to NHTSA and not verified. Complaints often surface a problem months before a recall.

See the complaints at NHTSA

Other Subaru Ascent years

Every year links to that vehicle's full recall page.

20262025202420232022202120202019

Subaru Ascent, every year

How recall repairs work

  • Repairs are free at any franchised Subaru dealer — regardless of the vehicle's age or whether you bought it new.
  • Bring the NHTSA campaign number; it's printed on each recall above and on the sheet you can print here.
  • Call ahead: some recalls are announced before parts are available, and the dealer can tell you when yours are in.
  • Your VIN tells the dealer whether your exact vehicle is affected — the free check accepts one and never stores it.

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