2019 Subaru Ascent Common Problems & Defect Telemetry
Authoritative defect intelligence synthesized from 439 verified NHTSA owner complaints, 9 federal safety recalls, and interquartile failure mileage telemetry.
The 2019 Subaru Ascent receives a 3.2/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 439 verified NHTSA federal complaints and 9 safety recalls. The primary reported failure mode is Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports with a median failure point at 11,550 miles (IQR: 8,000 – 18,000 mi). Out-of-warranty repairs benchmark at $280 – $850 .
73.2 complaints / 10k sold
Verified US federal records
Crash, fire & stall audit
9 Active / Free Remedies
2019 Ascent Failure Distribution by Vehicle Subsystem
Top Reported Problem Clusters (7)
Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports
- Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight
- Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts
- Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings
“Immediately after pushing the lift gate release button on the dash, a loud and constant alarm tone began. The gate would then not open using the button on the dash, remote, or handle on the exterior of the lift gate door. To access the items in the rear (and to stop the alarm)...”
“All the safety systems become disabled and check Engine light goes on because transmission fluid is being pumped Out of a faulty secondary pressure sensor part 31878aa020,( defective and replaced with 31878aa021), into the engines wiring at the car computer, transmission compu...”
“NHTSA Vehicle Safety Complaint Vehicle: 2019 Subaru Ascent VIN: ... Mileage: 72,093 miles I am submitting this complaint because my 2019 Subaru Ascent experienced a serious transmission-related electrical failure that may represent a broader safety defect. Sewell Subaru of Dal...”
Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports
- Sudden loss of electric power steering assist
- Steering wheel pull or highway wander
- Clunking / knocking noise over bumps
“The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at approximately 75 MPH, a deer ran across the highway and hit the left driver's side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. A grayish smoke began to emit from the vehic...”
“Subaru windshild in my 2019 Ascent have been replaced twice in 30,000 miles due to very inadequate glass. I'm struggling to get Subaru to acknowledge their responsibility to replace this current cracked windshield with a new part, as per my reading of a settlement that they sh...”
“The windshield cracked with no obvious damage. The crack did not start at a chip. Cracked while not driving and no recent rock hits.”
Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports
- Hard gear shifts / delayed engagement into Drive/Reverse
- Transmission shudder / jerking under acceleration
- Transmission slipping between gears
“Immediately after pushing the lift gate release button on the dash, a loud and constant alarm tone began. The gate would then not open using the button on the dash, remote, or handle on the exterior of the lift gate door. To access the items in the rear (and to stop the alarm)...”
“The vehicle has 178k miles on it currently. I had to have a transmission and transfer case replaced at 68k miles. Done by Subaru. At 168k miles I had to have a new front pump in the transmission case replaced. Repair done by Subaru. Now at 178k miles the second replacement tra...”
“All the safety systems become disabled and check Engine light goes on because transmission fluid is being pumped Out of a faulty secondary pressure sensor part 31878aa020,( defective and replaced with 31878aa021), into the engines wiring at the car computer, transmission compu...”
Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports
- Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving
- Abnormal oil burning / consumption
- Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing
- Engine overheating / coolant loss
“All the safety systems become disabled and check Engine light goes on because transmission fluid is being pumped Out of a faulty secondary pressure sensor part 31878aa020,( defective and replaced with 31878aa021), into the engines wiring at the car computer, transmission compu...”
“My 2019 Subaru Ascent Limited had a safety recall that was related to a CVT transmission issue. That safety recall was addressed by Sewell Subaru (Dallas, TX) in January of 2025. This past Wednesday, July 29, I was driving on a state highway on my way to work from my residence...”
“NHTSA Vehicle Safety Complaint Vehicle: 2019 Subaru Ascent VIN: ... Mileage: 72,093 miles I am submitting this complaint because my 2019 Subaru Ascent experienced a serious transmission-related electrical failure that may represent a broader safety defect. Sewell Subaru of Dal...”
Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports
- Spongy or hard brake pedal travel
- ABS / Brake warning light illuminated
- Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration
“Replaced rear brakes and rotors in August 2025. By may 2026 they had worn down to the metal and needed replaced again. Only had 13000 miles on them. After multiple diagnostics testing was done, no issues were found with the brake system. Monitoring new pads and rotors. Still w...”
“The break pads had to be renewed after 2.5 months because the ABS was engaging every time I used the breaks. At all speeds. 84,000 miles”
“While driving on the highway, my vehicle suddenly lost the ability to accelerate—this is the second time this has happened, with the first incident occurring in June 2022. Each time I bring the car to the dealership, I’m told that because the issue cannot be recreated on the s...”
Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports
- SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated
- Passenger occupant classification sensor failure
- Seat belt retractor lockup
“The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at approximately 75 MPH, a deer ran across the highway and hit the left driver's side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. A grayish smoke began to emit from the vehic...”
“The contact's wife owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that the front passenger’s seat air bag sensor would intermittently fail to recognize his granddaughter seated in the passenger’s seat. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the air bag switch was recalibrated;...”
“My fiancé and I driving down my driveway when I noticed my dogs were out, I stopped the car, put in park and got out, closing the door behind me. Unbeknownst to me the driver side impact airbag deployed causing my fiancé to loose hearing temporarily and obviously leaving her i...”
Fuel Pump Pressure Loss & Fuel Delivery Defect Reports
- Sudden loss of propulsion power at highway speeds
- Extended engine cranking / failure to restart
- Fuel odor near fuel tank / engine bay
“THE TAILPIPE EXHAUST SMELLS STRONGLY LIKE GASOLINE. THE FUMES WILL ALSO COME THROUGH THE CABIN VENTS IF AIR CIRCULATION IS TURNED OFF.”
“MY FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED (ACCORDING TO THE DEALER) BASED ON THE MOST RECENT RECALL. HOWEVER NOW IT IDLES AND RUNS ROUGH JUST A SHORT TIME AFTER THIS SERVICE. I RECENTLY READ THERE IS ANOTHER LAWSUIT OR ISSUE WITH THIS FUEL PUMP AND THE SYMPTOMS ARE THE SAME.”
“AS MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAYS AFTER MAYBE A DAY OR TWO WITHOUT DRIVING IT, MY BATTERY WAS DEAD. I JUMPED STARTED IT AND IT WORKED, BUT AS THEY WENT BY THE BATTERY KEPT DYING. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID MY BATTERY TESTED BAD AND BECAUSE THE CAR ONL...”
Official NHTSA Safety Recalls (9)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. The transmission hydraulic sensor may inaccurately measure the hydraulic fluid pressure.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Summary: 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Summary: 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, possibly resulting in the front portion of the driveshaft disconnecting.
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Subaru Ascent vehicles. These vehicles may be missing spot welds on, or around, the B-Pillar, compromising vehicle strength.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
Summary: 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.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Summary: 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."
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist for 2019 Subaru Ascent
Before purchasing a used 2019 Subaru Ascent, perform the following targeted inspections based on reported federal defect patterns:
Scan the OBD-II port under the dash for pending freeze-frame codes (e.g. P0300 misfires, P0087 fuel rail pressure, P0420 catalytic efficiency).
Test vehicle at low-speed stop-and-go and highway merges. Check for delayed reverse engagement or gear shift shudder between 2nd and 3rd gears.
Verify that all 9 NHTSA safety recall campaigns have been performed by an authorized dealership using the VIN.
Ensure the instrument cluster, center screen, and auxiliary charging ports operate with stable 12.0V–14.4V alternator voltage.
Defect & Reliability Q&A: 2019 Subaru Ascent
Is the 2019 Subaru Ascent a reliable used car?
The 2019 Subaru Ascent earns a 3.2/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 439 federal owner reports. Vehicles maintained under factory service schedules exhibit strong longevity past 150,000 miles.
What is the most frequent defect reported on the 2019 Subaru Ascent?
The leading complaint category is Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports, with a median failure point around 11,550 miles (IQR: 8,000 – 18,000 mi).
Are there free recall repairs available for the 2019 Subaru Ascent?
Yes, the NHTSA records 9 safety recall campaign(s) for this model year. All safety recalls are performed 100% free of charge by authorized franchise dealerships regardless of vehicle warranty status.