2019 Subaru Ascent: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
441 NHTSA owner complaints · 9 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
Avoid the 2019 and 2020 Subaru Ascent, which have 439 and 319 complaints and scores of 32 and 36. Buy a 2021 or later car: the 2021 has 100 complaints and scores 81, and the 2022 has 55 and scores 87, the best on the nameplate. Read the full note on the model page. 2019 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 441 complaints on record, verdict AVOID.
Read the guide
Used Subaru Ascent and Legacy: the years to avoid, including 2019 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 441 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 63.0
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Subaru of America has a Bulletin out that changes the front suspension arms for both front ends. The dealership made this correction and now the front end rattles like there are loose parts. Dealership says they don’t hear it. Won’t investigate more unless I pay them a diagnostic fee. If Subaru of America knows this vehicle has a faulty part that causes the calipers to clamp down too hard thus warping the rotors! D…
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Accent. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the hood was shaking and vibrating abnormally. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that an unknown adjustment was needed. Additionally, the shocks were replaced, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The c…
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 transmission has completely failed and needs replaced.
Recalls: 9 campaigns (3 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 18V508000 | Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Subaru Ascent vehicles. |
| 19V855000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. |
| 19V856000 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv) | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. |
| 26V436000 | Equipment:Other:Labels | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid, Forester, and 2019-2026 Ascent vehicles. |
| 22V907000 | Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ascent vehicles. |
| 21V955000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. |
| 19V519000 | Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. |
| 20V218000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 23 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,700
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electrical System160 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Power Train88 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Visibility/Wiper66 complaints · typical job: Wiper motor, linkage or windscreen replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$490–$1,200
- Unknown Or Other59 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Engine47 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Service Brakes27 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
Other Subaru Ascent years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Subaru Ascent?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (160 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2019 Subaru Ascent a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 32/100, computed from 441 NHTSA complaints and 9 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2019 Subaru Ascent's most common problem?
160 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2019 Subaru Ascent sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2019 Subaru Ascent cost to run per year?
About $5,547 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $27,735 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2019 Subaru Ascent have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for the 2019 Subaru Ascent, 3 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 02/08/2018. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2019 Subaru Ascent really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 441 complaints, 9 recalls on record
- 441 NHTSA complaints on record (63.0/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (20.4/yr)
- 9 recall campaigns, 3 touching safety-critical systems