2024 Subaru Ascent: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
50 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 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. 2024 specifically: a year the record favours — 50 complaints, score 80/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Subaru Ascent and Legacy: the years to avoid, including 2024 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 50 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 25.0
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
This vehicle was reversing, detected an obstacle and instead of stopping, it accelerated uncontrollably and then caused me to travelthrough the front yard of my house. even though the reverse automatic braking system detected the object the vehicle continued to accelerate. i then put the vehicle in drive and controlled the vehicle so it wouldn't hit anyone on the street or my house. this did cause a collision in my…
While pulling up to a drive thru window the vehicle shuddered and the engine shut off. I lost all power steering and had to come to a stop, shift into park, then restart the engine. No check engine lights or warnings illuminated. There were no status messages to indicate what caused it to shut off. Also the driver side mirror shakes a lot, just like all the other reports say.
While cruising on a 2-lane road or a freeway, the vehicle will cross over the adjacent line, either left or right. This generally happens between 50 to 75 mph. The event happens either when cruise control is on or off. Wind is not necessarily the problem. The solution requires one to take the necessary immediate steering correction. At times, the departure from the lanes may repeat. This may be a temporary cor…
Recalls: 1 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
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 22 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,850
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.
- Visibility23 complaints · typical job: Glass, wiper or defogger repair (2.5 h labour + parts)$490–$1,200
- Visibility/Wiper8 complaints · typical job: Wiper motor, linkage or windscreen replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$490–$1,200
- Unknown Or Other5 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Forward Collision Avoidance4 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Electrical System4 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Back Over Prevention3 complaints · typical job: Reversing camera or park-sensor replacement (2.0 h labour + parts)$420–$940
Other Subaru Ascent years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2024 Subaru Ascent?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Visibility (23 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2024 Subaru Ascent a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 80/100, computed from 50 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2024 Subaru Ascent's most common problem?
23 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2024 Subaru Ascent sit in the Visibility group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is glass, wiper or defogger repair: about 2.5 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $490–$1,200 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 2024 Subaru Ascent cost to run per year?
About $4,275 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $21,375 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 2024 Subaru Ascent have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2024 Subaru Ascent, 0 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 07/07/2026. 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 2024 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.
Moderate evidence — 50 complaints, 1 recalls on record
- 50 NHTSA complaints on record (25.0/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (20.4/yr)
- 1 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems