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2020 Subaru Ascent problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2020 Subaru Ascent. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 28% of relevant complaints.
Better than 74% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2020 Subaru Ascent have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 89 of 322 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Ascent concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (28%). For comparison, the 2019 scores 31% and the 2021 scores 29%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2020 compares with other Subaru Ascent years
Of the 5 Subaru Ascent years with enough complaints to score, the 2020 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (28%). The worst is the 2022 (42%), the best the 2023 (17%). By volume, the 2020 drew 322 complaints (89 drivetrain), against 441 for the 2019 and 102 for the 2021.
Subaru Ascent years to avoid and best years →
2019 Ascent problems · 2020 · 2021 Ascent problems · 2022 Ascent problems · 2023 Ascent problems
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Subaru Ascent
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2020 Subaru Ascent said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 89 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2020 Subaru Ascent transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2020 Subaru Ascent involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2020 Subaru Ascent? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2020 Subaru Ascent have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 89 of 322 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Ascent concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (28%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Subaru Ascent?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2020 Subaru Ascent is electrical system: 101 of 322 complaints (31%) name it, followed by power train (58) and visibility/wiper (49). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 28% of the relevant total.
Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 28% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 74% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 5 Subaru Ascent years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Subaru Ascent?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2020 Subaru Ascent involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 21V955000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)), 21V587000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Subaru Ascent years are better?
Among the Subaru Ascent years we track, the 2023 (17%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (28%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/subaru-ascent
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.