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Buying a used 2020 Subaru Ascent? Check these 5 recalls first

5 NHTSA recalls · 322 owner complaints on file · 1 park-outside

The 2020 Ascent carries the heaviest recall load of the Ascent years here: a critical heater ground bolt that can overheat and melt, which comes with a park-outside advisory until repaired, plus a fuel pump that can quit while driving, transmission software that can break the chain, and tie rods that may separate from the steering. Electrical system leads its 322 unverified NHTSA complaints (101), ahead of power train (58) and visibility/wiper (49). Six crashes, five injuries and one fire are reported.

Before you buy

1. Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
2. Get proof the heater ground bolt recall was completed, and ask where the car has been parked meanwhile
3. Confirm the tie rod, fuel pump and transmission software recalls are all closed on a VIN lookup
4. Test drive for electrical faults and wiper/visibility issues, the two largest complaint areas
5. Open recalls are repaired free at any Subaru dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.

Recalls covering the 2020 Subaru Ascent

What owners have reported to NHTSA

322 complaints filed for this model year, including 6 mentioning a crash, 1 a fire and 5 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.

Other model years

• 2019
• 2021
• 2022
• 2023
• All Ascent recalls