A much better Ascent
The 2021 Ascent has about 180 complaints per 100,000 sold. Scattered CVT and battery reports.
Updated November 2026 · based on 106 owner complaints and 2 recalls
177 45% below the Ascent average
2 free to fix at a dealer
Every Ascent year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Top problems and what they cost
CVT failure
Rare transmission failures.
Fix: CVT $4,000 to $7,000
Power train
Recalls
A melting ground terminal increases the risk of a fire.
An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Complaints by part
Before you buy a 2021 Subaru Ascent
- Feel for CVT slipping or delay.A CVT is a gearless automatic transmission that uses a belt. Worn ones shudder, whine or slip, and replacing one often costs $3,000 to $5,000, so service records matter.21 of the 106 owner complaints about the 2021 Ascent involve the transmission and drivetrain (20%).
- Check by VIN for open recalls.A recall is a safety fix the carmaker must do for free, even for later owners. Typing the 17-character VIN (on the dashboard and driver door) into nhtsa.gov/recalls shows any that were never done. Codes like 18V332 are recall numbers.The 2021 Ascent has 2 recalls on record, listed below.
Questions
Is the 2021 Subaru Ascent reliable?
A much better Ascent. The 2021 Ascent has about 180 complaints per 100,000 sold. Scattered CVT and battery reports.
How many recalls does the 2021 Subaru Ascent have?
2 recalls. Recall repairs are free at any Subaru dealer, even for later owners. Enter the VIN on the free government recall lookup to see which are still open on a specific car.
What are the most common 2021 Subaru Ascent problems?
CVT failure.
Crash rating shown for the 2021 Subaru Ascent SUV AWD. Repair costs are typical U.S. ranges for parts and labor, not quotes. How we score.