Last updated: 2026-10-10

RELIABILITY SCORE: 76/100 (GOOD)

2026 Subaru Ascent Reliability Report

The 2026 Subaru Ascent has a good reliability standing, with one owner complaint and no federal recalls on record so far.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

N/A

Est. Repair Cost

N/A

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,700–$2,850

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint SeverityN/A

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs60/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact100/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue DiversityN/A

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

Newest year with good reliability, one owner complaint, no recalls, and a 5-star federal crash rating, though it has had little time to collect complaints.

Top Issues to Watch

SERVICE BRAKES (1)

Should You Buy the 2026 Subaru Ascent?

Reliability is good, and it lands close to average among 2026 SUVs. Within the Ascent's seven scored model years, this one ranks among the stronger ones. The 2025 model also rates good and about the same, so this year is not a clear step up from it.

Owners have filed one complaint, and federal recall records list no recalls. That is a thin record, and it mostly reflects how little time this year has been on the road. The data shows no pattern of failures yet. The 2025 year has 8 complaints and no recalls, which shows how counts tend to grow with time.

Before buying, run the VIN for open recalls, since new ones can be issued later. Ask for service records. If you want a year with a longer owner track record at a similar standing, 2025 is a reasonable alternative. The 5 of 5 federal crash-test rating is a point in this year's favor.

See also the 2025 Subaru Ascent for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Acceptable reliability score
+No recalls issued
+Low complaint frequency
+5-star NHTSA crash rating

Cons

−SERVICE BRAKES (1)

Compare 2026 Subaru Ascent With

2026 Toyota Highlander

Reliability: 84/100

Excellent

2026 Honda Pilot

Reliability: 81/100

Excellent

2026 Hyundai Palisade

Reliability: 72/100

Good

2026 Volkswagen Atlas

Reliability: 64/100

Good

2026 Chevrolet Traverse

Reliability: 76/100

Good

Common Problem Categories

Other

LOW RISK

SERVICE BRAKES (1)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

recalls on record

No recalls are on record for the 2026 Subaru Ascent — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

complaints

LowAvgHigh

Very Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2026 Subaru Ascent? Check its history first

Service brakes problems lead owner complaints about the 2026 Subaru Ascent, and 0 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2026 Subaru Ascent NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 17.0%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Driver)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Driver Monitoring System (Yes)Automatic High Beams (Standard)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Subaru AscentRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

Subaru Ascent Resale Value

The Subaru Ascent is estimated to retain about 99.1% of its original value after 1 year, based on observed used-car listings.

This benchmark covers the Subaru Ascent model overall and is not specific to the 2026 model year.

Value Retained: 99.1%
Depreciation: 0.9%
Listings Analyzed: 18

Listings observed in May 2021. This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.

Explore Subaru Ascent depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.com

2026 Subaru Ascent Example Repair Prices

National average price ranges for common repairs. These are not model-year-specific failure predictions.

Common repair costs and price estimates
Repair	Estimated Cost
Engine Oil Light Diagnosis	$122 – $179
No Start Diagnosis	$122 – $179
Pre-Purchase Car Inspection	$183 – $269
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Relearn	$49 – $72
Battery Test	$49 – $72
Battery Cable Battery Terminal End Service	$37 – $54
Brake System Inspect	$122 – $179
Emission Control System Inspect	$61 – $90
Electrical System Diagnosis	$122 – $179
Powertrain Control System Diagnosis & Testing	$61 – $90

Estimates based on national average repair costs. Actual costs may vary by location and shop.

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

21–22 MPG

Fuel cost: $2,700–$2,850/yr

Fuel only

19 city / 25–26 hwy MPG

Based on EPA fuel-cost estimates. Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2026 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
Ascent 2.4L 4-cyl	All-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AV-S8)	19	26	22	$2,700
Ascent Limited/Touring/Onyx AWD 2.4L 4-cyl	All-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AV-S8)	19	25	21	$2,850

2026 Subaru Ascent Common Problems by Component

1 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

2026-03-20

The contact owns a 2026 Subaru Accent. The contact stated that there was a failure related to the brake pedal design. The contact stated that there was an approximate one-inch difference in spacing between the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal in previous model vehicles. The contact stated that there was an approximate four-inch gap between the brake and accelerator pedals, while previous models had an approximate three-inch space. The contact stated that the difference created a hazardous driving condition and increased the risk of unintended pedal application. Additionally, there were several instances where a crash could have occurred due to the pedal spacing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, it was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that several complaints were received with the same issue and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,040.

Best & Worst Subaru Ascent Years

Best Subaru Ascent Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

Top Pick

Good

Subaru Ascent Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Subaru Ascent reliability scores by year
Year	Score	Rating
2019	55/100	Mixed
2020	58/100	Mixed
2022	70/100	Good
2023	71/100	Good
2024	76/100	Good
2025	76/100	Good
2026	76/100	Good

Subaru Ascent Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026(selected)	76/100	0	Good	0	1
2025	76/100	0	Good	0	8
2024	76/100	+5	Good	0	43
2023	71/100	+1	Good	3	36
2022	70/100	+12	Good	1	50
2020	58/100	+3	Mixed	4	310
2019	55/100	—	Mixed	8	431

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2026 Subaru Ascent reliable?

Yes, its reliability standing is good. It is close to average against other 2026 SUVs and among the stronger of the Ascent's seven scored years. Owners have filed one complaint and there are no recalls, but this year is new, so the record is still short.

What are the most common problems with the 2026 Subaru Ascent?

No common problem has emerged yet. Owners have filed just one complaint, and the data does not describe a repeated failure. A year this new has had little time to collect complaints, so check back as more owners report and ask sellers for service history.

Does the 2026 Subaru Ascent have any recalls?

Federal recall records list no recalls for the 2026 Ascent. Recalls can be issued after a car has been on the road for a while, so run the VIN through the federal recall lookup before you buy to catch anything open.

Is the 2026 Subaru Ascent better than the 2025 model?

Not clearly. Both years rate good for reliability and come out about the same. The 2026 has 1 complaint against 8 for the 2025, but the 2025 has simply had more time on the road. Neither year has a recall.

How safe is the 2026 Subaru Ascent?

The federal government gives the 2026 Ascent a crash-test rating of 5 out of 5 stars. That is the top rating. Pair it with a VIN recall check before buying, since the data shows no recalls so far.

Don’t buy a 2026 Subaru Ascent without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2026 Subaru Ascent

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2026 Subaru Ascent does best on recall impact (100/100) and worst on repair costs (60/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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