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2019 Subaru Ascent problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
31%
131 of 441 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2019 Subaru Ascent. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 31% of relevant complaints.

Better than 69% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2019 Subaru Ascent have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 131 of 441 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Ascent concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (31%). For comparison, the 2020 scores 28%. 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.

Drivetrain complaints
131
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
441
this model year
Fires reported
6
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
9
10 crashes · 8 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM160 · 36%
POWER TRAIN88 · 20%
VISIBILITY/WIPER66 · 15%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER59 · 13%
ENGINE47 · 11%
SERVICE BRAKES27 · 6%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
no data
2014
no data
2015
no data
2016
no data
2017
no data
2018
no data
2019
31%
131 of 441
2020
28%
89 of 322
2021
29%
29 of 102
2022
42%
22 of 55
2023
17%
7 of 45

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

AIR BAGS,ENGINE03/24/2026FIRECRASH1 INJURED
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at approximately 75 MPH, a deer ran across the highway and hit the left driver's side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. A grayish smoke began to emit from the vehicle as the contact's wife immediately pulled…
STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTE11/29/2019FIRECRASH1 INJURED
TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH WHEN A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF OUR CAR AND WE HIT IT WITH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE CRUSHING THE FRONT END. ALL AIR BAGS IMMEDIATELY DEPLOYED AND THE FRONT END BEGAN SMOKING PROFUSELY. WITHIN MINUTES OF GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE IT BURST INTO FLAMES AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BURNED UP.…
SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER09/06/2026
Subaru of America has a Bulletin out that changes the front suspension arms for both front ends. The dealership made this correction and now the front end rattles like there are loose parts. Dealership says they don’t hear it. Won’t investigate more unless I pay them a diagnostic fee. If Subaru of America knows this v…

Three of 131 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2019 Subaru Ascent (9)

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. The transmission hydraulic sensor may inaccurately measure the hydraulic fluid pressure.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
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 …
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
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. Th…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2019 Subaru Ascent

Questions people ask about the 2019 Subaru Ascent

Does the 2019 Subaru Ascent have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 131 of 441 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Ascent concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (31%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Subaru Ascent?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns on the 2019 Subaru Ascent. 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%), the 2020 (28%) and the 2021 (29%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2019 (31%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2019 Subaru Ascent?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2019 Subaru Ascent shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental 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.