Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2020 vs 2021 SUBARU ASCENT

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 71 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 66.9% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

2020 296 complaints 2021 98 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 2020 share 2021 share Share change
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 27.1% 12.2% ▼ 14.9 pts smaller share
LANE DEPARTURE 1.0% 14.3% ▲ 13.3 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 1.9% 5.1% ▲ 3.2 pts larger share
SUSPENSION 2.5% not reported ▼ 2.5 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 13.9% 16.3% ▲ 2.5 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES 4.7% 7.1% ▲ 2.4 pts larger share
STEERING 0.6% 2.0% ▲ 1.4 pts larger share
ENGINE 4.7% 6.1% ▲ 1.4 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1.3% not reported ▼ 1.3 pts smaller share
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 3.2% 2.0% ▼ 1.1 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 17.4% 16.3% ▼ 1.0 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM 1.9% 1.0% ▼ 0.9 pts smaller share
WHEELS 0.3% 1.0% ▲ 0.7 pts larger share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 0.6% 1.0% ▲ 0.4 pts larger share
AIR BAGS 0.6% 1.0% ▲ 0.4 pts larger share
BACK OVER PREVENTION 0.3% not reported ▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 0.3% not reported ▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 27.4% 39.8% ▲ 12.4 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

2020 5

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN, and STEERING

2021 2

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and EQUIPMENT

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
1 → 1
◆ Injuries
5 → 3