2019 Subaru Ascent electrical problems
160 of the 441 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Ascent name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 335 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 160 reports a crash · 4 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 15 · 2020: 49 · 2021: 55 · 2022: 23 · 2023: 11 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 2
Half of the 84 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 7,000 and 19,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
441 complaints in all about the 2019 Subaru Ascent, 2 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Subaru Ascent electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Rear hatch does not fully close occasionally. This is only noted by the hatch appearing open and the battery being completely drained and dead. On two occasions I have closed the hatch with the on-door button and came back to find the hatch slightly ajar and the battery completely dead
Issue #1: transmission. Starting around 8000 miles, a loud squealing sound would occur periodically during automatic shifting. At first it was only while obtaining highway speeds and later it would happen at city street speeds. The squealing sound would be accompanied by a shuttering feeling as well.
Our Ascent has been dying since june, which was almost a year from the day we bought it brand new (first Ascent sold by our dealer). It has lost total power about 7-8 times now and we've had it towed to our Subaru dealer three times. The first time they said it was a defective battery and gave US a new battery.
We had a serious electrical malfunction of our new 2019 Subaru Ascent that happened on july 27,2019 at approximately 11 AM. The vehicle was parked in our driveway in the sun. The temperature was approximately 95 degrees. We loaded our dogs in the rear of the Subaru Ascent in metal wire crates.
When trunk or doors are open more than an hour battery will drain to the point where the engine is unable to start. This has happened twice with my vehicle and I have heard reports from other Ascent owners experiencing the same issue.
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- Dec 8, 2022 · 271,694 vehicles
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ascent vehicles. The ground bolt that secures the ground terminal of the Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater may have been improperly fastened, which could result in melting of the ground terminal and surrounding components.
335 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SubaruNet Announcement (C OtherAug 21, 2026
- This Announcement provides diagnostic assistance for CVT issues.
- 15-308-23R Service bulletinAug 20, 2026
- This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
The 2 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
B2A16 P0842 B2255 B1610 B2A20 P0045 P2096 P2097
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2019 Subaru Ascent names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2019 Subaru Ascent
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 88 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2019 Subaru Ascent?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 160 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (36% of everything owners filed about it), and 335 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2019 Subaru Ascent?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 22V907000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2019 Subaru Ascent?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 11,000 miles; half of them between 7,000 and 19,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.