SubaruAscent2023Overview/subaru/ascent/2023/base/

2023 Subaru Ascent

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2023 Ascent.

Transmission Automatic (AV-S8)

The 2023 Subaru Ascent, as detailed in its overview, calls for 4.8 qt of 0W‑20 engine oil and is matched with an AV‑S8 automatic transmission that delivers EPA‑rated 20/26/22 mpg. Ownership data show this model year accumulated just 40 total complaints and four recalls, a stark contrast to the 432 complaints logged for the 2019 model and indicative of the steep decline across the 2019‑2026 span that bottoms out at a single complaint projected for 2026. This places the 2023 Ascent near the low‑end of the vehicle’s complaint history, reflecting a notably reliable iteration in the lineup’s timeline.

Model year2025202420232022202120202019

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque89.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy20/26/22 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

Tire size245/60R18 105HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length196.9 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height76 in
Wheelbase113.8 in
Curb weight4420 lb
Track (front / rear)64.6 / 64.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 26 / 22 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Ascent of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.8–7.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.80 sec — 2023 Onyx Edition Limited
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2023Onyx Edition Limited 2.4L Turbo F-46.80 sec15.40 sec260 hpAWD
2023Touring 2.4L Turbo F-47.10 sec15.60 sec260 hpAWD
2019Touring 2.4L Turbo F-46.50 sec15.10 sec260 hpAWD
2019Limited 2.4L Turbo F-46.90 sec15.50 sec260 hpAWD
2019Limited 2.4L Turbo F-46.90 sec15.20 sec260 hpAWD
2019Premium 2.4L Turbo F-46.90 sec15.50 sec260 hpAWD
2019Touring 2.4L Turbo F-46.90 sec15.50 sec260 hpAWD
2019Touring 2.4L Turbo F-47.10 sec15.60 sec260 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.8 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, GL-5 · 75W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 · SAE J1703 · DOT 4 · SAE J1704 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89.0 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 31.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-2-4.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidSubaru High Torque CVT Fluid LV
Brake FluidDOT 3 · SAE J1703 · DOT 4 · SAE J1704
Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 75W-90
Engine CoolantSubaru Super Coolant
Engine Coolant Capacity11.7 qt
Engine CoolantSubaru Super Coolant
Engine Coolant Capacity11.7 qt
Engine Oil0W-20 · Synthetic

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)4.7 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)18.4 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts4.7 ft-lbs; Upper: 13.3 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug31.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill PlugUse new gaskets: 40.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain PlugUse new gaskets: 40.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts89.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-2-4
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug TypeSILKFR8A6
Spark Plug Gap0.020-0.024" in
Spark Plug Torque13.3 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity1.76-1.88 lbs
Oil TypeND-Oil 12
Oil Capacity4.06 oz

Brakes

Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.063; Rear: 0.059

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Apply clean engine oil to the crank pulley bolt, seat and threads. Step 214.8 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 6,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 6,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 6,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 miEngine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 12,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Parking Brake System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 72,000 miFuel Filter (replace)
At 137,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2023 Ascent records 40 complaints and 4 recalls, a sharp decline from 2019’s 432 complaints and 9 recalls. Complaint volume continues to fall through 2024 (48) and 2025 (12) before reaching just 1 in 2026, indicating a clear downward trend across the generation. In 2023 the top complaint categories are “Unknown Or Other” (7), “Visibility/Wiper” (6) and “Service Brakes” (6), with 4 crash‑related and 1 fire‑related complaints reported. The data does not specify a root cause for any of these issues. Consequently, the 2023 model remains a solid purchase, though later model years exhibit even fewer problems.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
261
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
40
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 40 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Unknown Or Other7
Visibility/Wiper6
Service Brakes6
Forward Collision Avoidance3
Tires3
Air Bags,Vehicle Speed Control,Service Brakes2
Seats2
Wheels2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

23V258000TiresReported 07/04/2023

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Ascent vehicles equipped with 20-inch wheels. The internal tire bead may have been damaged during the wheel mounting process. Remedy: Dealers will replace all four tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 6, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at…

23V392000Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower ArmReported 01/06/2023

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Ascent vehicles. The left or right front lower control arm may have an improperly tightened ball joint castle nut which can result in retention pin failure and… Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the lower control arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 30, 2023. Owners may contact…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 261 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
02-193-24R2026-06-29EngineThis bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for…
09-74-21R2026-06-25EngineThis bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for…
02-196-262026-06-22EngineThis bulletin outlines the diagnostic and repair procedure for white smoke emitted from…
SubaruNet Annoucement (E2026-06-11Unknown Or OtherThis announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood…
07-241-262026-06-10Electrical SystemThis Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide removal and installation tips…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Ascent. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2023 Ascent take?

4.8 qt of 0W-20 Synthetic SP Resource Conserving ILSAC GF-6A, per the factory manual.

Does the 2023 Ascent have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Ascent get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 26 highway / 22 combined mpg.