2022 Subaru ASCENT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2022 Subaru ASCENT has 75 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (17% of all complaints), specifically: the transmission is slipping and lunges forward, i believe this is the same reason there was a recall for my model car in 2019 & 2020. i have reported this to the car dealership and it will be placed in their service department tomorrow... i was carrying five (5) passengers in the car when it lung. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 12 crash reports 12 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

13 complaints

17%

• The transmission is slipping and lunges forward, I believe this is the same reason there was a recall for my model car in 2019 & 2020. I have reported this to the car dealership and it will be placed in their service department tomorrow... I was carrying five (5) passengers in the car when it lung
• The transmission of my 2022 Ascent regularly slips or shutters when trying to accelerate. While maintaining speed I can also feel a shutter or flutter. As if it is trying to decide what ratio to keep. Even though I’m on flat ground and maintaining speed. It is a similar feeling to the transmission
• When accelerating from a stop it sometimes shudders as if it cannot decide which ratio to use in the CVT. it can get pretty severe and I am afraid that it will tear the transmission apart if it continues.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“The transmission is slipping and lunges forward, I believe this is the same reason there was a recall for my model car in 2019 & 2020. I have reported this to the car dealership and it will be placed in their service department tomorrow... I was carrying five (5) passengers in the car when it lung”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

13 complaints

17%

• I was driving slowly through a parking lot. I found a spot to park my car and noticed that there was a curb painted bright yellow so I knew I could not pull through. I started to turn into the parking spot with my foot on the brake when all of a sudden my car was speeding towards the curb and a tr
• I was driving slowly through a parking lot. I found a spot to park my car and noticed that there was a curb painted bright yellow so I knew I could not pull through. I started to turn into the parking spot with my foot on the brake when all of a sudden my car was speeding towards the curb and a tr
• I was driving slowly through a parking lot. I found a spot to park my car and noticed that there was a curb painted bright yellow so I knew I could not pull through. I started to turn into the parking spot with my foot on the brake when all of a sudden my car was speeding towards the curb and a tr

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 5 crashes

“I was driving slowly through a parking lot. I found a spot to park my car and noticed that there was a curb painted bright yellow so I knew I could not pull through. I started to turn into the parking spot with my foot on the brake when all of a sudden my car was speeding towards the curb and a tr”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

11 complaints

15%

• The brakes on this vehicle continue to makes squealing sounds when slowing to a gradual stop, and now recently makes a grinding sound when driving from a complete stop to a gradual start. These sounds began when the vehicle was new at 500 miles and continues at 1500 miles. The vehicle has been taken
• The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes were making abnormal squealing sounds. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of
• This is a brand new vehicle. Within ~3,000 miles the brakes started to shake the car. I took it into the dealer at ~6,000 miles for it's regular maintenance and they had to 'turn the rotors' to smooth them out. The technician said that "All the Ascents are having similar brake issues", and he beli

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“The brakes on this vehicle continue to makes squealing sounds when slowing to a gradual stop, and now recently makes a grinding sound when driving from a complete stop to a gradual start. These sounds began when the vehicle was new at 500 miles and continues at 1500 miles. The vehicle has been taken”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

7 complaints

• 1. The electrical system/battery failed after only 392 miles. Car could not be jumped. When the cables were put on the battery, the tech said they got real hot (which leads us to believe it was shorting out.) Even though Subaru blamed the battery, the dashboard lights, the horn, and the headlights
• The panoramic moonroof stopped working and was stuck open, making a grinding sound when trying to close. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the issue. The issue was reviewed by a Subaru dealership, they were able to recreate the issue, and they replaced the parts to fix the issue, cov
• I was driving on I-20 when a line of cars suddenly slammed on their brakes in front of me. I slammed on my brakes as well but was unable to stop before hitting the car in front of me. The front of the car was very damaged but the car I hit had minimal damage on the bumper only. My 15 year old daught

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“1. The electrical system/battery failed after only 392 miles. Car could not be jumped. When the cables were put on the battery, the tech said they got real hot (which leads us to believe it was shorting out.) Even though Subaru blamed the battery, the dashboard lights, the horn, and the headlights”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

7 complaints

• 2nd cracked front windshields in the 1st 5 months we have own the car. Not sure how the first crack happened but this 2nd crack just started and has now spread to over half the window.
• 2022 Ascent. Windshield cracked in cold weather. No impact.
• With less than 5500 miles on our new Ascent, the windshield has 100s of small chips in it. When contacting Subaru about the issue we were told that's an outside environment issue and not something they could help with. After reading online, it seems the acoustic glass Subaru is using is an inferior

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“2nd cracked front windshields in the 1st 5 months we have own the car. Not sure how the first crack happened but this 2nd crack just started and has now spread to over half the window.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 75 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: The transmission is slipping and lunges forward, I believe this is the same reason there was a recall for my model car in 2019 & 2020. I have reported this to the car dealership and it will be placed in their service department tomorrow... I was carrying five (5) passengers in the car when it lung
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: I was driving slowly through a parking lot. I found a spot to park my car and noticed that there was a curb painted bright yellow so I knew I could not pull through. I started to turn into the parking spot with my foot on the brake when all of a sudden my car was speeding towards the curb and a tr
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: The brakes on this vehicle continue to makes squealing sounds when slowing to a gradual stop, and now recently makes a grinding sound when driving from a complete stop to a gradual start. These sounds began when the vehicle was new at 500 miles and continues at 1500 miles. The vehicle has been taken
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 1. The electrical system/battery failed after only 392 miles. Car could not be jumped. When the cables were put on the battery, the tech said they got real hot (which leads us to believe it was shorting out.) Even though Subaru blamed the battery, the dashboard lights, the horn, and the headlights
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)