2022 Subaru Ascent Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2022 Subaru Ascent most often describe transmission or CVT slipping, shuddering, or jerking, and brake squeal, shudder, or warped rotors. Windshield and moonroof glass cracking, airbags that did not deploy or deployed unexpectedly, and driver-assist features that switch off or brake suddenly are also recurring themes. Most sampled reports leave the mileage field blank, so timing by mileage is hard to judge, and engine oil leaks, smoke, and exhaust noises appear less often.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, shuddering, or jerking from stops

   • 14 complaints (25%)
   • median 87,500 mi at 4.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe a CVT or transmission that slips, shudders, or jerks, especially when accelerating from a stop, and in some cases the car hesitates or does not move when the pedal is pressed. Some say a software or computer update did not stop the symptom, and that dealers could not always reproduce it during service visits. Some report sudden lurching or aggressive downshifts, including a downhill downshift that left the car stranded, and a case where the transmission had to be replaced. Most sampled reports leave the mileage field blank; where mileage appears, reports range from about 9,200 to 115,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the CVT was checked under a service bulletin for chain slip or judder, and request records of each transmission visit. On a test drive, check for slipping, shudder, or jerking when accelerating from a stop and on an uphill grade.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 of y 2020 ascent I got rid of because of the fear of safety.”

   NHTSA complaint #11483461, filed 2022-09

   “Traveling back home from our vehicle downhill the vehicle started aggressively started to downshift that caused disengaging it was scary and almost wrecked into a tree. The car was very hot and smoking . We were stranded and afraid to move the car as we sat for over an hour and had to walk two miles in the dark to home with two children . We could not get tow truck or ride as we had no service.”

   NHTSA complaint #11727258, filed 2026-03
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake squeal, shudder, and warped rotors

   • 11 complaints (20%)
   • median 20,038 mi at 2.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2025

   Owners describe squealing, grinding, or chattering brakes, and shaking or vibration through the pedal or car, often when braking to a stop or at higher speed. Several report warped or hot-spotted front rotors, and some say the rotors were turned, resurfaced, or replaced under warranty. A report says the vibration started before the rotor resurfacing, and a complaint quotes a technician who said the brakes were too small for the vehicle, with no larger rotor offered. Where mileage is given, reports range from about 2,000 to 38,000 miles, and vibration complaints often start within the first 20,000 miles.

   What to check: Have a mechanic measure front rotor runout and inspect the rotors and calipers for warping, scoring, or a sticking caliper before buying. Ask whether any rotors were replaced under warranty and request the service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Brake rotors are warped around 8000 miles. I purchased a 2020 of same make and model and same problem, brake rotors warped under 10k miles. Subaru dealer employee told me the brakes were under engineered. After going 2 times to dealer, Subaru replaced rotors under warranty. I thought they figured it out since first Subaru Ascent hit market in 2019. I am going to attempt replacement with this 2022 through warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #11531345, filed 2023-07

   “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 to a Subaru dealership three times and nothing has been found that needs correction. I have contacted Subaru Corporate and they continue to direct me to the dealership. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11485650, filed 2022-09
3. 3
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield and moonroof glass cracking

   • 7 complaints (13%)
   • typically at 1.4 yrs old
   • filed 2022–2025

   Owners describe windshields that chip or crack from small stones, pebbles, or minor impacts, and in some cases cracks spread quickly or the glass was replaced or repaired more than once. Some report moonroof glass cracking from the inside without impact, and dealers could not determine the reason. Some owners say they were told the chips were an outside-environment matter, and they feel insurance rates rose after glass claims. Mileage is rarely given, though a windshield complaint notes many chips with less than about 5,500 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the windshield for chips and cracks in good light, and ask whether any earlier glass replacement or repair was done. Look over the moonroof glass for cracks, and ask whether the sunroof seal and frame service bulletin was checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 product prone to easy damage that no other manufacturers has issues with. We now have 2 cracks forming from these small chips. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11507209, filed 2023-02

   “The front panel of the moonroof cracked from the inside without any impact or clear cause. I brought the vehicle to my local Subaru dealer, Troncalli, for inspection, but they were unable to determine why it happened. I purchased this vehicle for my wife and kids, and now there’s a cracked piece of glass directly above their heads. After doing some research, I found that this appears to be a common issue, often attributed to temperature fluctuations or body flexing. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11672190, filed 2025-07
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in crashes, or deploying unexpectedly

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • typically at 3.3 yrs old
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe airbags that did not deploy in collisions, including a front impact with another car and a deer collision that was followed by a fire. A separate report describes side airbags deploying at about 35 mph with no collision, impact, or warning light. In another case, the car sped toward a curb and a tree with the brake applied, and the airbag did not deploy. None of these reports has a mileage entry; the unexpected deployment happened at about 35 mph with no collision.

   What to check: Ask for any recall or service records on the airbag system, and check for open recalls using the vehicle identification number. Ask whether the airbag warning light has been diagnosed and whether any airbag codes were recorded.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was in a front end collision with a deer. Upon impact there was heavy damage to my front end and smoke coming from my engine bay. Within minutes a fire started and only a couple minutes later the entire car was engulfed. No airbags deployed during the accident, there was no collision detected by smartlink and I wasn't even notified of any issues by starlink until the car was completely burnt down and getting doused in water. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11635099, filed 2025-01

   “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 tree. My foot was on the brake but the car did not stop nor did the forward collision feature work and the air bag did not deploy. The accident has been reported to both my insurance and the auto maker. The car will be inspected tomorrow.”

   NHTSA complaint #11528890, filed 2023-06
5. 5
   Forward collision avoidance

   Driver-assist features disabled or braking unexpectedly

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 4.4 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe eyesight camera or forward collision features showing errors, or not acting when needed. A complaint says a loose gas cap triggered several safety features to shut off, and that the computer kept them off for days after the cap was tightened. Another report describes the car braking abruptly to a complete stop when a vehicle behind approached too closely, with no error shown at inspection. A report says the forward collision feature did not work when the car sped toward a curb. None of these reports has a mileage entry; the gas cap report describes features staying off for days after the fault is cleared.

   What to check: At startup and during a short drive, check for driver-assist warning messages, and ask whether the forward collision and eyesight camera systems have been scanned. Ask whether a loose fuel cap was ever linked to features that stayed disabled.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle will abruptly break coming to a complete stop if a vehicle behind me approaches too quickly or gets too close to my vehicle. Yes the its uptoday on inspections and no errors show with in the vehicles computer system.”

   NHTSA complaint #11770198, filed 2026-10

   “My eyesight camera keeps failing, it just started like a week ago I had it scanned and it is saying there is an error with the eyesight camera, I have not had an issue with it until now.”

   NHTSA complaint #11728873, filed 2026-04

Buying note. Before buying, ask for the transmission software and CVT service records, and have the front brake rotors inspected. A test drive that includes stops from low speed and uphill acceleration can show whether slipping or shudder is present.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 51 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.