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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2022 Subaru Ascent Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
14about this part
Share
25%of 56 total for the year
Median mileage
87,500miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2022 Subaru Ascent, 25% of the 56 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 87,500 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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

“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

“Transmission slipping when vehicle is cold in the morning, got into a busy street and car wouldnt move due to transmission slipping and almost got into a collision due to transmission slipping and car not moving. I was able to recreate the problem the very next day. My driveway is at an incline, the only movement on car out of my driveway is due to gravity downhill on my driveway. Issue has been present since vehicle was purchased, dealer is never able to recreate the problem. I have a video of the car while transmission is slipping and not moving.”

NHTSA complaint #11646879, filed 2025-03

“This was our second Subaru Ascent. We traded In our first 2020 ascent for slipping transmission and shaky brakes. Shortly after trading that vehicle in we received a recall for the slipping transmission. This vehicle (2022) started showing the exact same symptoms. We requested Subaru buy back the vehicle they never followed up even though they said they sent us a buy back evaluation email 07/01/2022 which we never received. Case# 220622-173085 We ended up selling the vehicle out of frustration and buying a new Toyota.”

NHTSA complaint #11513635, filed 2023-03

“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 lunged forward and I almost rear ended the car in front of me and was also rear ended because I had to apply my brakes quickly. As stated above I'm hopeful this will be done by the dealership tomorrow. No inspection have been performed but it is scheduled to be done. …”

NHTSA complaint #11473571, filed 2022-07

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202436%
202337%
20221425%
20212019%
20205918%
20199020%

Other parts of the 2022 Subaru Ascent

Brakes
11 complaints
Engine
9 complaints
Other or unknown
7 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
6 complaints
Air bags
4 complaints
Electrical system
4 complaints
Fuel system
4 complaints
Lane departure
3 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
2 complaints
Back-over prevention (rear camera)
1 complaints
Seats
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2022 Subaru Ascent

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology