Transmission issues, cracked windshields, and brake problems are the top complaints.
Official production of the first Subaru Ascent model began in May 2018 at the manufacturer’s plant in Indiana. The 2019 model was launched in the third quarter of that year. Reliability has been an issue from the start, particularly problems that relate to the transmission and windshields that crack. Owners of the 2022 model echo complaints of earlier model owners stating that the transmission shudders, vehicles lack acceleration, and windshields crack, sometimes without any impact. Brakes are a big problem too, with ongoing reports of warped rotors.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2019 2020 2021 2023
More than half of the complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are due to faulty transmissions or brakes. There are also a substantial number of complaints about windshields cracking — sometimes multiple times. Other complaints relate to backover prevention, the electrical system, engine, fuel/propulsion system, lane departure, latches/locks/linkages, tires, and wheels.
There is also a very serious fire risk warning recall that potentially affects 271,694 2019-2022 Subaru Ascent vehicles. The issue is that the ground bolt that secures the ground terminal of the positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater may not have been properly fastened. The danger is that this could result in the ground terminal and surrounding components melting.
Issued on December 8, 2022, NHTSA Campaign Number 22V907000 advises affected owners to park their vehicles away from structures and to avoid leaving the vehicle unattended while the engine is running. “An owner who notices or smells smoke coming from the dash or driver’s footwell area should immediately stop operating the vehicle and turn the ignition switch to the ‘Off’ position.”
Two months later, in February 2023, an owner from Arizona complained that the part required for the repair was still not available.
The most recent recall report indicates that by October 25, 2024, most of the affected vehicles had had the problem remedied. However, 572 of the owners were “unreachable,” and 625 of the vehicles had been “removed,” meaning scrapped, stolen, or exported.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Power Train | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Engine | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Air Bags | |
| Electrical System | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking |
Incredibly, several owners of the 2022 Ascent who have experienced transmission issues previously owned the 2020 model — and they had experienced exactly the same problems. Typically, the transmission shudders and the vehicle jerks and lurches forwards. Often, owners state that they cannot accelerate after stopping.
The Ohio owner of a 2022 Ascent states that he got rid of his 2020 Ascent because of transmission problems that were exactly the same as those he is experiencing now.
“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 my 2020 Ascent I got rid of because of the fear of safety.”
An owner from New York states that the transmission is slipping and lunging forward without any prior warning. “I believe this is the same reason there was a recall for my model car in 2019 & 2020.
Highlighting the fact that it is a safety issue, he says, “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 (nearly) rear-ended because I had to apply my brakes quickly.”
Another owner states that they traded in their 2020 Ascent because the transmission was slipping and the brakes were shaky. Even though there is no recall for faulty 2022 Ascent transmissions, there was one for the 2020 model. When their new 2022 model began showing “the exact same symptoms,” they requested a buy-back, which didn’t happen. Out of frustration, they sold the vehicle and bought a new Toyota.
Much more recently, in September 2024, an owner from Arizona complained that the drivetrain (transmission) was shuddering while driving. “This occurs at any speed but more frequently at 45-60 mph.” Additionally, “It is now occurring periodically at acceleration from a complete stop.” But the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem!
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The most commonly reported brake issue relates to faulty rotors that are warped. Several complaints report squeaking or squealing noises, while one describes how the Ascent crashed and burst into flames after crashing.
“I was driving 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.” Her 15-year-old daughter was in the backseat and was injured. She “only suffered a burn from the airbag and a few bruises. We were both able to get out of the car and get safely to the side of the road. Within about 3 minutes the car caught on fire.
“My concern is that if Subaru is made with crunch zones shouldn’t there be more safety measures in place so that the car does not catch on fire? I feel like there may have been some type of malfunction that took place to cause the fire.”
An owner from Texas was traveling to Washington State when the front brakes started “pulsating/vibrating/shaking” while driving down mountain passes. “I felt the car was very unsafe as we were unable to brake normally and had many vehicles around us that had to go slower because of this issue.” A dealership diagnosed hot spots (warping of rotors). “This should not be happening to a new car with 20k miles on it. They did replace our rotor, but upon reading forums online I noticed that there are many issues with the front brakes. And the fix by Subaru is not always the same (some people had pads replaced as well, while others had their rotors turned). According to one online chat they are on their 4th version of brakes!”
Another owner from Texas experienced shaking whenever he braked. It became progressively worse. “The technician confirmed the rotors were warped and both front rotors were ‘resurfaced’ and ‘front brake pads adjusted’. We have had no problems since the repair.”
An owner who had experienced a 2020 ascent brake rotors warping under 10k miles had the same problem with the 2022 model at around 8k miles. The “Subaru dealer employee told me the brakes were under-engineered.” After two visits to the dealership, they replaced the rotors under warranty.
An owner from Idaho experienced brakes shaking within 3k miles. The dealer had to “turn the rotors to smooth them out.” He was told by a technician that all Ascents were having similar brake issues and that the brakes installed on the Ascents were too small for the size/weight of the car. The technician said that Subaru “would be issuing a recall soon.” That was on March 24, 2023. By the end of December 2024, there was still no recall.
There is 1 complaint to the NHTSA about a 2022 Ascent windshield spontaneously cracking. But there are 11 similar complaints about the 2021 Ascent and many, many more that relate to the 2019 and 2020 models.
This complaint from an owner in California states that it is the second windshield that has cracked in the five months they have owned the car. They don’t know how either of them happened, but the second crack has quickly spread across half of the window.
All the visibility/wiper complaints to the NHTSA are about 2022 Ascent windshields spontaneously cracking or cracking with minimal impact. There are similar complaints about the 2019, 2020, and 2021 Ascent models.
This first 2022 complaint, from an owner in California in May 2022, states that it is the second windshield that has cracked in the five months they have owned the car. They don’t know how either of them happened, but the second crack has quickly spread across half of the window.
In December 2022, an owner from Florida reported that the windshield had cracked in cold weather without impact.
An owner from Georgia complained in February 2024 that the windshield “started cracking after a minor pebble strike near the bottom center of the windshield. The crack has doubled in size in less than 10 minutes and continues to grow.”
“With less than 5,500 miles on our new Ascent, the windshield has 100s of small chips in it,” states an owner from Colorado. The response from Subaru was that this was “an outside environment issue and not something they could help with.” The owner believes that Subaru is using an inferior product prone to easy damage. “We now have 2 cracks forming from these small chips. This is a dangerous issue that impedes visibility with such little effort it takes to chip or break the front windshield.”
An Arizona owner of a 2022 Ascent owns four Subarus and has to replace four windshields. Since replacing these, he has had four broken windshields. “The oldest Subaru I own is a 2020. The smallest rock cracks the windshield, many think it’s the EyeSight system and a much thinner windshield. Insurance companies increase the rates if you claim the windshield, so many Subaru owners just don’t get them fixed, causing visibility issues.” The dealership claimed it was because of conditions in Arizona. However, “5 of the 8 broken windshields broke in Massachusetts where I bought 3 of the 4 Subarus.”
Whether you are convinced you have bought a lemon or just suspect it to be the case, if the problems keep recurring or they impact your 2022 Ascent negatively, it’s a good idea to take action.
Lemberg Law has a lot of experience with lemon law vehicle cases and we have negotiated settlements with manufacturers for many clients. If you’d like us to do a free assessment of your case, please call us or fill in the contact form. Ultimately, the law will make Subaru pay if it’s a lemon law case.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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I have a 2022 Ascent and am quite satisfied with it. Comfortable highway ride and excellent all-wheel drive on rough gravel roads. I have driven it 22,000 miles with no problems.
You said in your article that the numbers of sales have dwindled since 2020 to 2022? Just remember during Covid not many dealers had stock of vehicles etc, so I believe that is the reason for lack of sales in those years.
I had a 2019 Ascent and while there was an issue with braking at times that we were having trouble getting addressed, when I started blacking out last week with enough thought to get off the road, I ended up going up 6 ft of guidecwire on an electri pole, fell on the back end, then rolled to passenger side, coming to a stop upside down..no injury AT ALL! The roof shows some slight crumpling..but not my head. The car is totaled but if I were planning to fly into the air and roll…I would pick the Ascent again.