Subaru · Known Issues
2022 Subaru Ascent Problems: 14 Known Issues
2022 model year · 3,170+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2022 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2022 model year · 3,170+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2022 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 3,170+ owner reports, the 2022 Subaru Ascent has 14 documented known issues, with 3 rated critical. The most serious are CVT Transmission Hesitation and Harsh Engagement ($0-$9,000 repair), PTC Cabin Heater Ground Bolt Loosens and Melts Under-Dash Wiring (Recall WRL-22 / NHTSA 22V907) ($0-$0 repair) and CVT Valve Body Failure and Transmission Warning ($1,500-$8,500 repair). The most commonly reported issue is CVT Transmission Hesitation and Harsh Engagement with 1,300 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $120 to $9,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
TIRES
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.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
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 separation of the ball joint from the lower control arm.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid, Forester, and 2019-2026 Ascent vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured with an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire selection and rims."
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ascent vehicles. The ground bolt that secures the ground terminal of the Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater may have been improperly fastened, which could result in melting of the ground terminal and surrounding components.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 3,170+ owner reports, the 2022 Subaru Ascent has 14 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: CVT Transmission Hesitation and Harsh Engagement, PTC Cabin Heater Ground Bolt Loosens and Melts Under-Dash Wiring (Recall WRL-22 / NHTSA 22V907), CVT Valve Body Failure and Transmission Warning. Of these, 3 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2022 Subaru Ascent has 14 known issues documented across 3,170+ owner reports. 3 issues are rated critical: CVT Transmission Hesitation and Harsh Engagement and PTC Cabin Heater Ground Bolt Loosens and Melts Under-Dash Wiring (Recall WRL-22 / NHTSA 22V907) and CVT Valve Body Failure and Transmission Warning. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Subaru Ascent issues range from $0 to $9,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, CVT Transmission Hesitation and Harsh Engagement, typically costs $0-$9,000 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
The Ascent's high-torque Lineartronic CVT (TR730 - the largest CVT Subaru has produced) paired with the 2.4L turbo FA24 engine exhibits hesitation from stops, harsh engagement when shifting from Park to Drive/Reverse, and surging at low speeds. The TR730 CVT must handle significa… Repairs typically run $0-$9,000. Severity: high.
On 2019-2022 Ascents the ground bolt securing the ground terminal for the Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) auxiliary cabin heater was improperly torqued during assembly. The loose connection creates high resistance at the ground terminal, which heats up under the high curre… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
The Ascent's TR730 high-torque CVT develops valve body failures that cause erratic shifting, harsh engagement, and transmission warning lights. The valve body controls hydraulic pressure to the CVT pulleys and chain, and when solenoids or passages within it fail, the transmission… Repairs typically run $1,500-$8,500. Severity: high.
The Ascent has one of the highest rates of windshield cracking complaints of any Subaru model. Cracks frequently originate near the EyeSight camera housing or from windshield edges without any rock impact. The large windshield, acoustic lamination, steep rake angle, and EyeSight… Repairs typically run $600-$1,800. Severity: medium.
Ascents commonly experience dead batteries after sitting for 3-5 days without driving. The numerous electronic modules (Starlink telematics, EyeSight, keyless access, remote start receiver) create a high parasitic draw that depletes the battery when the vehicle is not driven regu… Repairs typically run $150-$400. Severity: medium.
One of the most-reported Ascent complaints on the owner forums: a sharp metallic clunk or rattle from the front suspension over small bumps, expansion joints and parking-lot speed bumps, often present from low mileage and frequently misdiagnosed at the dealer as sway-bar links, e… Repairs typically run $450-$1,100. Severity: medium.
The Ascent is the heaviest vehicle Subaru sells but carries brake hardware close to that of lighter models, and owners repeatedly report steering-wheel and pedal pulsation under braking starting around 18,000-20,000 miles, worsening to a full-vehicle shudder by 20,000-30,000. The… Repairs typically run $450-$1,300. Severity: medium.
Owners report Ascent windshields cracking from small impacts, temperature swings, or spontaneously while parked, with cracks frequently propagating from the EyeSight camera mount or lower edge. A 2024 class-action settlement covers 2019-2022 Ascents and extends Subaru's windshiel… Repairs typically run $0-$2,400. Severity: medium.
Ascent owners report a shudder, judder or vibration felt through the floor when turning under light acceleration at low speed - typically under 25 mph, and almost always when the drivetrain is cold. Parking-lot maneuvers, U-turns and slow corners off a stop are the classic trigge… Repairs typically run $600-$2,200. Severity: medium.
Owners find wet carpet, soaked underlayment and standing water in the footwells and along the door sills. The source is not the door seal but the door's internal vapor barrier: the butyl tape that bonds the barrier sheet to the inner door panel separates, so water that normally r… Repairs typically run $200-$900. Severity: medium.
The Exhaust Pipe Front (EPF) on the FA24F-powered Ascent cracks at a weld joint, producing a rattling or fluttering sound from the undercarriage under acceleration. The noise is often mistaken for a loose heat shield. Subaru traced it to weld durability on the EPF and changed the… Repairs typically run $400-$1,300. Severity: medium.
Owners report a strong oil, gasoline or hot-rubber smell from the engine bay, sometimes accompanied by oil seepage at the PCV hose joint. Subaru traced this to an undersized PCV hose clamp on the FA24F that allows blow-by vapors and oil mist to escape. TSB 11-204-23 prescribes a… Repairs typically run $0-$300. Severity: medium.
Subaru is recalling roughly 541,000 vehicles, including every 2019-2026 Ascent, because the federally required certification label on the driver's door jamb carries an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating. Owners who load the vehicle to the number printed on the label - a real scen… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: low.
Ascent owners report a knocking or squeaking noise from the front suspension driving on rough or broken pavement, distinctly worse at low ambient temperatures and often quieting once the car warms up. The cause is the front stabilizer bar bushing material, which hardens and stick… Repairs typically run $120-$400. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.