2019 Subaru Ascent: CVT failure

Filed Oct 7, 2026 · Transmission · VA

Cvt is slipping and failing internally, CVT assembly requires replacement.

Filed Aug 3, 2026 · Transmission · TX

My 2019 Subaru Ascent Limited had a safety recall that was related to a CVT transmission issue. That safety recall was addressed by Sewell Subaru (Dallas, TX) in January of 2025. This past Wednesday, July 29, I was driving on a state highway on my way to work from my residence. Not even two miles away from my residence, I felt a jerk and a loud "thud". That was followed by loss of power in that the vehicle just was rolling, but no power from the gas. I was able to safely maneuver onto a the shoulder and stop the vehicle. Within minutes, I noticed a puddling of a large amount of fluid that I could easily recognize was not oil. The vehicle was towed back to Sewell Subaru this past Saturday and I was notified today that the CVT belt snapped and it caused a hold in the transmission case, which caused the fluid to leak. The service advisor also mentioned that Subaru is not wanting to cover the replacement and that they are citing that the reason is that Subaru records are showing irregular servicing done by a Subaru service center. This issue has nothing to do with routine maintenance, or where I get those, and has everything to do with the catastrophic failure of the very same component that was at the heart of their known safety recall issue.

Filed Aug 1, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · TX

the federal safety agency Vehicle Safety Complaint Vehicle: 2019 Subaru Ascent VIN: [XXX] Mileage: 72,093 miles I am submitting this complaint because my 2019 Subaru Ascent experienced a serious transmission-related electrical failure that may represent a broader safety defect. Sewell Subaru of Dallas diagnosed an internal failure of a transmission pressure sensor. According to the dealership’s written report, the failed pressure sensor allowed transmission fluid to leak into the electrical wiring harness. The transmission fluid then migrated through the wiring and into the bulkhead harness. The dealership advised that the fluid contamination had affected multiple parts of the vehicle’s electrical system and recommended replacement of the transmission wiring harness, engine wiring harness, bulkhead harness, Engine Control Module (ECM), Transmission Control Module (TCM), and related components. Because the wiring harnesses are routed throughout the engine compartment and vehicle, the repair also requires extensive disassembly of the vehicle, including disconnecting and removing numerous engine compartment components to access and replace the contaminated harnesses. The estimated repair cost was approximately $12,000. I also have video documentation of the dealership technician performing the inspection and explaining the transmission fluid contamination and migration through the wiring system. I am willing to provide the video, the dealership's written diagnosis, repair estimate, photographs, and any additional supporting documentation upon request. My vehicle falls within the published VIN range associated with Subaru recall WUV-07, which involved the CVT hydraulic pressure sensor harness and transmission hydraulic pressure system. That recall was later superseded by WRK-21. I understand that the published recall addresses electrical resistance and transmission hydraulic pressure readings rather than transmission fluid leakage. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 5, 2026 · Transmission · CO

We have been dealing with issues with this vehicle since 2024. We had 3 open recalls which we took into the closest dealership to us and things were okay for a few months and then started having issues again. We live in a small town and it is hard to get to the dealership so we had a few local mechanics take a look and one had found that the exhuast recall was not installed properly and so he addressed that issue. Things were then okay for a little bit after that and then we started having bigger issues the car would not exceed 30 MPH in the middle of us driving and then the car would jerk back and forth. After advice from Subaru of America we got it checked out at a dealership who put a part into the vehicle and then we got it back and less than a week later the car was doing the same things. We took it back and they kept the car for 2 weeks but told us they could not duplicate the problem so we got the car back and right away had the same issues when taking it home. The CVT is for sure messing up we believe and now the car does not drive at all. After some back and forth we found out that the 1st owners took it in for the CVT recall so I reached out to the dealership who did that and was told that they did look at it but at the time the CVT was not an issue but the mileage was fairly low at that time. Personally I am not in a place to afford to get it replaced on my own but I do not believe that the recall should have been closed out knowing that the part would eventually go out since it is a known issue on that car I have tried to go back and forth to get this resolved but I am not getting anywhere and I am not sure what to do at this point to try and get the problems address and made right.

Filed Feb 23, 2026 · Transmission · TX

Component/System Failed: The vehicle’s CVT transmission and related transmission components. The transmission and associated components have been replaced multiple times by authorized Subaru dealerships. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Description of the Failure and Safety Risk: The vehicle has experienced repeated, intermittent transmission malfunctions, including warning lights, loss of power during acceleration, and sudden harsh re-engagement. Most recently, while accelerating through an intersection from a stop, the vehicle briefly lost power and then abruptly surged forward, causing a pronounced lurch strong enough to chirp the tires. This created a serious safety concern. A hesitation or loss of motive power in an active intersection exposes me to potential cross-traffic collisions, while the sudden re-engagement creates unpredictable acceleration and possible loss of control. The intermittent nature of the malfunction makes it impossible to anticipate when it will occur. Dealer/Manufacturer Involvement: The issue has been reported to and inspected by authorized Subaru dealerships multiple times. Because the malfunction is intermittent, dealers have stated they cannot fully diagnose the issue unless warning lights are active at the time of inspection. Subaru corporate customer advocacy has been involved in reviewing the case. Warning Lamps / Prior Symptoms: Intermittent transmission and check engine warning lights have appeared repeatedly over several months. The lights often illuminate while driving and then turn off after restarting the vehicle, despite the underlying issue not being resolved.

Filed May 16, 2025 · Transmission · TX

I purchased the car brand new in 2019. Shortly after purchasing, the transmission started having hesitation and slipping. I took the car back to the Subaru, and they replaced the transmission under warranty. Unfortunately, they replaced it with another full transmission, and very shortly there after, they had to replace it again. Unfortunately, they replaced it with another faulty transmission and now it is at 150,000 miles and needs another transmission. No one offered me to buy back my car with a second transmission replacement. I was told I was trying to scam a new transmission from Subaru. For this third transmission, I had it verified by an independent shop. I have placed a complaint with Subaru and ask them to buy back my vehicle and I have been told it’s unlikely to happen. I am worried about what will happen when the transmission goes out while I’m driving 70 miles an hour down the highway. This is a pattern in the warrants consumer protection. Many other car companies have stopped. Trying to make this CVT because it kept having problems..

Filed Mar 30, 2025 · Transmission · VA

When trying to maintain highway speeds (65 to 70 MPH) and driving in mountainous terrain of Pennsylvania, Maryland, or New York, the vehicle will shudder as if it is loosing power. The vehicle will rapidly loose speed. No warning code is issued. The only way to solve issue is depress the pedal to increase the RPMs. Took vehicle to dealer and reported that it felt as if the CVT chain was slipping. They said they could not recreate and there was no code.

Filed Jan 17, 2025 · Transmission · GA

Yes, inspect it. Bought 2019 Subaru Ascent from Carvana, March of 2022. 5 months later, the transmission started to low screech and hard shift. I took it to Osteen Subaru dealership. They test drove it, then reprogrammed transmission. Same day while leaving their parking lot, hard shifted and slighty screeched yet again, reprogrammed again. On my way home that day, did it again, problem persisted. Called and told them, asked them about replacing transmission, was told I had to go on waiting list because recall was released yet. Started getting even worse by November 2022. They ended up keeping it for 2 and a half months. Got it back in January 2023. Was told the problem was torque converter lockout. Subaru Company began to have recalls on their CVT Transmission & still refused mine. My VIN # was/and is included in the lawsuit for the extended warranty, & I was still under the manufactures warranty for Drivetrain when this first happened. The last I took it to the dealer I went to a dealer and hr away, was told they wont touch. Subaru of America told me they won't fix either because was out of warranty @100467miles. I explained I went to the dealership several times under 100k miles as it states my mileage on the Service invoices she was looking at on her screen. I have papers being in their shop still under man. warranty. They still refuse. My car is part of the lawsuit about transmission & still won't fix their recalled transmission. This vehicle has been to dealer 4 times since built with this same issue and not fixed. The service manager at dealership named Joe, told me the screeching is normal. It was not doing that when I first bought. It's my only transportation and still making payments on it. Subaru refuses to rectify their recall problem. I have kids & unsafe SUV. The car was great then without cause transmission stops working. Subaru of America won't help or take responsibility. Highly disappointed in the brand

Filed Nov 18, 2024 · Suspension · CA

My Ascent is primarily driven in the city of San Francisco, a fairly hilly city. We have had issues with the suspension on this vehicle in the past, and I will need to install my third pair of struts in the coming weeks (the parts are currently on backorder). The CVT has also been replaced on the vehicle. The tires are routinely rotated, and we keep up with the maintenance schedule. We were driving home after dropping our daughters at school and while accelerating up a hill heard a crack. We immediately pulled over, and saw that the lower control arm had sheared.

Filed Oct 20, 2024 · Transmission · MA

The CVT experienced a catastrophic failure, later identified as "the chain" by a Subaru dealer mechanic. The night before the incident, the transmission "slipped" and made a metallic clunking noise when merging onto a highway. On the day of the incident, the transmission failed completely after turning onto a roadway from a stop sign. No forward or reverse power was available. Had the transmission failed the night before while merging onto a highway, with little ability to pull out of the roadway, we certainly would have been in danger. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealer and the transmission failure confirmed. The transmission "stuttered" for several months previously while accelerating, though not consistently.

Filed Sep 3, 2024 · Transmission · 106,000 miles · MA

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped and attempting to accelerate on several occasions, the vehicle jolted forward while shifting from 1st to 2nd gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the computer software needed to be updated. The software updated but the failure reoccurred after almost two months. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that another software needed to be updated; however, the failure reoccurred after almost two months. The contact believed that the failure was associated with Manufacturer Recall Number: 16-139-22 CVT Assembly (WRK-21) Warranty Extension (TCM reprogramming to prevent CVT chain slip). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

Filed Aug 20, 2023 · Transmission · PA

Vehicle has completed all transmission recalls. Until recently, Subaru continued to say that the issues I was experience with loss of power or glitchy shifting could not be duplicated. After the vehicle exceeded it's warranty coverage, they were suddenly able to duplicate the problem and say that the CVT was causing my problems, that reprogramming failed and that the vehicle needs a new transmission. These issues have persisted before and after the recalls related to the CVT and have cause two near accidents as I pulled out into traffic only to have the car not shift/accelerate as expected. I no longer allow my teenagers to drive the vehicle due to this safety concern. I firmly believe the prior recalls were not effective in resolving the issues with the CVT and/or that Subaru said no damage to the chain was visible and checked the recall as done without actually doing anything more than reprogramming. I believe the issues should be looked into further and coverage for the CVT should be extended beyond the initial reprogramming provided by the recall.