2019 Subaru Ascent: complete transmission failure

Filed Jul 16, 2026 · Transmission · PA

Noticed my car shifting incorrectly since 66,000 miles. At approximately 68,800 miles transmission begin to fail. At a stop sign I pulled out before oncoming traffic with what should have been plenty of time, but transmission failed. It seemed to have had chain slip; completely stopping the car when I was in oncoming traffic. I put the pedal to the floor it caught, and whipped me around the corner. After that it was doing the same thing consistently until I parked it at my residence.

Filed Dec 2, 2025 · Transmission · FL

Over the past few months the transmission has started randomly refusing to engage. When entering the expressway, you will press the accelerator, and the engine will rev and the vehicle will not accelerate at all. Then you let off the accelerator, let the engine RPM drop back down to idle, and press again and it will accelerate. This has happened 3 times in 2 months. Subaru is refusing to replace the transmission because their tech cannot personally reproduce the problem on demand, even though they have voluntarily extended the warranty on this model transmission due to slippage issues. They are instead going to change the transmission fluid, which has less than 1/2 the mileage for a typical fluid service, to mask the issue, risking the safety of passengers.

Filed Jul 20, 2025 · Transmission · IL

While driving on the highway, my vehicle suddenly lost the ability to accelerate—this is the second time this has happened, with the first incident occurring in June 2022. Each time I bring the car to the dealership, I’m told that because the issue cannot be recreated on the spot, despite codes that are warranted for the QMR to be done they’re unable to inspect or apply the WRK-21 procedure to replace the transmission under warranty. Despite this, my car consistently slips during normal driving conditions. It shudders and surges unpredictably while accelerating in traffic, creating an extremely unsafe situation. Most recently, I was driving with my children when the car failed to accelerate as I attempted to merge across four lanes of highway traffic. I had to coast until I could safely pull over. On other occasions, the vehicle has jolted forward unexpectedly, nearly causing collisions and forcing me to slam on the brakes. This issue is not only recurring—it is dangerous. I am requesting that it be taken seriously and addressed appropriately under warranty.

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 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 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.

Filed Jul 11, 2023 · Transmission · 42,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to be restarted after 30 minutes. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed, and the transmission was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

Filed Aug 31, 2022 · Steering, Transmission · CO

My Subaru Ascent stopped dead while I accelerated to go on the interstate. All the idiot lights came on. The steering stopped working, the gas acceleration stopped working and my Subaru Ascent 2019 died in the middle of the interstate. I had to pay $150 for a tow to the nearest Subaru dealership, even though I was 65 miles from my home. It would have cost $450 to be towed to my local dealership. The dealership wouldn’t tell me if this was covered by warranty because they didn’t know. I was at about 65,000 miles and my original warranty had ended. In the end, Subaru replaced my transmission but never gave me a loaner. Subaru also kept saying it would be done soon, but took a week. In the mean time I had to find a way to work, and pay the tow bill. Now, my Subaru Ascent is feeling like it did before, such as hesitation when stepping on the gas. I believe Subaru put in a transmission that was the previous recalled one. I also believe that Subaru lied to me about putting in a brand new transmission. I have tried to make a service appointment for the recall and problems with the transmission, but there are no appointments available. I stopped looking when I got to the bookings that were a year out. No warning lamps before this, just hesitation when stepping on the gas pedal.

Filed Jun 14, 2022 · Transmission · VA

Transmission completely failed last year April 2021 in the middle of Highway and car is stalled. Tow to dealership for transmission replacement. After almost a 1 year of driving the transmission problem is coming back with gears are slipping again. Took the car to dealership and this time they are doing the repair of transmission instead of replacement. I am not comfortable with the approach since I already bad experience and concerned about repair reliability. Called Subaru North America and waiting for resolution. There is already open recall for CVT transmission for this vehicle but no remedy yet from Subaru. It's safety concern as car broke down earlier in the middle of highway with heavy traffic.

Filed Jun 7, 2022 · Transmission · VA

transmission failed in traffic lane at a traffic light, causing loss of mobility. I called Police to secure seen, they responded and towed vehicle to dealer. my wife and Grandson were in the car and we could not move it out of the traffic lane the dealer has replaced the transmission, and are working to reimburse towing charges. But , so far, they have not offered me a warranty for the new transmission and they are apparently unable to tell me if the repair just done satisfies the recall referenced above Subaru's WRK-21)

Filed Mar 23, 2021 · Transmission · 50,000 miles · CA

Purchased the ascent new, have had the vehicle in multiple times with transmission complaints only to have "updates done", transmission recently went completely out while turning across traffic in front of oncoming traffic, vehicle towed to closest dealership, transmission replaced, drove less than 30 miles, car still hesitating while trying to switch gears around 40mph and whining noise (same as initial 3 complaints prior to transmission going out completely). Went to closest dealership related to concern of driving on freeway for safety, was told transmission needed 2 updates (as previously told prior to transmission going out). Now 5th visit while still under factory warranty but will only warranty new transmission for 1 year. Vehicle also had a recall on CVT transmission/chain slip. Car is a safety hazard for myself and others on freeway yet I continue to be sent home with "CVT updates and a continued whining noise" even after this LED to transmission failure completely previously. Be very cautious when purchasing a subaru, issues started on car around feb. 2020 or 30,000 miles, transmission completely out at 50,000

Filed Jan 19, 2021 · Acceleration, Electrical · 32,000 miles · FL

Vehicle started off with the radio not saving channels. It would reset the radio every few days. A message would come on the dashboard which would say the car will be restarted in a few hours. And a light not working. Took in and they said it was battery. Replaced. Then got back. Within week or so. Car had all lights coming on and off on dashboard. Started jumping. Even drove backwards when put in drive. Took in and they replaced transmission. Within the week after getting back, the car was skipping gears. Another transmission. Then back in for radio not shutting off when car off and locked. Would run for hours. Also the trunk door would not lock. Took and they said it was a switch. Radio again still resetting. Radio will randomly shut off and then turn back on. The rear trunk will lock and then not unlock. Car is still driving rough. Clearly the car has electrical issues. It is back in now.