Home › Cars › Subaru › Ascent › 2022
2022 Subaru Ascent problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
42% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2022 Subaru Ascent are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 51% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 3 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 40%).
Does the 2022 Subaru Ascent have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 22 of 52 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2022 Subaru Ascent concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (42%), and the largest group is filed under power train (14). For comparison, the 2021 scores 29% and the 2023 scores 17%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2022 compares with other Subaru Ascent years
Of the 5 Subaru Ascent years with enough complaints to score, the 2022 is the worst on engine and transmission share (42%). The best is the 2023 (17%). By volume, the 2022 drew 55 complaints (22 drivetrain), against 102 for the 2021 and 45 for the 2023.
Subaru Ascent years to avoid and best years →
2019 Ascent problems · 2020 Ascent problems · 2021 Ascent problems · 2022 · 2023 Ascent problems
The rest of the picture on the 2022 Subaru Ascent
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 22 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2022 Subaru Ascent engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2022 Subaru Ascent, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2022 Subaru Ascent? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2022 Subaru Ascent
Does the 2022 Subaru Ascent have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 22 of 52 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2022 Subaru Ascent concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (42%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2022 Subaru Ascent?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2022 Subaru Ascent is power train: 14 of 55 complaints (25%) name it, followed by service brakes (11) and engine (9). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2022 Subaru Ascent reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 42% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 51% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 5 Subaru Ascent years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2022 Subaru Ascent?
No. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2022 Subaru Ascent, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Subaru Ascent years are better?
Among the Subaru Ascent years we track, the 2023 (17%), the 2020 (28%) and the 2021 (29%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2022 (42%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/subaru-ascent
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.