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2023 Subaru Ascent problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2023 Subaru Ascent. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 17% of relevant complaints.
Better than 91% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2023 Subaru Ascent have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 7 of 45 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Subaru Ascent concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (17%). For comparison, the 2022 scores 42%. 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 2023 compares with other Subaru Ascent years
Of the 5 Subaru Ascent years with enough complaints to score, the 2023 is the best on engine and transmission share (17%). The worst is the 2022 (42%). By volume, the 2023 drew 45 complaints (7 drivetrain), against 55 for the 2022.
Subaru Ascent years to avoid and best years →
2019 Ascent problems · 2020 Ascent problems · 2021 Ascent problems · 2022 Ascent problems · 2023
The rest of the picture on the 2023 Subaru Ascent
- 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 7 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2023 Subaru Ascent powertrain recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2023 Subaru Ascent involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. 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.
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.
Risk: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service…
3 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 2023 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 2023 Subaru Ascent
Does the 2023 Subaru Ascent have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 7 of 45 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Subaru Ascent concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (17%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Subaru Ascent?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2023 Subaru Ascent is service brakes: 10 of 45 complaints (22%) name it, followed by forward collision avoidance (7) and visibility/wiper (6). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 17% of the relevant total.
Is the 2023 Subaru Ascent reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 17% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 91% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 5 Subaru Ascent years we score, it ranks best. 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 2023 Subaru Ascent?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2023 Subaru Ascent involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 23V647000 (power train: driveline: driveshaft). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Subaru Ascent years are better?
The 2023 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Subaru Ascent years we track (17%). The other years run higher. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/subaru-ascent
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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.