The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the transmission malfunctioned, and the vehicle would not properly accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who serviced the rear differential but later the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission was faulty…
2020 subaru Ascent powertrain problems
moderate 53 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
53
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Transmission is lurching and surging when driving. Pressing gas pedal from a stop the belt continues to slip. Took it to Paul Moak Subaru they claimed to do the inspection told me they don’t do test drives for malfunction checks. They said they completed the inspection for transmission recall. The Ascent continues lurch and slip with grinding noise and loss of speed. I told them about the issues f…
For the past month, the engine revs up higher than normal at slow and highway speeds. It had the feeling of the engine skipping gears and staying at to high of an RPM even with the accelerator being eased off. Initially it was brought to Subaru service dealer in November and they could not replicate the issue. On 12/13/23, it began to constantly go into very high RPMS, much more frequently then it…
2800 MILES ON VEHICLE. TODAY LOST POWER TWICE GOING UP STEEP HILL (ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS STILL INTACT, WAS ACCELERATING UPHILL AND WAS SIMILAR TO SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL THEN RE-ACCELERATED AFTER 10-15 SECONDS, DRIVING APPROX 30MPH). NARROWLY AVOIDED COLLISION DUE TO SLIPPERY ROAD, DID BRIEFLY ROLL BACKWARDS BEFORE BRAKING. NOT SURE I WILL EVER BE WILLING TO PUT MY KIDS BACK IN THIS NEARLY-NEW VEHICL…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2020 subaru Ascent?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 53 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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