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Home›Subaru›2019 Subaru Ascent› transmission and drivetrain problems
Owner complaints · Power Train

2019 Subaru Ascent transmission and drivetrain problems

88 of the 441 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Ascent name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 92 manufacturer bulletins, 3 recalls. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.

88 complaints 20% of this model year’s 2 reports a crash typically at 18k miles

What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain

Source: NHTSA complaint database
88complaints name the transmission and drivetrain

2 of the 88 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.

Filed per year: 2019: 14 · 2020: 5 · 2021: 12 · 2022: 30 · 2023: 9 · 2024: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2026: 8

18kmiles, typically

Half of the 34 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 8,000 and 21,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

20%of this model year’s complaints

441 complaints in all about the 2019 Subaru Ascent, 8 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →

Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.

Across model years: Subaru Ascent transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →

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In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign numbers: 19v856000 (engine and engine cooling) and 19v855000 (power train). The contact stated that the GPS unit was inoperable.
Power Train at 1,000 miles Dec 12, 2019 NHTSA owner report
We are noticing periodic issues with the CVT in this new car. Occasionally we get a high-pitched whine, a sound like a belt slipping, a loss of power, and a sudden bump when the CVT seems to adjust to the situation and return power and normal driving. Internet is full of people reporting the issue.
Power Train at 3,500 miles Aug 29, 2019 NHTSA owner report
When driving our Ascent on both city streets and the highway we have experienced rpms jumping and squeaking/slipping noises coming from the engine unexpectedly. Its very disheartening to have issues with a brand new car that you've spend over $40k on. I have been able to capture some video of the control panel as this happens
Power Train Aug 27, 2019 NHTSA owner report
We took our 2019 Ascent in because we were hearing some weird noises coming from the front end roughly 5000 miles. Upon further inspection the Subaru dealership informed US that there was an issue with the steering rack.
Power Train at 5,000 miles Aug 19, 2019 NHTSA owner report
When driving car at different speeds, the car loses power, RPM increase and decrease significantly accompanied by a screeching sound. The vehicle has about 15k miles and has happened four times within a three week period
Power Train at 15,000 miles Jul 30, 2019 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recalls filed under this heading

92 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading

The 3 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.

Trouble codes named on this system

P0842 P0711 P0730 P0746 P0747 P0841 P0846 P0867

Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2019 Subaru Ascent names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.

Other systems with a record on the 2019 Subaru Ascent

Source: the same files
From here
Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Are transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2019 Subaru Ascent?

They are documented: NHTSA holds 88 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (20% of everything owners filed about it), and 92 manufacturer bulletins, 3 recalls are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.

Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2019 Subaru Ascent?

Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading: 21V955000, 19V855000, 19V519000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2019 Subaru Ascent?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 18,000 miles; half of them between 8,000 and 21,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.

What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?

The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.