2019 Subaru Ascent · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 40owner reports
- 19,330median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Aug 6, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
88 of the 441 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 40 of those describe transmission shudder.
Tick what matches of 40 reports
Transmission shudder on other Ascent years
No other Ascent model year has enough reports of transmission shudder for a sheet of its own. See every Ascent year.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2019 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
The transmission hydraulic sensor may inaccurately measure the hydraulic fluid pressure.
The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, possibly resulting in the front portion of the driveshaft disconnecting.
All 9 recalls on the 2019 Subaru Ascent, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 12,000 and 53,000 miles, from the 24 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 13 service bulletins or notices for the 2019 Subaru Ascent that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This Bulletin provides updated diagnostic procedures to follow and a brief questionnaire to complete when diagnosing an alleged Chain Slip condition on the TR580 and TR690 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed.
This bulletin announces availability of new reprogramming files developed to address SYMPTOM 1: A jerk or judder sensation felt from the powertrain during braking with the air conditioning on.
This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on the TR690 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) has initiated this safety and emissions Recall for certain 2019 - 2020 model year Ascent vehicles, 2020-2021 model year turbo Legacy vehicles, and 2020-2021 model year turbo Outback vehicles in which the Continuously Variable ...
9 more on the 2019 Subaru Ascent page.
What owners wrote
“On speeds of about 70+, both on cruise control and off, car jerks for about 5-10 seconds when accelerating on steep hills. It also happens after the car has been driving for more than 1hr or so. Fuel consumption is about 19-20mpg regardless of highway only driving contrary to advertised”
Filed Jan 18, 2023
“My transmission slipped for 6 months and was finally replaced just recently at 47,000 miles.”
Filed Jun 1, 2022 · 47,000 miles
“The car hesitates when I step on the gas, feeling like it stalled. This has happened since I purchased the vehicle and the dealer says I don't have a problem. I have pulled out into traffic only to have the car "stall' and I sit waiting to be hit. Subaru had a recall on this in 2020, but the dealer said I did not qualify for anything beyond reprograming. The problem persists. No warning lights or other messages.”
Filed May 24, 2022
“Due to an improper program, the CVT chain may slip, resulting in breakage of the chain guide. If the chain guide breaks, fragments of the guide could inhibit the shift select mechanism. If the vehicle continues operation with the drive chain slipping, over time the CVT drive chain could break. No remedy offered/available by manufacturer.”
Filed Mar 19, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 40 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Battery dies or the car will not start 137 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 75 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 36 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 26 reports