The 2023 Ascent with the FA24 turbo engine is still early in its lifespan, but the platform shares core problems with its CVT transmission cooling and the FA24's oil-dilution/piston-wear tendencies seen across the Subaru turbo lineup. Most won't see catastrophic failure this early, but early adopters are reporting transmission fluid degradation and engine rebuilds popping up before 60k miles.
CVT Transmission Oil Cooler Failure / Fluid Degradation
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Burnt transmission fluid smell, Harsh or delayed shifts, especially when cold, CVT overheat warnings on dash, Metallic debris visible in fluid during service
Fix: Replace external CVT oil cooler and flush entire system with fresh Subaru High Torque CVT fluid. If contamination is severe, internal CVT damage may require full replacement. Oil cooler replacement alone is 3-4 hours labor; full CVT is 10-12 hours.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 cooler only; $6,000-8,500 if CVT is toast
FA24 Turbo Engine Oil Dilution and Piston Ring Wear
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (quart every 1,000-2,000 mi), Fuel smell in engine oil during short-trip driving, Blue smoke on cold start or acceleration, Check engine light for misfire or low compression codes
Fix: Root cause is short-trip driving allowing fuel to wash cylinder walls and dilute oil. Severe cases require piston ring replacement or full short-block swap. Rings alone are 18-22 hours labor; short block is 20-25 hours due to turbo/AWD packaging.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,000 rings; $8,000-12,000 short block
Lower Control Arm Bushing Failure
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front suspension, Wandering or vague steering feel, Uneven inside tire wear on fronts, Vibration at highway speeds
Fix: Subaru issued a recall for some 2023 Ascents (NHTSA). Even non-recall units see premature wear. Replace both lower control arms as a pair — bushings aren't serviceable separately on this generation. 2.5-3 hours labor for the pair.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200
Transmission Mount Deterioration
Occasional · low severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk or thud when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Vibration at idle that smooths out under load, Visible movement of engine/trans assembly during throttle blips
Fix: The rear transmission mount (connects trans tail to crossmember) is hydraulic and fails from heat stress due to CVT proximity. Replace mount, 1.5-2 hours labor. Often done alongside CVT cooler work.
Estimated cost: $350-550
Head Gasket Seepage (Not Catastrophic Failure)
Rare · medium severityTypical onset: 50,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: External oil seepage at cylinder head mating surface, Slight coolant smell but no overheating, Oil residue visible on block below head seam
Fix: Not the old EJ-series catastrophic failure, but FA24 can develop external seepage. If caught early and no coolant mixing, reseal both head gaskets as preventive measure. 12-15 hours labor due to turbo removal and timing components.
Estimated cost: $3,000-4,500
Buy a 2023 only if full service records prove religious CVT fluid changes and the seller didn't short-trip it to death; otherwise wait for the 2025+ after Subaru sorts the FA24 oil-consumption issues.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.