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2014 Subaru Crosstrek: engine and transmission complaints

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
34%
32 of 93 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

34% of relevant owner complaints on the 2014 Subaru Crosstrek are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 63% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 14 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 30%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
32
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
107
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
11 crashes · 7 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM22 · 21%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER20 · 19%
POWER TRAIN20 · 19%
SERVICE BRAKES14 · 13%
ENGINE13 · 12%
AIR BAGS9 · 8%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
too few complaints
2013
63%
15 of 26
2014
34%
32 of 107
2015
42%
38 of 99
2016
27%
34 of 131
2017
23%
21 of 97
2018
22%
41 of 194
2019
20%
57 of 284
2020
23%
15 of 68
2021
27%
30 of 115
2022
13%
4 of 31
2023
16%
5 of 34

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

ENGINE07/08/2025
I am reporting a complete engine failure on my 2014 Subaru Crosstrek at 140,000 miles due to a valve spring issue that appears to match Subaru’s Recall WTY-84 (NHTSA Campaign 18V772000). I checked my VIN and it currently shows no open recalls, but I’ve reviewed Subaru’s own documentation that lists 2013–2016 Crosstrek…
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE02/06/2025
I have been getting my 2014 Subaru Crosstrek serviced at Continental Subaru in Anchorage, Alaska for the last 4.5 years. I initially thought that they were an honest dealer/mechanic. I originally bought my Subaru in California and drove it up to Anchorage and it has been here ever since. My car burns oil very quickly. …
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE05/17/2024
The electrical system and engine flickers on and off or sometimes dies entirely. The trigger is unknown and the underlying cause is unknown. It is unsafe because this has occurred while the vehicle is moving. The problem was confirmed and reproduced by a Subaru service center. They were unable to diagnose the issue. Th…

Three of 32 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (1)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI)…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2014 Subaru Crosstrek

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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Experimental 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.