The Lane Check

Cars › Subaru › Crosstrek › 2019

2019 Subaru Crosstrek problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
20%
57 of 284 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 20% of relevant complaints.

Better than 87% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
Share this car

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 57 of 284 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (20%). For comparison, the 2018 scores 22% and the 2020 scores 22%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
57
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
284
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
7
6 crashes · 5 injuries

Complaints by component

VISIBILITY/WIPER113 · 40%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM53 · 19%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER49 · 17%
ENGINE34 · 12%
POWER TRAIN24 · 8%
STEERING15 · 5%

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%
35 of 132
2017
23%
21 of 97
2018
22%
41 of 194
2019
20%
57 of 284
2020
22%
15 of 69
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.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE08/25/2021CRASH1 INJURED
My daughter was in process of pulling her car into the garage when it experienced sudden acceleration and crashed into the garage. My daughter was unable to stop the car as the brake system failed during the incident. She is now too terrified to drive the car. Subaru claims that the car is and has been operating as…

One of 57 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv)19V856000 · Dec 2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving.

Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the short block engine will be replaced, free of charge.…

6 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
suspension: rear21V263000 · Apr 2021
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Subaru Crosstrek, 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid, and 2019 Forester vehicles. The rear stabilizer bracket bolts may loosen and detach.
electrical system: software21V264000 · Apr 2021
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Subaru Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the…
seat belts: rear/other20V189000 · Mar 2020
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek vehicles with rear seat belt assemblies with a dual-mode locking mechanism. The seat belt webbing sensor locking mechanism may…
electrical system: software19V743000 · Oct 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is…
visibility: glass, side/rear19V404000 · May 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The driver's side rear-door window glass may be improperly tempered. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the…
steering: electric power assist system19V065000 · Feb 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Forester and Crosstrek vehicles. A connector inside the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) unit may short circuit resulting in a loss of…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2019 Subaru Crosstrek? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek

Does the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 57 of 284 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (20%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total: 19V856000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv)). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Subaru Crosstrek years are better?

Among the Subaru Crosstrek years we track, the 2022 (13%) and the 2023 (16%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2019 (20%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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.

Check a VIN

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.