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2020 Subaru Crosstrek problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
22%
15 of 69 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 22% of relevant complaints.

Better than 83% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 15 of 69 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (22%). For comparison, the 2019 scores 20% and the 2021 scores 27%. 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
15
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
69
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
6 crashes · 3 injuries

Complaints by component

VISIBILITY/WIPER30 · 43%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11 · 16%
POWER TRAIN9 · 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER9 · 13%
ENGINE5 · 7%
VISIBILITY4 · 6%

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 2020 Subaru Crosstrek

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN05/14/2026
DEFECT DESCRIPTION My 2020 Subaru Crosstrek has been diagnosed with diagnostic trouble code P2757 (Torque Converter Clutch Pressure Control Solenoid Control Circuit Performance), which my authorized Subaru 802 Subaru retailer in Vermont has confirmed is caused by a defective CVT Control Valve Body. Subaru of America h…

One of 15 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Checking one particular 2020 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.

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Questions people ask about the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek

Does the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 15 of 69 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (22%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek.

Which Subaru Crosstrek years are better?

Among the Subaru Crosstrek years we track, the 2022 (13%), the 2023 (16%) and the 2019 (20%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (22%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2020 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.

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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.