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Subaru Crosstrek: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Subaru Crosstrek problems by model year, from 1,190 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2013 (63%, 15 drivetrain complaints), 2015 (42%, 38 drivetrain complaints) and 2014 (34%, 32 drivetrain complaints). 3 of the 11 Subaru Crosstrek years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2022 (13%), 2023 (16%) and 2019 (20%). 2022 and 2023 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2015 (42%) to 2016 (27%), down 15 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2019 drew the most drivetrain complaints (57 of 293 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Subaru Crosstrek year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Crosstrek | too few to score | – | 2 | 2 | – | 0 |
| 2013 Crosstrek | very high | 63% | 15 | 26 | 1/11 | 1 |
| 2014 Crosstrek | elevated | 34% | 32 | 107 | 3/11 | 1 |
| 2015 Crosstrek | high | 42% | 38 | 99 | 2/11 | 2 |
| 2016 Crosstrek | no elevated signal | 27% | 35 | 132 | 4/11 | 1 |
| 2017 Crosstrek | no elevated signal | 23% | 21 | 97 | 6/11 | 1 |
| 2018 Crosstrek | no elevated signal | 22% | 41 | 194 | 8/11 | 5 |
| 2019 Crosstrek | no elevated signal | 20% | 57 | 284 | 9/11 | 7 |
| 2020 Crosstrek | no elevated signal | 22% | 15 | 69 | 7/11 | 0 |
| 2021 Crosstrek | no elevated signal | 27% | 30 | 115 | 5/11 | 1 |
| 2022 Crosstrek | no elevated signal | 13% | 4 | 31 | 11/11 | 0 |
| 2023 Crosstrek | no elevated signal | 16% | 5 | 34 | 10/11 | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Subaru Crosstrek years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Subaru Crosstrek engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Subaru Crosstrek involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 12 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2019 | 19V744000 | engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv) | 2018 |
| Dec 2019 | 19V856000 | engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv) | 2019 |
| Nov 2023 | 23V755000 | power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch | 2021 |
9 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2015 | 15V366000 | forward collision avoidance: crash imminent braking | 2015 |
| Nov 2017 | 17V701000 | service brakes | 2018 |
| Feb 2019 | 19V065000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2019 |
| Feb 2019 | 19V149000 | exterior lighting: brake lights: switch | 2013–2017 |
| May 2019 | 19V404000 | visibility: glass, side/rear | 2019 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V743000 | electrical system: software | 2018–2019 |
| Mar 2020 | 20V189000 | seat belts: rear/other | 2019 |
| Apr 2021 | 21V263000 | suspension: rear | 2018–2019 |
| Apr 2021 | 21V264000 | electrical system: software | 2018–2019 |
What the free pages leave out on the Subaru Crosstrek
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Subaru Crosstrek
What are the worst years for the Subaru Crosstrek?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Subaru Crosstrek years are the 2013 (63% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2015 (42% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2014 (34% of relevant complaints, elevated). 3 of 11 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Subaru Crosstrek?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Subaru Crosstrek years are the 2022 (13%), the 2023 (16%) and the 2019 (20%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Subaru Crosstrek have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 11 scored years, 293 of 1,164 relevant NHTSA complaints (25%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Is the Subaru Crosstrek reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 3 of 11 Subaru Crosstrek years we score have an elevated complaint share and 8 do not. Pooled across those years, 25% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Subaru Crosstrek?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Subaru Crosstrek years we track, out of 12 in total: 19V744000 (Oct 2019, 2018), 19V856000 (Dec 2019, 2019), 23V755000 (Nov 2023, 2021). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.