52 of the
368 complaints filed about the Subaru XV Crosstrek
are about the transmission —
14% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2013.
52
Complaints
14%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
I am filing a complaint regarding a major CVT transmission failure in my 2015 Subaru Crosstrek at approximately 117,318 miles. Prior to failure, there were no warning lights, dashboard messages, or significant indications of impending transmission failure. The only noticeable symptom was a slight whistling noise coming from the vehicle shortly before the transmission issue became severe. The sudden nature of the failure created a safety concern because the vehicle’s ability to accelerate and respond reliably while driving was compromised without meaningful warning. A sudden loss of reliable transmission function creates potential risk when merging, accelerating, or operating in traffic. The issue has been confirmed by a Subaru dealership, which quoted approximately $10,000 for transmission replacement. Subaru of America was contacted directly and declined assistance despite known widespread CVT issues in Subaru vehicles of this generation and prior warranty extensions issued for CVT-related problems. The vehicle has not been modified or involved in any collision related to this failure. The failed transmission/component is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle has been inspected by a Subaru dealership service department. I believe this transmission failure reflects a broader pattern of premature CVT failures affecting 2013–2015 Subaru Crosstrek vehicles and warrants further investigation due to the safety implications and financial burden placed on consumers after sudden drivetrain failure without warning.
NHTSA complaint #11737827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have been working with Subaru of America and Capital Subaru service in San Jose, CA for a 2013 Subaru Crosstrek XV 2.0 CVT automatic engine shortly after we bought it used for multiple faulty known engine problems with this specific make and model. Since we have owned the vehicle, we have not been able to drive it for more than 2 months short distance at a time due to engine, Valve body, major low oil pressure problems, and multiple sensor issues. This vehicle has been very dangerous for us to drive and has left us stranded not to mention paying the bank we financed payments to for a car we have been unable to use since purchasing. Subaru of America and Capital Subaru in San Jose have been awful, insensitive, and unhuman to our concerns and needs. We had to call them several times and were repeatedly ignore both parties for several days without any answers or any solutions. We have spent many sleepless nights worrying about not having a vehicle to get to work and my daughter who drove the car when she could in Nursing school with the burden of having no transportation and all the stress and worrying. There is a long history of defected engines because of the poor way these were built for our specific year, and we were told repeatedly that it was the lack of maintenance from the previous owner being the cause of the issues when that in fact is a lie as we have several maintenance records routinely. I will never buy or recommend these defected and lemon cars again especially when it involves the safety of your life! Having to tow to and from our home to the dealership service parts was a big waste of time and a joke just to hear, "We are sorry but nothing is covered and your liable for the diagnostic and fixing for your car that will be $5,800 which our car was only worth $5,600 through Kelly blue book and we still owe a remainder of $9,000 to the financing bank.
NHTSA complaint #11730251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The recall Type: Safety Service Campaign:WTY84 NHTSA Campaign: 18V772000 FB20 Valve Spring Replacement was reported completed by the manufacturer Subaru has no record of it being done. My car is now experiencing symptoms of this recall when I had no issues prior and want me to pay to look into the problem further. Now my vehicle has a check engine light for a recall that was potentially not done as I have no proof that it was completed.
NHTSA complaint #11620686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Several components' issues and scheduled to take back to Subaru dealer on 12/16/2022. Several times after parking car and getting back in, when shifting to 1st gear to take off, the car goes in reverse instead of forward. Rear backup camera sporadically works. Tire pressure light came on and won't turn off. Front end shakes when braking dealer said it was new brakes, but still happening. Front passenger seat belt locked and will not release, no one can sit in front seat. After purchasing the car, and having so many issues, checked the fluid and there was not a drop of oil on the dipstick. Nothing but problems with car from the date of purchase.
NHTSA complaint #11497332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Transmission failure while driving on highway caused it to suddenly stalled. On restarting engine, car kept jerking and stopping, became undrivable. Only 46,700 miles on the clock. No warning lights, no warning of any kind. Subaru issued 10 year extended warranty covering transmission on this car but should have recalled and replaced since failure is catastrophic and dangerous. I took my car to Subaru dealer and they found low transmission fluid. Instead of inspecting the seals, they blamed the problem on oil change by an independent garage, accusing them of erroneously drained out transmission fluid before the car broke down.
NHTSA complaint #11466318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Driving at night on interstate approximately 70 mph using adaptive cruise control. Suddenly engine revs higher and car slows down. Cruise control deactivates. Applying gas cause the engine to rev but car continues to slows down. Pulled to side of interstate. Infotainment system screen flashes to black then back on. Turned car off and back on again and behaved normally. Was able to continue driving with no issues. This same sequence of events also happened approximately one year ago. So this is the second occurrence. The first time I knew I had a bad O2 sensor so thought it may be related to that but the sensor has now been replaced and the same issue has reoccurred.
NHTSA complaint #11444668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The clutch throw out bearing and clutch needs to be replaced at 54,000 miles because of failure. This is a $2000 repair! This is a KNOWN issue, why isn’t this a recall?
NHTSA complaint #11441458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have owned this vehicle since 2018 and at random times on the highway the engine will lose power and the car will drift to a halt. No warning signs beforehand and this has happened at various stages of highway drives. Pressing the accelerator will only cause the car to slow more. After each time I have had it towed to the nearest Subaru dealership and they cannot find any issues. I have read several other complaints on here describing the issue perfectly. It seems either Subaru cannot figure out whats wrong or simply doesn't care. I have been very lucky to have gotten to safety each time this has happened but I feel serious harm can be caused by this problem. My vehicle has been inspected by several different Subaru dealerships and I get the same runaround every time. The service reps cannot find anything wrong with the engine and no codes come up when they plug it in. Subaru needs to figure this out as there is clear documentation here that this is a large problem. This has forced me to sell what otherwise would be a good car and find something else.
NHTSA complaint #11441045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On June 11, 2021, my wife and I were driving our 2014 Subaru Crosstrek (120,000 miles) from Milwaukee to Manitowish Waters, WI. About 20 miles north of Milwaukee on I-41 Northbound, my wife was driving at 70 mph when suddenly we both noticed a strong lurching from the CVT transmission. This was followed a few seconds later by a complete lockup of all four wheels on our car. Fortunately this did not happen in the left lane or we would've been in a terrible accident. My wife managed to steer the skidding car onto the highway shoulder until it came to a rest. The engine was still running. The transmission was completely dead. We called a towing company to tow the car to Sommers Subaru in Mequon WI. They diagnosed the problem as sudden catastrophic transmission failure and told us that the 2014 Crosstrek had tons of problems with the CVT. We told the service department that we could have been seriously injured or killed had my wife not been driving in the right lane of the interstate. We paid $7,800 for a remanufactured CVT as the power train was out of warranty. I have seen one other report of catastrophic CVT failure on your website involving a 2014 Crosstrek (Danbury CT). I'm sure there are others out in the world who have also suffered this, and God knows how many may have resulted in accidents with injuries or death. Perhaps they did not know to contact NHTSA with their experiences. I pray that you will initiate an investigation into this issue and force Subaru USA to issue a recall on their 2014 Crosstreks to replace the transmissions that are the source of these frightening incidents. Thank you.
NHTSA complaint #11427890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED 2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK I AM 2ND OWNER, I NEVER SEE ANY PROBLEM FOR ENGINE LIGHT CHECK AND END UP CONTROL CURISE BLINKING AND SUBARU WILL NOT PROVIDED ANY RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUE IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVING THEY SAID ONLY WILL WARRANTY UNDER 100K THAT UNFAIR THIS NOT SAFE CAR AND SO MANY COMMON ISSUE TRANSMISSION ON SUBARU. IT'S FIRST MAKE 2013 ON CROSSTREK HOW IT'S EXPECT UNDER 100K MILES... SHOULD RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION FIX
NHTSA complaint #11415955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I NOTICED THAT WHEN GOT TO ACCELERATE FROM STOPING THAT CAR WON'T GO. WHEN I HIT THE GAS THE VEHICLE MOVES ONLY A LITTLE AND IF I PUSH MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATION PEDDLE HARDER AND ALL THE WAY DOWN THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY SLOWS DOWN. IT HAPPENED THIS MORNING ON CITY STREET ROADS NOT GOING ANY FASTER THAN 45MPH. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO GO AGAIN IS TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDDLE AND RE PLACING IT AND IT THEN WILL GO BACK TO ACCELERATE AS IT SHOULD WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDDLE. I HAVE GOTTEN IT LOOKED AT SUBURU DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED TO ME TWICE THIS MORNING. ONCE WHEN TURNING OFF MY STREET TAKING A RIGHT TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO 25MPH AND THEN ANOTHER WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AFTER A STOP LIGHT ON A 45 MPH ROAD. I WILL BE REPORTING IT FROM NOW ON EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE, IT COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THANK GOODNESS NO ONE WAS RIGHT BEHIND AT THOSE MOMENTS WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE.
NHTSA complaint #11415374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SINCE I BOUGHT THIS 2015 CROSSTREK IN 2015 THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE I HAVE PULLED OUT AND THE VEHICLE PAUSES. LIKE THERE IS NO POWER OR IT IS TAKING A BREATH. NO MATTER THE PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR IT DOES NOT GO. THEN LIKE A GASP IT STARTS TO PICK UP SPEED. DOES NOT SHUT OFF BUT ZERO POWER. IT HAPPENS REGARDLESS THE WEATHER, LENGTH OF TIME CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING. IT HAS CAUSED ME A NARROW MISS BEFORE BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET INTO MY LANE. I WAS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FROM A SLOW SPEED MOST TIMES. ONCE IT HAPPENED WHILE IN TRAFFIC DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #11413092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HILL DESCENT, SWAY CONTROL, ABS LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME ON THE WAY TO WORK, I WAS COMING OF AN EXIT. I HAD THE CODES CHECKED AND NOTHING WAS SHOWING. OVER A MONTH LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TEMP LIGHTS CAME ON MY TO WORK. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED AROUND AND PARKED MY CAR. TRANS TEMP LIGHT WAS BLINKING. A FEW DAYS LATER I HAD IT TAKEN TO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. I PAID FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE RESULT WAS A $1600 BILL FOR A VALVE BODY KIT, TRANS COVER GASKET, O-RING, TRANS BODY WIRING HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #11407085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 135,961 MILES, JUST 5 MONTHS AFTER PULLING THE CAR OFF A USED LOT. ALL DASH LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED, VEHICLE ENCOUNTERS LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER. I ATTEMPT TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND LIGHTS RETURN TO NORMAL, AND I ATTEMPT TO MAKE MY WAY HOME. LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED ONCE AGAIN, BUT I DO NOT HAVE LOSS OF ACCELERATION THIS TIME. TAKE IT TO BE SERVICED, LH FRONT AXLE FAILED, NEEDS REPLACED, ENGINE BLOCK HAS CONSIDERABLE OIL LEAK, VALVE BODY REPLACEMENT REQUIRED (COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THANK GOODNESS). 4 MONTHS LATER AFTER CAR SEEMS TO BE IN REPAIRED AND WORKING ORDER, THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN, THIS TIME THE RH FRONT AXLE IS REPLACED, ALTHOUGH NO ENGINE LEAK, THE SERVICE TECH IS NO LETTING ME KNOW THAT ON THEIR TEST DRIVE AFTER THEY REPLACED THE AXLE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WILL NOW NEED TO BE REPLACED. I CAN NOT AFFORD THE CVT REPLACEMENT AT $8000 FIX. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AS I ATTEMPT TO FIND MONEY FOR THE REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #11399299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2015 CROSSTREK. WAS DRIVING ON I476 IN PA ON A 35 DEGREE SUNNY DAY ON 2/6/2021 FOR ABOUT 3-5 MILES AT STEADY SPEED OF 65 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR BUMPED (ALTHOUGH NOTHING WAS IN THE ROAD/NO POTHOLE) WITH A LOUD NOISE (NOTHING FLEW OFF CAR) AND ABRUPTLY SLOWED TO A CRAWL EVEN WITH FOOT STILL ON THE GAS. LUCKILY WE WERE IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE WITH AN OPEN SHOULDER TO SWERVE INTO OTHERWISE THE PERSON BEHIND US LIKELY WOULD HAVE SLAMMED INTO US (SEEING AS NO BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD HAVE GONE ON SINCE FOOT WAS ON THE GAS). TIRES, UNDERBELLY AND UNDER HOOD LOOKED FINE. 76K MILES. NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR WHATSOEVER OTHER THAN REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED DUE TO AGE A FEW MONTHS PRIOR. OTHERWISE JUST MAINTENANCE PER THE MAINTENANCE AND WARRANTY MANUAL. NO ISSUES OR INDICATIONS OF ANY PROBLEM LEADING UP TO IT AND JUST HAD THE SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED JUST DUE TO AGE (PRECAUTIONARY) THE DAY PRIOR. HAD MECHANIC GENERALLY INSPECT CAR THE DAY BEFORE WHEN BELT WAS BEING CHANGED BECAUSE PLANNED TO DRIVE TO NC THE END OF THAT WEEK. CALLED AAA WHO (AFTER 2 HR WAIT) TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. OUR MECHANIC SPOKE TO CONCORDVILLE SUBARU (MELISSA B.) AND WE HAD IT TOWED THERE. WERE TOLD BY CONCORDVILLE, 'TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. THE GEARS JAMMED IN THE TRANSMISSION AND SOME BROKE AND THERE WAS SOME COLLATERAL DAMAGE. THE WARRANTY IS EXTENDED SO IT SHOULD BE COVERED AND I'LL WORK WITH THE SUBARU INSPECTOR TO HAVE THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE COVERED.' THE NEXT DAY WHEN THEY WERE TOLD BY US THAT WE HAD THE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID CHANGED (PER SUBARU MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE) THEY SAID IT'S PROBABLY A DIFFERENTIAL ISSUE SO WON'T BE COVERED AND IF WE WANT TO SEE IF THERE IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE IT IS $1000 ALL IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND $8K FOR A TRANSMISSION REBUILD IF IT'S NOT COVERED 'AND I DOUBT THE INSPECTOR WILL APPROVE MORE THAN 25% BEING COVERED.' (MELISSA B.) (VIA EMAIL)
NHTSA complaint #11396151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2015 CROSSTREK XR - CONCURRENT WITH COMPLAINT #11396151 AS A SUBARU OWNER WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAFETY ISSUE EXPRESSED IN THE ABOVE-REFERENCED COMPLAINT, I AM ALSO AN ATTORNEY WITH MASS TORT (DEFENSE) EXPERIENCE, AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW: 1) WHY A SAFETY RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED WHEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME FAILURE AND MANIFESTING RESULTS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED WITH THE NHTSA, AS THEY APPEAR TO MEET THE ELEMENTS FOR A RECALL SET FORTH IN NHTSA PUBLICATIONS.; 2) IF THE NHTSA GAVE SUBARU A 'PASS' BY NOT ISSUING A RECALL BECAUSE PERHAPS (?) SUBARU COUNTERED WITH BUT FOR THE GOV'S MODEL FEDERAL FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS HAVING GONE INTO EFFECT IN 2012 IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEGUN EQUIPPING ITS VEHICLES WITH CVTS TO MEET THOSE FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS. I.E., DID SUBARU CLAIM OR DID THE NHTSA BELIEVE THAT THE USE OF CVTS WAS URGED BY THE NHTSA, AND APPROVED BY THE NHTSA, AND THEREFORE THE NHTSA IS PARTLY RESPONSIBLE/LIABLE FOR ANY SAFETY ISSUES AND OCCURRENCES, AND PERHAPS CHOSE TO OVERLOOK THE SAFETY CONCERNS? (NOT SAYING THIS IS THE CASE- I'M ASKING IF IT IS THE CASE.) 3) WERE THERE ACCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, AND DID ANY OF THOSE CAUSE INJURIES OR DEATHS HAVE RESULTED FROM SUCH ISSUES THAT WERE NOT REPORTED TO THE NHTSA. (CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY THAT WHEN ONE SEES A MANGLED VEHICLE THEY USUALLY DO NOT THINK, 'LET'S TAKE APART THE TRANSMISSION TO SEE IF IT FAILED' AS WELL AS CONSIDERING THAT THE LETTER OWNERS RECEIVED FROM SUBARU SAID THE WARRANTY WAS BEING EXTENDED FOR 'CUSTOMER SATISFACTION' AND THAT THERE WERE 'NO SAFETY CONCERNS' LEADING PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THERE WERE, IN FACT, NO SAFETY CONCERNS (DESPITE COMPLAINTS SHOWING ON THIS NTHSA COMPLAINT SITE?) 4) TO WHAT EXTENT HAS NTHSA INVESTIGATED THESE INCIDENTS? (OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES ABRUPTLY STOPPING VEHICLES IN THE MIDDLE OF EXPRESSWAYS AT 60-80 MPH? THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #11396153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE, ALWAYS COMPLETE ROUTINE MAINTNENCE AND AS I WAS ON A TRIP, ALL OF MY LIGHTS CAME ON. I FLUSHED TRANSMISSION AND THEY CAME BACK ON. I HAVE RESEARCHED MY ISSUE AND IT IS COMMON WITH THIS YEAR. SUBARU EVEN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH THESE YEARS, YET HAS RECALLED ANY OF THE PARTS RELATED TO THE CVT TRANSMISSION. I HAD NO ISSUES, NO WARNING, WAS JUST DRIVING AND EVERYTHING CAME ON.
NHTSA complaint #11387829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY KEY NOT BEING RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION ONCE THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE CAUSED BY THE SHIFTER PLATE GUIDE NOT BEING INSTALLED CORRECTLY AT THE FACTORY ON MY VEHICLE MODEL AND CAN COST ANYWHERE FROM $350-$450 TO REPAIR AT A DEALER. AS THIS IS A KNOWN FACTORY ISSUE I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL BY SUBARU. IT IS NOT ANYTHING THAT I AS AN OWNER COULD PREVENT THROUGH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THIS COULD LEAD TO SAFETY ISSUES AS THE SHIFTER PLATE CONTINUES TO WEAR DUE TO INCORRECT INSTALLATION. THE ISSUE BEGAN IN JUNE 2020.
NHTSA complaint #11374925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.