The 2014 Crosstrek with the FB20 2.0L engine is generally reliable transport, but suffers from Subaru's ongoing head gasket oil seepage issue and a concerning pattern of catastrophic engine failure due to piston ring land fracture and excessive oil consumption—problems that plagued this generation of naturally-aspirated boxer engines.
Excessive Oil Consumption / Piston Ring Land Failure
Common · high severityTypical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Burning more than 1 quart per 1,000 miles, Blue smoke on cold start or acceleration, Check engine light with misfire codes, Catastrophic knock from oil starvation if neglected
Fix: This is the FB20's Achilles heel—piston ring lands crack, rings lose tension, oil gets past into combustion chamber. Fix requires complete shortblock replacement or engine rebuild with updated pistons and rings. 18-24 labor hours for R&R and shortblock swap at indie shop.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500
External Head Gasket Oil Weepage
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Oil seepage visible at head/block mating surface, Slight burnt oil smell from exhaust heat, Low oil level without obvious leaks elsewhere, Does NOT typically cause coolant mixing or overheating in these
Fix: Classic Subaru external head gasket weep—not the coolant failure of older EJ motors, but annoying oil seepage. Both heads need to come off. Do timing components, water pump, and all seals while in there. 12-16 labor hours plus parts.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,500
CVT Transmission Cooler Line Leaks
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Reddish ATF puddle under front of vehicle, Transmission temp warning light if fluid gets very low, Leak typically at crimp fittings or cooler itself
Fix: The CVT cooler lines or the cooler unit itself develop leaks where crimped fittings corrode or fail. Replace cooler lines as a pair, sometimes cooler too. Flush CVT fluid while you're in there. 2-3 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $400-800
Transmission Mount Deterioration
Common · low severityTypical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive drivetrain clunk on takeoff or shifts, Vibration at idle in gear, Visible torn rubber or separation on rear trans mount
Fix: Rear transmission mount especially takes a beating. Rubber deteriorates, allows excessive powertrain movement. Replace the rear mount at minimum, inspect front pitch mount too. 1.5-2 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Brake Light Switch Failure (NHTSA Recall)
Occasional · medium severitySymptoms: Brake lights stay on continuously, Push-button start disabled, Shift lock won't release from Park, Cruise control inoperative
Fix: Covered under recall 14V-701, but if not completed, the brake light switch fails internally and causes multiple system issues since so many things interlock with brake application. Replacement takes 0.5 labor hours, switch clips into pedal bracket. Check recall status before paying for repair.
Estimated cost: $150-250
Wheel Bearing Noise (Front)
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Growling or humming that changes with speed, Noise louder in turns (loaded bearing), Sometimes accompanied by ABS/VDC warning lights
Fix: Front wheel bearing assemblies wear from water intrusion and AWD stress. Pressed-in hub bearing requires hub removal and press work. 2-2.5 labor hours per side.
Estimated cost: $350-550
Solid practical AWD wagon if oil consumption hasn't destroyed the engine yet—budget $1,500-2,000 for deferred maintenance and pray the shortblock is still good; avoid any burning oil or smoking.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.