The 2019-2024 Crosstrek with the 2.5L FB25 engine is generally reliable, but early 2019-2020 models suffer from a catastrophic piston/ringland failure issue that can grenade the engine. Later models are better, though CVT cooler leaks and typical Subaru head gasket seepage still appear.
Symptoms: Sudden loss of compression, Metallic knocking or rattling at cold start, White or blue smoke from exhaust, Check engine light with misfire codes (P0301-P0304), Catastrophic engine failure without warning
Fix: Complete engine rebuild or short block replacement. TSB exists but Subaru coverage is inconsistent after warranty. Expect 16-20 labor hours for short block swap, more if internal damage requires full teardown. Some shops just do used engine swaps to save cost.
Estimated cost: $6,000-9,500
CVT Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Red fluid pooling under vehicle, Transmission temperature warning light, Burnt transmission fluid smell, Hesitation or slipping in Drive
Fix: Replace cooler lines and related seals. Often the crimped fittings corrode or crack. 2-3 labor hours including fluid refill and system purge. Catch it early before CVT runs low on fluid.
Estimated cost: $400-750
CVT Judder / Shudder on Light Acceleration
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Vibration or shudder between 20-40 mph under light throttle, Feels like driving over rumble strips, Worse when transmission is cold, No check engine light initially
Fix: TSB calls for CVT fluid exchange with updated Subaru High Torque fluid and software update. If that doesn't fix it, valve body or torque converter replacement (8-12 hours). Many owners report temporary relief from fluid change only.
Estimated cost: $200-3,500
Head Gasket Seepage (Oil Side)
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Oil residue visible on lower engine block, Slight oil smell after driving, Slow oil consumption (not severe), No coolant mixing (internal leak is rare on FB25)
Fix: External seepage is cosmetic until it gets bad. Full head gasket job requires engine removal on Crosstrek due to packaging. 14-18 labor hours. Most owners live with minor seepage and top off oil. If you're doing it, resurface heads and replace timing components while you're in there.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,200
Rear Differential Pinion Seal Leak
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Gear oil dripping from rear diff area, Greasy buildup on differential housing, Whining noise from rear on acceleration if fluid gets low
Fix: Replace pinion seal and check for bearing wear. If caught early, 2-3 hours labor. If bearing is damaged from running low on fluid, full diff overhaul (6-8 hours).
Estimated cost: $350-600
Fuel Filter Clogging (In-Tank)
Rare · medium severity
Symptoms: Rough idle or stalling, Loss of power under load, Hard starting, Check engine light with fuel trim codes
Fix: Subaru considers fuel filter 'lifetime' but contaminated fuel or tank rust can clog it. Requires fuel pump module removal. 2-3 hours labor. Not a scheduled maintenance item but fails if tank sits or bad fuel is used.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk when shifting into Drive or Reverse, Excessive vibration at idle in gear, Visible sagging or torn rubber on mount
Fix: Replace transmission mount and pitch stop mount as a pair. 1.5-2 hours labor. Rubber degrades faster if you live in hot climates or do a lot of city driving.
Estimated cost: $300-500
Owner tips
Change CVT fluid every 30,000-40,000 miles with Subaru High Torque CVT fluid, not generic. This platform is sensitive to fluid condition.
If buying a 2019-2020 model, get a pre-purchase compression test and leakdown test to catch early piston failure. Look for TSB history in service records.
Monitor oil level every 1,000 miles. FB25 can burn oil even when healthy; 1 qt per 3,000 mi is considered 'normal' by Subaru but watch for sudden increases.
Inspect rear differential fluid at every oil change if you drive in snow or off-road. Pinion seal leaks are slow but will trash the diff if ignored.
Buy a 2021+ with service records and avoid early 2019-2020 models unless the engine has already been replaced under warranty.
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.
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Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
Consequence: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power while driving or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRP-23.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH · 23V755000
2023-11-09
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
Consequence: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek and Impreza vehicles. Due to insufficient clearance, the instrument panel harness may contact the steering beam bracket, damaging the wire insulation and causing a short circuit.
Consequence: A short circuit may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the harness and install an additional clamp on the steering beam bracket. If damage is found, dealers will add protective tape or replace the instrument panel harness, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 3, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRL-23.
SUSPENSION:REAR · 21V263000
2021-04-15
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.
Consequence: Missing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will retorque and replace any missing bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-21.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · 21V264000
2021-04-15
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 engine is shut off, causing a short circuit.
Consequence: A short circuit in the ignition coils may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECM software, replace the ignition coils and, if necessary, the front exhaust pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 1, 2021. Owners can contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-21. Note: This recall includes all vehicles previously repaired under Recall 19V743.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER · 20V189000
2020-03-31
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 not lock as intended.
Consequence: In the event of a crash involving multiple impacts, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. The began April 15, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRC-20.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV) · 19V856000
2019-12-02
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.
Consequence: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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. The recall began January 31, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUW-08.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · 19V743000
2019-10-18
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 shut off, which could result in a short circuit and blown fuse.
Consequence: If a short circuit occurs while driving, the vehicle may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECM software and inspect and replace the ignition coil, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, on vehicles with confirmed ignition coil damage and a certain stored diagnostic trouble code (DTC), Subaru will replace the front exhaust pipe, free of charge. The recall began December 4, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUQ-02.
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR · 19V404000
2019-05-30
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 requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 205, "Glazing Materials."
Consequence: Improperly tempered glass can shatter into large pieces, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side rear-door window glass, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUG-92.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · 19V065000
2019-02-06
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 electric power steering assistance.
Consequence: Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: None of the affected vehicles have been sold yet. Subaru has notified dealers and they will inspect the steering gearbox, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUC-88.
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