The 2018-2024 Crosstrek Hybrid (2.0L boxer + electric motor PHEV) shares the infamous FB20 engine weaknesses but adds hybrid-specific electrical and CVT cooling issues. Expect oil consumption, head gasket seepage, and transmission cooler failures—some catastrophic if ignored.
Excessive Oil Consumption / Piston Ring Failure (FB20 Engine)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Blue smoke on cold start or deceleration, Frequent low-oil warnings between changes (1+ qt per 1,000 mi), Carbon buildup causing misfires or rough idle, Eventually: knocking, loss of compression
Fix: Subaru's short-block warranty extended to 10yr/100k on some VINs, but post-warranty you're looking at piston ring replacement (12-16 hours) or short-block swap (16-20 hours). Rings alone often aren't enough if cylinder scoring exists.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure / CVT Overheating
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: CVT fluid in coolant or coolant in CVT (strawberry milkshake in reservoir), Transmission slipping, shuddering, or delayed engagement, Overheating warnings on display, Hybrid system derating power to protect drivetrain
Fix: Internal cooler in radiator corrodes, cross-contaminating fluids. Requires radiator replacement, CVT fluid flush (sometimes full CVT if contamination is severe), coolant system flush. 6-10 hours labor if caught early; 25+ hours if CVT internals damaged.
Symptoms: Coolant odor from engine bay, visible weeping at block/head junction, Slow coolant loss without obvious external leaks elsewhere, No mixing with oil (internal failure less common on FB20 vs. older EJ engines), White crusty residue on block sides
Fix: FB20 head gaskets fail externally more than internally, but it's still a boxer—15-18 hours labor to pull heads, resurface if needed, replace gaskets and timing components. Hybrid adds complexity accessing engine mounts.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,200
12V Battery Drain / Auxiliary Battery Failure
Common · medium severity
Symptoms: Dead battery after 2-3 days of sitting, even when new, Hybrid system won't initialize, dashboard lit like Christmas, Parasitic draw from hybrid control modules or DC-DC converter, Battery tests good but car won't start reliably
Fix: The 12V system powers hybrid computers; if battery is weak (typical lifespan 3-5 years in hybrids), the DC-DC converter or a module can cause parasitic drain. Diagnosis requires measuring draw (0.5-2 hours), replacing battery ($200-300 parts), or tracing to faulty module (2-4 hours).
Estimated cost: $350-900
Engine Rebuild / Catastrophic Bearing Failure
Rare · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Rod knock at idle or under load (metallic clacking), Oil pressure warning light, Metal shavings in oil, glitter on drain plug, Sudden loss of power, engine won't restart
Fix: Usually follows ignored oil consumption or oil starvation. Rod bearings or main bearings spin. Requires full teardown: crankshaft grind/replace, new bearings, possibly pistons if cylinders scored. 20-30 hours labor. Often cheaper to source used engine (8-12 hours swap).
Hybrid Battery Cooling System / Inverter Overheating
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Hybrid system warning light, reduced EV range, Power derate in hot weather or under load, Error codes for inverter temperature, Electric motor won't engage or cuts out
Fix: Coolant passages in hybrid battery pack or inverter clog or leak; coolant pump for hybrid system can fail. Requires hybrid system scan tool, coolant system service, sometimes inverter coolant pump replacement (3-5 hours). Battery pack removal if internal leak suspected (8+ hours).
Estimated cost: $800-2,500
Owner tips
Check oil level every 500 miles religiously—this engine drinks oil even when 'healthy'; top off before it drops below halfway.
Change CVT fluid every 30k miles (not 'lifetime'), especially if towing or in hot climates; hybrid regen braking adds heat.
Inspect coolant reservoir monthly for milky/oily fluid (sign of trans cooler failure)—catching early saves $5k.
Replace 12V battery proactively at 4 years; weak battery stresses hybrid electronics and causes bizarre faults.
Use 0W-20 synthetic religiously; this engine runs tight tolerances and heat from hybrid system compounds oil breakdown.
Buy only if under powertrain warranty or you've confirmed prior short-block replacement and have records of religious oil monitoring—too many $5k+ landmines otherwise.
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY · 23V080000
2023-02-14
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Crosstrek Hybrid vehicles. The harness terminal that supplies low-voltage power from the converter to the 12-Volt battery may corrode and break, preventing the 12-Volt battery from charging.
Consequence: A 12-Volt battery that is unable to recharge can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the converter terminal mounting bracket. If corrosion is found on the terminals, the 12-Volt output harness and terminals will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 12, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV) · 19V744000
2019-10-17
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Impreza and 2018 Crosstrek vehicles equipped with an aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve. The PCV valve may come apart, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, possibly 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, if necessary, replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began December 2, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUP-01.
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.
SERVICE BRAKES · 17V701000
2017-11-07
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Crosstrek vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with an incorrect floor mat retention bracket, allowing the floor mat to move out of position and interfere with the accelerator or brake pedal operation.
Consequence: If the floor mat moves out of position and interferes with the accelerator or brake pedal operation, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the floor mat retention bracket and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTR-77.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.