The 2019 Crosstrek is generally reliable but suffers from CVT cooler/mount issues and the FB20's notorious oil consumption problem. Most examples will need CVT attention before 100k miles, and the PCV/oil consumption issue can lead to catastrophic failure if ignored.
CVT Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission overheating warnings on dash, Harsh shifting or shuddering during acceleration, CVT fluid leaking from cooler lines or radiator area, Limp mode activation on highway grades or hot weather
Fix: Replace external CVT cooler assembly and lines, flush system. 3-4 hours labor. Often coincides with needing new CVT fluid and filter. Some techs replace radiator if integrated cooler corroded internally.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Excessive Oil Consumption (FB20 Engine)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Low oil warning light between oil changes (burning 1qt per 1,000-1,500 mi), Blue smoke on cold starts or under load, Fouled spark plugs causing misfire codes, Carbon buildup on intake valves (direct injection related)
Fix: Root cause is piston ring design and PCV system. Subaru extended warranty covered some; now most out of warranty. Fix requires shortblock replacement (rings won't hold long-term). 16-20 hours labor for engine teardown, new shortblock, gaskets, fluids. Some owners band-aid with frequent oil top-ups until catastrophic failure.
Estimated cost: $4,500-6,500
Rear Transmission Mount Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive drivetrain vibration at idle in gear, Visible torn rubber or fluid leakage from rear mount, Transmission sag visible during inspection
Fix: Replace rear transmission mount (also called pitch stopper). OEM part recommended over aftermarket. 1.5-2 hours labor, requires lifting transmission slightly. Often done with CVT cooler service since you're already under there.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Timing Chain Tensioner Rattle (FB20)
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Rattling noise on cold start for 2-5 seconds, then disappears, Noise from front of engine, passenger side, Gets worse in cold weather or after sitting overnight, No check engine light initially, may develop timing codes if severe
Fix: Replace timing chain tensioner, guides, and chain as assembly. Chain stretch is rarely severe enough to cause timing issues but tensioner wear is real. 8-10 hours labor for front engine teardown. Do water pump and seals while in there. Earlier oil consumption makes this worse due to sludge.
Estimated cost: $1,800-2,800
Rear Suspension Clunking (Trailing Arm Bushings)
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from rear suspension, Loose or wandering feel in rear end during lane changes, Visible cracking or tearing on trailing arm bushings during inspection, Noise more pronounced with cargo weight
Fix: Replace rear trailing arm bushings, sometimes whole trailing arm if corroded (salt belt). 2-3 hours labor for both sides. Alignment required after. TSB for early models but 2019s still see this wear.
Estimated cost: $500-900
Infotainment System Freezing/Rebooting
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: Black screen on startup or random reboots while driving, Backup camera intermittent or frozen image, Bluetooth audio dropouts or won't pair, System unresponsive to touchscreen inputs
Fix: Software updates solve some cases; others need head unit replacement. Subaru issued multiple software TSBs. Dealer-only flash takes 1 hour. If hardware failure, 2-3 hours to replace unit and recalibrate cameras. Used to be warranty item, now often customer pay.
Estimated cost: $150-1,200
Owner tips
Check oil level every 1,000 miles religiously — the FB20 WILL burn oil, catch it before damage occurs
Change CVT fluid every 30k-40k miles with Subaru High Torque fluid, not generic CVT fluid — cuts cooler and shudder issues in half
Inspect rear transmission mount at every oil change after 50k miles — cheap insurance against bigger problems
Keep up with PCV valve cleaning (every 60k) to reduce oil consumption and carbon buildup on DI engines
If buying used, get pre-purchase inspection focused on oil consumption test and CVT condition — these are deal-breakers
Solid daily driver if oil consumption and CVT have been addressed; walk away if seller can't show frequent oil top-up records or CVT service history — you'll inherit a $5k+ repair bill.
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 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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