This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
View on NHTSA →2019 Subaru Crosstrek powertrain problems
severe 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
2crashes
1fire
1injury
What stands out
Of the 7 model years of Subaru Crosstrek we track for powertrain problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 23.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Powertrain Warranty coverage for the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) on the above listed models and model years from the original five (5) years o
View on NHTSA →This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.
View on NHTSA →This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which enhancement was implemented to prevent abnormal operations. The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
View on NHTSA →This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body. The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
View on NHTSA →Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2019 Crosstrek powertrain shows a pattern of engine control, transmission, and safety-critical system failures. Engine control module (ECM) defects appear early and persist: one owner made five separate dealership visits across multiple locations for recurring clunking, rough idle, stalling, and acceleration problems, despite multiple ECM reprogramming attempts and ignition coil replacements. Diagnostic codes P0011, C1424, and C1422 appeared repeatedly but dealerships refused to cover repairs.
Transmission failures run the spectrum from intermittent loss of power and hesitation (reported by multiple owners, with dealerships unable to diagnose) to complete CVT shutdown requiring full replacement. One vehicle entered neutral at 75 mph on the highway. Another rolled backward 25 feet while parked and shifted off, striking two vehicles.
Safety-critical events include a coil pack fire post-recall service, sudden acceleration with simultaneous brake failure into a garage, and engine stalling mid-drive with all warning lights illuminating. Fuel economy degradation with visible engine debris and electrical system lockups also appear in the complaint set. Parking brake retention failures and gear indicator light blackouts compound the picture. One rear differential failed catastrophically at 106,500 miles despite dealer-only service history.
Most concerning: owners report dealerships unable or unwilling to identify root causes for intermittent issues, and Subaru corporate documented some problems as "normal operation and safe to drive."
Same Subaru Crosstrek powertrain reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
ECM/ignition coil defects with engine control issues
Recurring engine control module and ignition coil failures causing clunking, rattling, rough idle, stalling, and difficulty accelerating. Owner reports 5 ECM flashes, 3-4 sets of ignition coil replacements across five different dealerships over 2+ years with no permanent fix.
When: Early in ownership; recurring throughout vehicle life
Symptoms owners cite: clunking noise; rattling; rough idling; difficulty accelerating; complete stalling in hot temperatures or at idle
Codes mentioned: P0011, C1424, C1422
Repairs/costs cited: $750 spent; multiple ECM flashes, multiple ignition coil replacements attempted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple Subaru Technical Service Bulletins exist for ECM and these codes; dealerships refused assistance citing defective design as non-warranty
Intermittent loss of power/acceleration hesitation
Multiple owners report random power failures, hesitation, and delayed acceleration response. Problem is intermittent and difficult for dealerships to diagnose. Occurs during normal driving, freeway speeds, and around town. Some instances involve complete non-response to accelerator input.
When: Throughout ownership; increasingly frequent for some owners
Symptoms owners cite: hesitation on acceleration; delayed acceleration response; stuttering acceleration; non-response to full pedal input; loss of motive power; sluggish acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships unable to replicate; Subaru Techline deemed similar issue 'normal operation and safe to drive' despite documented occurrences
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru Techline opened investigation on one case, concluded it was software-related and safe; no fix provided
CVT transmission failure
CVT transmission fails mid-drive, vehicle loses motive power, enters neutral unexpectedly, and may not shift properly. One case involved vehicle entering neutral at 75 mph highway speed, then not engaging reverse. Another case involved complete transmission failure requiring full replacement.
When: Occurs at various mileages: 74,000 miles mentioned; some earlier failures noted
Symptoms owners cite: loss of motive power; vehicle enters neutral unexpectedly; transmission will not shift into reverse; transmission shifts to park and revs to high RPM; shaking and shuddering at 40 mph; cracking sounds from transmission
Repairs/costs cited: Full CVT replacement required in at least one case; four-week wait for new transmission reported; one owner left with ~$5,000 repair cost after $3,000 Subaru reimbursement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: New transmissions offered with 100,000-mile warranty rather than addressing root defect
Engine stalling and shutdown mid-drive
Engine suddenly shuts off while vehicle is in motion, creating immobile or nearly immobile situations. One case involved engine stalling at a traffic light; another while slowing to a stop on an exit ramp. All warning lights illuminate during events.
When: Unpredictable; can occur at low and high speeds
Symptoms owners cite: sudden engine shutdown; complete loss of power; all dashboard warning lights illuminate; vehicle becomes immobile; message to shift to park
Repairs/costs cited: Restart required to resume operation
Parking brake/transmission retention failure
Vehicle rolls or shifts unexpectedly when parked and engine off. One vehicle rolled backwards 25 feet and struck two parked cars while unoccupied. Another incident involved vehicle rolling backward in park while engine was off and key removed. One case involved vehicle beginning to reverse when not in park despite owner belief it was parked.
When: Occurs when vehicle is parked
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle rolls backward while parked and off; transmission does not hold in park; vehicle shifts unexpectedly without driver input
Repairs/costs cited: Owner applied emergency brake as precaution; vehicle not yet inspected by dealer
Ignition coil fire hazard
After dealership completed WRE21 recall service, ignition coil pack caught fire on driver side cylinder bank. Fire was visible from hood and required Fire Department response to extinguish. Vehicle rendered inoperable and smoke damaged.
When: Less than 4 miles after recall service at dealership
Symptoms owners cite: coil pack on fire; smoke coming from hood; vehicle inoperable
Repairs/costs cited: Fire Department extinguished fire; vehicle rendered inoperable
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: WRE21 recall work completed by dealership immediately prior to failure
Sudden acceleration with brake failure
Vehicle suddenly accelerated while pulling into garage. Brake system failed simultaneously, preventing driver from stopping vehicle. Driver crashed into garage. Eyesight, ABS, and VDC systems all failed during event.
When: During normal garage entry
Symptoms owners cite: sudden uncontrolled acceleration; brake system failure; loss of Eyesight system function; loss of ABS function; loss of Vehicle Dynamic Control function
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru claims vehicle operating as intended
Fuel economy degradation with engine debris
At around 2,000 miles, dramatic fuel economy drop observed. Owner documented metal particles in engine oil and significant engine power loss. Fuel economy dropped from 460-480 miles per tank to 360-380 miles per tank (approximately 50 MPG to 22-33 MPG). Dealership fuel system testing found no issues.
When: Beginning around 2,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: drastic reduction in fuel economy; metal particles visible in engine oil; significant drop in engine power; debris in engine
Repairs/costs cited: Owner documented via photos and tripometer; dealership fuel system testing inconclusive
Excessive oil level at delivery
Dealership noted excessively high oil level in engine during second service visit for engine stutter/misfire problems. Owner had only visited dealership since purchase for oil work, indicating dealer-caused overfill issue.
When: Discovered during early service visit (within first months of ownership)
Symptoms owners cite: engine stutter; engine misfire; accelerator non-response
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership was only entity to service oil since purchase
Gear indicator light failure with auto headlights
Illuminated gear indicator light adjacent to shifter does not function when headlights set to 'auto' mode, creating confusion about actual gear selection. Light works when headlights set to manual. One documented incident involved older driver shifting into reverse thinking she was in park due to inability to see gear indicator.
When: Night driving with auto headlight mode
Symptoms owners cite: gear indicator light does not illuminate with auto headlights; possible shifting into wrong gear
Rear differential catastrophic failure
Rear differential experienced contained catastrophic failure at 106,500 miles after 6.3 years of ownership. Vehicle had been serviced on manufacturer schedule exclusively by Subaru dealers and had never been driven off-road.
When: 106,500 miles / 6.3 years
Symptoms owners cite: rear differential failure
RPM needle bouncing and jolting during acceleration
When accelerating from a full stop, RPM display at approximately 2,000-3,000 RPM begins to jolt and the RPM needle bounces up and down as acceleration continues.
When: During acceleration from complete stop
Symptoms owners cite: RPM needle bouncing; jolting sensation during acceleration; irregular RPM display
Complete electrical system failure
All electrical systems disabled while vehicle parked at store. No S-Drive response, no key fob response, unable to exit park, check engine light on. Vehicle would not start and displayed error messages.
When: Vehicle was operational when parked, failed when owner returned
Symptoms owners cite: complete electrical system failure; no S-Drive function; no key fob response; unable to shift out of park; check engine light; won't start
Repairs/costs cited: Owner used hybrid mode to reach dealership
Transmission shift quality and speedometer dim lighting issues
Transmission does not shift quickly enough. Speedometer and gear indicator lights remain dimmed when headlights are on; lighting cannot be manually adjusted separately from headlights, creating visibility issues.
When: Throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: slow transmission shifts; dim speedometer light; insufficient instrument panel lighting
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had powertrain trouble with your 2019 Subaru Crosstrek?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek?
It's a meaningful issue. 23 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 11,697 and 36,000 miles, with the median around 19,100. A quarter of owners report trouble before 11,697; a quarter make it past 36,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/Subaru/Crosstrek.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.