Subaru Crosstrek Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some, but not unusually many. 165 of the 1,442 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012–2025 Subaru Crosstrek (11.4%) name the transmission, near the 12.6% median share across the 139 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2013, 2015 and 2019.
Transmission complaints
165
Filed with NHTSA, 2012–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
11.4%
of 1,442 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
2
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Subaru Crosstrek transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline). Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 7 |
| 2013WORST | 25 | 20.3% | 0 | — | 30 |
| 2014 | 20 | 18.7% | 1 | — | 30 |
| 2015WORST | 25 | 25% | 0 | — | 34 |
| 2016 | 19 | 14% | 1 | — | 37 |
| 2017 | 13 | 13.4% | 2 | — | 31 |
| 2018 | 14 | 7.2% | 3 | — | 50 |
| 2019WORST | 23 | 8.2% | 3 | — | 45 |
| 2020 | 9 | 13.2% | 1 | — | 34 |
| 2021 | 12 | 11% | 2 | 23V755000 | 31 |
| 2022 | 1 | 3.6% | 0 | — | 21 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 15 |
| 2024 | 3 | 2.5% | 0 | 23V754000 | 11 |
| 2025 | 1 | 2.2% | 0 | — | 5 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Subaru Crosstrek transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 165 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Subaru Crosstrek years to avoid for the transmission
2013 Subaru Crosstrek
25 transmission complaints (20.3% of the year's 123). Most often described: transmission repaired or replaced.
2015 Subaru Crosstrek
25 transmission complaints (25% of the year's 100). Most often described: transmission repaired or replaced.
2019 Subaru Crosstrek
23 transmission complaints (8.2% of the year's 279). Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Subaru Crosstrek years to avoid.
Subaru Crosstrek transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Subaru Crosstrek model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
Which transmission does the Subaru Crosstrek use?
- Subaru CVT — 2013–2019 (extension years)
Years are as listed for that transmission's applications. Some apply to certain engines only.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 25 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek, 20.3% of all 123 complaints for that year. The most common description is "transmission repaired or replaced" (2 complaints).
Does the 2015 Subaru Crosstrek have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 25 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2015 Subaru Crosstrek, 25% of all 100 complaints for that year. The most common description is "transmission repaired or replaced" (4 complaints).
Does the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 23 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek, 8.2% of all 279 complaints for that year. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (2 complaints). 3 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Subaru Crosstrek years have the most transmission complaints?
2013 (25), 2015 (25) and 2019 (23), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Subaru Crosstrek transmission problems?
In the 165 transmission complaints, owners most often describe jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (13.3%), transmission repaired or replaced (7.9%) and shudder or vibration (6.1%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Subaru Crosstrek model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration