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2019 Subaru Crosstrek problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
20%
57 of 284 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 20% of relevant complaints.

Better than 87% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 57 of 284 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (20%). For comparison, the 2018 scores 22% and the 2020 scores 22%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
57
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
284
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
7
6 crashes · 5 injuries

Complaints by component

VISIBILITY/WIPER113 · 40%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM53 · 19%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER49 · 17%
ENGINE34 · 12%
POWER TRAIN24 · 8%
STEERING15 · 5%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2019 compares with other Subaru Crosstrek years

Of the 11 Subaru Crosstrek years with enough complaints to score, the 2019 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (20%). The worst is the 2013 (63%), the best the 2022 (13%). By volume, the 2019 drew 284 complaints (57 drivetrain), against 194 for the 2018 and 69 for the 2020.

Subaru Crosstrek years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek

  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE08/25/2021CRASH1 INJURED
My daughter was in process of pulling her car into the garage when it experienced sudden acceleration and crashed into the garage. My daughter was unable to stop the car as the brake system failed during the incident. She is now too terrified to drive the car. Subaru claims that the car is and has been operating as…

One of 57 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2019 Subaru Crosstrek engine recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv)19V856000 · Dec 2019

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.

Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.…

6 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
suspension: rear21V263000 · Apr 2021
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.
electrical system: software21V264000 · Apr 2021
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…
seat belts: rear/other20V189000 · Mar 2020
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…
electrical system: software19V743000 · Oct 2019
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…
visibility: glass, side/rear19V404000 · May 2019
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…
steering: electric power assist system19V065000 · Feb 2019
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…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2019 Subaru Crosstrek? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek

Does the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 57 of 284 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (20%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

What is the most common problem with the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek is visibility/wiper: 113 of 284 complaints (40%) name it, followed by electrical system (53) and engine (34). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 20% of the relevant total.

Is the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek reliable?

On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 20% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 87% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 11 Subaru Crosstrek years we score, it ranks 3rd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total: 19V856000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv)). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Subaru Crosstrek years are better?

Among the Subaru Crosstrek years we track, the 2022 (13%) and the 2023 (16%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2019 (20%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/subaru-crosstrek

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.