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2020 Subaru Crosstrek problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
22%
15 of 69 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 22% of relevant complaints.

Better than 83% 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 2020 Subaru Crosstrek have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 15 of 69 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (22%). For comparison, the 2019 scores 20% and the 2021 scores 27%. 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
15
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
69
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
6 crashes · 3 injuries

Complaints by component

VISIBILITY/WIPER30 · 43%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11 · 16%
POWER TRAIN9 · 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER9 · 13%
ENGINE5 · 7%
VISIBILITY4 · 6%

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 2020 compares with other Subaru Crosstrek years

Of the 11 Subaru Crosstrek years with enough complaints to score, the 2020 is the 5th-best on engine and transmission share (22%). The worst is the 2013 (63%), the best the 2022 (13%). By volume, the 2020 drew 69 complaints (15 drivetrain), against 284 for the 2019 and 115 for the 2021.

Subaru Crosstrek years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2020 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 TRAIN05/14/2026
DEFECT DESCRIPTION My 2020 Subaru Crosstrek has been diagnosed with diagnostic trouble code P2757 (Torque Converter Clutch Pressure Control Solenoid Control Circuit Performance), which my authorized Subaru 802 Subaru retailer in Vermont has confirmed is caused by a defective CVT Control Valve Body. Subaru of America h…

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

Checking one particular 2020 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 2020 Subaru Crosstrek

Does the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 15 of 69 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (22%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

What is the most common problem with the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek is visibility/wiper: 30 of 69 complaints (43%) name it, followed by electrical system (11) and power train (9). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 22% of the relevant total.

Is the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek reliable?

On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 22% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 83% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 11 Subaru Crosstrek years we score, it ranks 5th-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 2020 Subaru Crosstrek?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek.

Which Subaru Crosstrek years are better?

Among the Subaru Crosstrek years we track, the 2022 (13%), the 2023 (16%) and the 2019 (20%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (22%). 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.