Subaru Crosstrek Transmission Problems by Year

Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.

20131626.2 per 100K sold 20141419.7 per 100K sold 20151618 per 100K sold 201688.4 per 100K sold 201776.4 per 100K sold 201874.8 per 100K sold 2019107.6 per 100K sold 202075.8 per 100K sold 2021118.6 per 100K sold 202210.6 per 100K sold 202310.6 per 100K sold 202410.6 per 100K sold 202510.5 per 100K sold

What owners describe

Lost power while driving14%

Hard or jerky shifting10%

Delay or hesitation9%

Shudder8%

Slipping7%

Transmission replaced7%

Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.

Transmission and power train recalls

2024 2023
The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
2021 2023
An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

In owners' words

Transmission valve body failed, solenoid 2 fail, affects traction control, stability control, abs, and hill start control. Causes transmission tempts to overheat.
2013 Subaru Crosstrek owner · NHTSA complaint

Solenoid valve in cvt cracked after 6.5 years of use (roughly 140k - 160k miles). Got it fixed, then 1 year later (another 40k - 20k miles), it went out again. This time the whole transmission needed to be replaced. Both times I was accelerating. The first time from a stop, and second time I was on the freeway going about 70 mph.
2013 Subaru Crosstrek owner · NHTSA complaint

Quick answers

Which Subaru Crosstrek years have transmission problems?

By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Subaru Crosstrek years are 2013, 2014, 2015.

What are common Subaru Crosstrek transmission problems?

Owners most often describe lost power while driving, hard or jerky shifting, delay or hesitation.

Which Subaru Crosstrek years have the fewest transmission complaints?

Since 2010, the Subaru Crosstrek years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2025, 2022, 2023.

See every problem, not just the transmission: Subaru Crosstrek reliability by year. How we count

Subaru Crosstrek transmission problems by year.