Table 1 shows one common power train related problems of the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Power Train problems |
My 2020 Subaru Crosstrek cvt valve body equipment failure and cvt torque converter failure. This appears to be a common failure for prior Subaru Crosstrek model - however was not extended for coverage to 2020 and beyond models - appears the issue still persists and additional year models should be covered. My vehicle experience the same failure for cvt valve body failure and cvt torque converter while driving at highway speeds. Problem occurs for previous Subaru models example: mc-11021247-0001, Subaru service bulletin: 16-155-25r where Subaru extended coverage to 10yrs/100k miles or +1 year from date of notification - and my vehicle is currently at the Subaru dealership for repairs for both cvt valve body and torque converter. Warning lights did not appear until issue occored.
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 has acknowledged this exact defect in technical service bulletin 16-156-25r (revised 10/28/25), which explicitly covers the 2013–2021my Crosstrek 2. 0l (fb20 engine, tr580 cvt) and prescribes replacement of the cvt control valve body with an updated design incorporating an improved valve sleeve. This bulletin confirms that Subaru is aware of the design flaw in the original valve body and has developed a permanent engineering fix. Warranty extension disparity Subaru of America issued a cvt warranty extension on June 30, 2025 (retailer bulletin 16-155-25r, revised 07/14/25) extending cvt coverage from the original 5 years/60,000 miles to 10 years/100,000 miles for certain 2019–2020my vehicles. However, the 2020 Crosstrek equipped with the fb20 engine and tr580 cvt was specifically excluded from this extension, despite: 1. The 2019 Crosstrek (identical fb20/tr580 drivetrain) being included in the extension. 2. The 2020 impreza (identical fb20/tr580 drivetrain) being included in the extension. 3. TSB 16-156-25r explicitly listing the 2020 Crosstrek as an affected vehicle with the same valve body defect. This exclusion appears arbitrary and inconsistent. Owners of the 2020 Crosstrek are being denied warranty coverage for a documented design defect that Subaru has acknowledged and corrected through a TSB, and for which owners of vehicles with the identical powertrain (same engine, same cvt) are receiving extended warranty protection. Safety concern dtc p2757 indicates a failure in the torque converter clutch pressure control circuit. This defect can result in unexpected transmission behavior including hesitation, shuddering, loss of power delivery.
The rear differential on my phev Crosstrek failed around 31,500 miles. My spouse was driving under 30mph and turning, and heard a clunking/popping/metal-on-metal sound that persisted intermittently for the remainder of the drive home. Since then on 1/8/26, the sound has been aggravated and persistent, every 45 seconds or so while driving, mostly while turning, so we brought it in and were alerted to significant and large metal shavings in the rear differential oil. The current service bulletin (03-95-24) the dealership is relying on to inform the replacement describes sounds much subtler than the sounds my car is making and I remain concerned about other components in my vehicle that may be impacted by this failure. This kind of failure is a safety risk and did occur in traffic in my spouse’s case. The metal-on-metal sounds and drivetrain resistance are alarming. Thankfully my spouse was able to safely get home and alert me to the situation so we could take it in. I have not engaged in any of the vehicle uses that typically relate to rear differential failures; I don’t engage in heavy off-road use or tow heavy trailers with my vehicle, I have only had my tires replaced at Subaru, and the only gear/differential oil was from Subaru. I also did not have any deleterious or obvious gaps in differential/gear oil replacement that could reasonably cause this issue, as confirmed by a dealership mechanic. I have researched extensively about this unusual (and expensive) part failure and have alerted soa to my concerns. My research is showing it appears to be a trend warranting further investigation.
What component of system failed: transmission at low speeds, my car makes a low moaning sound. I took it to the Subaru dealership and after 2. 5 hours, they said it's an issue with the transmission and needs a full replacement. Safety: according to a local Subaru dealer's website, "while it might be tempting to keep driving despite a known transmission fault, especially if the car seems to be running ‘fine’, there are inherent risks. Firstly, there’s the potential for the fault to escalate, causing more significant damage to the transmission system. This could, in turn, result in costlier repairs down the line. Secondly, and more crucially, a transmission fault could lead to unpredictable vehicle behavior, especially when changing gears. This unpredictability can be hazardous, not just for the driver but for others on the road as well. " problem reproduced: yes on 1/20/25 at dewey griffin Subaru in bellingham, wa inspected: yes on 1/20/25 at dewey griffin Subaru in bellingham, wa. Warning lamps: no.
This vehicle is a plug-in-hybrid. It should not be able to move while plugged in. Problem is attempting to move the vehicle when the charge cable is still attached and the vehicle is on an incline. Subaru does not display a warning message - instead it displays "check engine" and an ambiguous symbol (a red steering wheel). Subaru disables the power to wheels that would have enabled the driver to close the gap to the charging station. Instead the vehicle rolls away from the charging station, breaking power plug at the vehicle port. Even placing the car in park does not prevent damage, the car will roll down hill until the parking gear latches. I have now broken my power plug 3 times. I am a professional electrical engineer. This should not be able to happen Subaru should prevent the car from being able to move if the cable is still attached, and instead display a message that the cable is still attached. With the "check engine" message, I engaged my obd diagnostics and it could not find a "check engine" flag. At this point, I put the car in gear, and even through Subaru disables power, the car then passively rolls down the driveway, breaking the cable at the power port. Instead of the ambiguous "red steering wheel" icon - Subaru needs to lock the car in park and display a real message. When you finally turn the ignition off - Subaru displays a huge "goodbye" message on the auxiliary display. I say finally because if you do restart the ignition with the cable attatched - you will not be able to turn off the ignition - only after exiting the vehicle, disconnecting the plug will you be able to turn off the vehicle. Not being able to turn off the ignition should not be permitted. Numerous errors in the control logic.
Transmission began making a whining noise at low speeds accelerating/ and backing up. Slight hesitation when accelerating. Transmission failed at 6k miles- confirmed by dealer and replaced. Now again at 34k miles same issue- transmission confirmed to be issue again by dealer. Subaru is in the process of sending a technician to dealer to inspect. No warning or messages displayed. Unacceptable quality/safety for a vehicle purchased new and all of the maintenance schedule followed.
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated while shift the vehicle to reverse the vehicle launched forward without any warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 12,000.
The vehicle has experience numerous times now, and has been to the dealer for repairs regarding an unanticipated loss of all ability to accelerate or maintain speed until the vehicle is shutdown and restarted. This has caused significant stress when traveling on a fast moving freeway in the fast lane and then having to quickly get to the shoulder to "power-cycle" the vehicle. The dealer has seen the vehicle 5 times for this issue in the 10 months we have owned it, starting at 6k miles and we just got it back from 2 weeks with the dealer; today it has 9k miles. The dealer has told is that the vehicle losing all power and ability to accelerate or maintain speed is a safety feature. I feel having my wife and three children in a vehicle the significantly increases the chances for collision as very much the opposite of a safety feature. We have tried working with the dealer over the past 6 months and 3k miles, but need the help of an advocate who can influence the dealer to correct the issue before someone gets hurt or worse. The date shown below is only the first instance of many instances of power loss.
The rear differential on my Subaru Crosstrek hybrid has failed twice. The first failure occurred around 12,000 miles and the second around 50,000 miles, both while maneuvering slowly in a parking lot. There were no warning lights or messages beforehand. The failure caused grinding and drivetrain resistance while turning. During the second incident, a certified Subaru dealer confirmed the rear differential had failed again. They also discovered that Subaru had issued a revised version of the differential that is no longer compatible with the original axles, requiring additional parts to complete the repair. I was informed the original design has been discontinued, suggesting Subaru was aware of an issue. This kind of drivetrain failure is a significant safety risk, especially if it were to occur at higher speeds or in traffic. The issue has now occurred twice on my vehicle under normal driving conditions, and was verified both times by a 2 Subaru dealerships in southern California. When I returned to pick up my vehicle, I was told by the service technician that another hybrid Crosstrek had just come in for the exact same failure. Additionally, a local independent Subaru performance shop mentioned they have performed three similar rear differential replacements this year. This clearly appears to be a recurring problem, potentially linked to a design flaw, and I believe it warrants further investigation.