What 106 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Subaru Xv Crosstrek

The clutch throw out bearing and clutch needs to be replaced at 54,000 miles because of failure. This is a $2000 repair! This is a KNOWN issue, why isn’t this a recall?

NHTSA ODI 11441458

On June 11, 2021, my wife and I were driving our 2014 Subaru Crosstrek (120,000 miles) from Milwaukee to Manitowish Waters, WI. About 20 miles north of Milwaukee on I-41 Northbound, my wife was driving at 70 mph when suddenly we both noticed a strong lurching from the CVT transmission. This was followed a few seconds later by a complete lockup of all four wheels on our car. Fortunately this did not happen in the left lane or we would've been in a terrible accident. My wife managed to steer the skidding car onto the highway shoulder until it came to a rest. The engine was still running. The transmission was completely dead. We called a towing company to tow the car to Sommers Subaru in Mequon WI. They diagnosed the problem as sudden catastrophic transmission failure and told us that the 2014 Crosstrek had tons of problems with the CVT. We told the service department that we could have been seriously injured or killed had my wife not been driving in the right lane of the interstate. We paid $7,800 for a remanufactured CVT as the power train was out of warranty. I have seen one other report of catastrophic CVT failure on your website involving a 2014 Crosstrek (Danbury CT). I'm sure there are others out in the world who have also suffered this, and God knows how many may have resulted in accidents with injuries or death. Perhaps they did not know to contact NHTSA with their experiences. I pray that you will initiate an investigation into this issue and force Subaru USA to issue a recall on their 2014 Crosstreks to replace the transmissions that are the source of these frightening incidents. Thank you.

NHTSA ODI 11427890

Multiple alerts and codes displayed for vehicle control system mostly related to transmission system.

NHTSA ODI 11426727

Break lights are on, but do not light up when breaking. Changed break lights with many different bulbs, but same problem occurs. Not lighting up when breaking.

NHTSA ODI 11421255

I own a Subaru Crosstrek XV Limited which I purchased new in November 2014. I was in a line of vehicles on a street waiting to enter a business parking lot and drive-thru. There was an incline from the street into the parking lot. The vehicle in front of me reached the top of the incline and turned right into the parking lot. With my foot remaining on the brake, I raised my foot slightly to allow my vehicle to move up the incline, my car suddenly accelerated and crashed into the bumper of the vehicle in front of me. The local police were contacted and a report was made. It was like when the cruise control is engaged and the engine given more power to climb an incline or hill. I don't know what caused this to happen, but am taking it to a local mechanic since the closest Subaru dealer is 75 miles away.

NHTSA ODI 11419042

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I TURNED ON THE BLOWER FAN AND AC. THE AC WAS NOT COOLING DOWN THE CABIN (OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 71-74 DEGREES). AFTER 40 MINUTES THE BLOWER FAN SHUT DOWN AND STOPPED WORKING. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS WHAT THEY FOUND: INSTRUMENT WIRE HARNESS, COMPONENT(S) AND SWITCH HAD MELTED, CAUSING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. IT REMAINS A HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SUBARU DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN THE DEFECTIVE/FAILED/UNSAFE COMPONENTS AND WILL NOT COVER EXPENSE. REASON: VEHICLE GROSSLY OVER WARRANTY PERIOD (BY 10,000 MILES).

NHTSA ODI 11405603

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 SUBARU HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS DISTRACTED AND HIT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT THE THEM. THE CONTACT STATED THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD THE CONTACT IN PLACE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HIT THEIR STERNUM INTO THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING THE CONTACT INJURY TO A BROKEN STERNUM AND A FEW BROKEN RIBS AS WELL AS BRUISED KNEES. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS THE ONLY PERSON INJURED AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE HOSPITAL A COUPLE DAYS LATER TO BE TREATED FOR THEIR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO THEIR RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ODI 11400175

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 135,961 MILES, JUST 5 MONTHS AFTER PULLING THE CAR OFF A USED LOT. ALL DASH LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED, VEHICLE ENCOUNTERS LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER. I ATTEMPT TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND LIGHTS RETURN TO NORMAL, AND I ATTEMPT TO MAKE MY WAY HOME. LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED ONCE AGAIN, BUT I DO NOT HAVE LOSS OF ACCELERATION THIS TIME. TAKE IT TO BE SERVICED, LH FRONT AXLE FAILED, NEEDS REPLACED, ENGINE BLOCK HAS CONSIDERABLE OIL LEAK, VALVE BODY REPLACEMENT REQUIRED (COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THANK GOODNESS). 4 MONTHS LATER AFTER CAR SEEMS TO BE IN REPAIRED AND WORKING ORDER, THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN, THIS TIME THE RH FRONT AXLE IS REPLACED, ALTHOUGH NO ENGINE LEAK, THE SERVICE TECH IS NO LETTING ME KNOW THAT ON THEIR TEST DRIVE AFTER THEY REPLACED THE AXLE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WILL NOW NEED TO BE REPLACED. I CAN NOT AFFORD THE CVT REPLACEMENT AT $8000 FIX. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AS I ATTEMPT TO FIND MONEY FOR THE REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI 11399299

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON A 34 DEGREE DAY ON A CLEAR ROAD, WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ROOF. WE PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT THE SUN ROOF HAD SPONTANEOUSLY RUPTURED AND EXPLODED OUTWARD. LUCKILY THE SLIDING DOOR TO THE SUN ROOF WAS CLOSED. WHEN EXAMINING THE SUN ROOF, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING HITTING THE CAR. IN FACT THE ROOF RACK BAR WAS RIGHT OVER THE NEW "HOLE" IN THE GLASS SUNROOF AND WOULD HAVE PROTETED THE GLASS FROM A FALLING OBJECT. THE SUNROOF WAS PUCKERED "OUT" AND GLASS WAS SCATTERED ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR NOT WITHIN THE SUNROOF COMPARTMENT. IT APPEAR TO HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WITHOUT EXTERNAL DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11398174

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE PARKING. APPLIED BRAKES BUT CAR KEPT ACCELERATING HITTING CARPORT COLUMN AT CANCER CENTER BRINGING ROOF DOWN ONTO CAR. CAR WAS TOTALED, NO INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI 11397033

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH 2014-2016 WITH AC COMPRESSOR AND CLUTCH. ITS AN EXPENSIVE FIX AND THEY WILL ONLY FIX IF YOU HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY UPDATED THE PART BUT NO ONE CAN AFFORD IT. MINE IS STARTING TO GO, IT GETS EXTREMELY LOUD. IT IS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING. HERE IS THE LINK HTTPS://SUBARU.OEMDTC.COM/360/NEW-AC-COMPRESSOR-CLUTCH-ASSEMBLY-2014-2016-SUBARU

NHTSA ODI 11395711

I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY KEY NOT BEING RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION ONCE THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE CAUSED BY THE SHIFTER PLATE GUIDE NOT BEING INSTALLED CORRECTLY AT THE FACTORY ON MY VEHICLE MODEL AND CAN COST ANYWHERE FROM $350-$450 TO REPAIR AT A DEALER. AS THIS IS A KNOWN FACTORY ISSUE I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL BY SUBARU. IT IS NOT ANYTHING THAT I AS AN OWNER COULD PREVENT THROUGH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THIS COULD LEAD TO SAFETY ISSUES AS THE SHIFTER PLATE CONTINUES TO WEAR DUE TO INCORRECT INSTALLATION. THE ISSUE BEGAN IN JUNE 2020.

NHTSA ODI 11374925

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SHUTS OFF AFTER DRIVING IN THE VEHICLE FOR 45 MINS OR MORE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN MOTION WHEN THE AIR BAG SYMBOLS ON THE DASHBOARD SIGNALS IT IS NOW SHUT OFF. THE PASSENGER IS STILL SEATED IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE MAY BE ON CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.

NHTSA ODI 11364532

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. OIL LIGHTS COMES ON EVERY 1000 MILES

NHTSA ODI 11350094

FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT (SHOWN NEXT TO CLOCK) WILL PERIODICALLY SWITCH FROM ON TO OFF WHILE THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, FREQUENTLY ON LONGER TRIPS. RESTARTING THE CAR DOES NOT FIX THE ISSUE, NOR DOES READJUSTING THE SEAT. OTHERS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THIS MAY BE DUE TO MOISTURE SATURATING THE SENSOR, SUCH AS FROM A GYM SESSION OR HOT SUMMER ROADTRIP. THE SENSOR WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL AFTER A DAY OR MORE.

NHTSA ODI 11348449

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS ON DASH COME ON. CONSTANT JERKING/BUCKING OF THE CAR WITHOUT INCREASING PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDDLE. METER RPMS INDICATOR NEEDLE IS ERRATIC MOVING BACK AND FORTH WHILE THE ENGINE REVS. THE MPG NEEDLE GOES FROM PLUS TO MINUS ERRATICALLY ALSO. AT THIS TIME THE CAR IS NOT DEPENDABLE. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO GRANITE SUBARU 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT. THEY SAY THEY HAVE USED THE DIAGNOSTIC METER TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM BUT IT STILL REMAINS, NOW EVEN WORSE. I HAVE DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH A ENGINEER AND 2 AUTO MECHANICS WHO FEEL THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE COMPUTER. I MENTIONED THIS TO GRANITE SUBARU AND WAS TOLD THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. MY PLAN AT THIS TIME IS TO BRING MY CAR TO AUTOZONE AND HAVE THEM EVALUATE MY CAR. I AM HOPING TO GET A LIST OF ERROR CODES TO BRING TO SUBARU WITH THE HOPE THAT THE 5TH TIME WILL BE MY LAST. I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED SO FAR BUT DO NOT HAVE A WAY TO UPLOAD THEM AND SEND WITH THIS REPORT. PLEASE SEND ADDRESS AND I WILL MAKE COPIES AND SEND. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11340262

CVT FAILURE. SUDDEN STALLING WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI 11337740

THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING FAILED. THE "COMPUTER" WAS REPLACED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE. THEN, WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. NOW THE WHOLE STEERING TRAIN SEEMS BROKEN. THE CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE. IF IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11328510

REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ARE DAMAGED CAUSING ABNORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CAR WHILE IT IS IN MOTION. SOUNDS LIKE A HUMMING NOISE.

NHTSA ODI 11317825

I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, INTO THE ROAD. WHEN I DROVE AWAY, NO FASTER THAT 25 MPH, I NOTICED THAT ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON MY DASH WERE ILLUMINATED. ALARMED, I PROMPTLY RETURNED MY CAR TO THE DRIVEWAY AND SHUT IT OFF. I HAD TRAVELED NO FURTHER THAN 100 YARDS. WONDERING IF MAYBE IT WAS A FLUKE, I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR ON AGAIN, BUT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. I CALLED AAA TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. AAA'S DIAGNOSTIC CODES WERE: P0851, P0705, P0700. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWED THAT THESE RELATE TO THE TRANSMISSION. FURTHER SEARCHES BROUGHT UP A FORBES ARTICLE ABOUT SUBARU'S CHOICE TO EXTEND WARRANTEES ON KNOWN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS INSTEAD ISSUING A RECALL--SO AS TO SAVE MONEY. WHEN I ASKED SUBARU SERVICE ABOUT THE CODES, THEY CALLED THEM "PHANTOM CODES"--HOWEVER I NOTED THAT THE REPAIR WORK WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTEE--INDICATING IT RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION--HARDLY A "PHANTOM". I AM FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN SO CLOSE TO HOME WHEN MY TRANSMISSION FAILED--TO HAVE NOT BEEN ON A REMOTE ROAD TRIP WITH MY KIDS WHERE THERE'S NO CELL SERVICE, OR DRIVING THROUGH A SKETCHY NEIGHBORHOOD ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, OR TRYING TO GET MY HUSBAND TO THE ER WITH ANAPHYLAXIS FROM A BEE STING (ALL REAL SCENARIOS I'VE BEEN IN, THANKFULLY WITH A FUNCTIONING CAR). WHEN SUBARU CHOOSES TO LET CARS FAIL FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM AND RELY ON EXTENDED WARRANTEES INSTEAD OF RECALLING THEM BEFORE THEY FAIL, THERE ARE A MYRIAD LIFE-THREATENING POTENTIALITIES. ANYTHING LESS THAN A RECALL IS NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF SUBARU.

NHTSA ODI 11317541

THE PASSENGER SIDE 'OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR MODULE' IS FAULTY. THIS MODULE HAS BEEN RECALLED ON SIMILAR SUBARU VEHICLES RECENTLY. THE MODULE DETECTS AN OCCUPANT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND EITHER ACTIVATES OR DEACTIVATES THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM. AT APPROXIMATELY 135K MILES, THE SENSOR BEGAN TO ROUTINELY TURN THE AIRBAG OFF WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS AT INTERSTATE SPEED TO IDLE SPEED. SUBARU (AT THE DEALERSHIP IN GRAND JUNCTION, CO) HAS PERFORMED A DIAGNOSIS AND PROVIDED ME THIS INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI 11298218

AROUND SEPT. 2019 MY 2014 SUBARU CROSSTREK STARTED MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I MADE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN FROM A STOP. MY SUBARU HAD 47,000 MILES ON IT. THE NOISE CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND IT STARTED HAVING A VIBRATION IN IT. ITS NOW STARTING TO CATCH WHEN YOU MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN FROM A STOP. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD MY CV AXLES ARE BAD AND THAT'S CAUSING THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11292157

THE REAR WINDOW BROKE ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A SUPERMARKET PARKING LOT AND SUDDENLY BROKE WITH NO IMPACT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT OR SOMETHING IN THE CAR. POLICE WERE CALLED.

NHTSA ODI 11270031

I HAVE EXPERIENCED ROUGH IDLING WITH MY 2014 CROSSTREK LIMITED FOR ABOUT A YEAR. DURING THIS TIME MY CHECK OIL LIGHT HAS COME ON TWICE. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN FAYETTEVILLE, AR WHERE THEY BEGAN THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST PROCESS. THUS FAR THE DEALERSHIP HAS FLUSHED MY COOLANT AND OIL AND REPLACING O-RINGS AND VALVES, REPLACED MORE O-RINGS AND MY AC COMPRESSOR, AND COMPLETED FOUR OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS EACH TIME I DROVE 1,200 MILES AND CONSUMED 8OZ OIL (10.1OZ IS CONSIDERED FAILING). MY CAR CONTINUES TO ROUGH IDLE TO THE POINT THAT I CANNOT LET IT IDLE INSIDE THE GARAGE WITHOUT SHAKING THE WALLS INSIDE THE HOUSE. THE ROUGH IDLE HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, WHEN I FIRST START THE CAR, AFTER I HAVE DRIVEN FOR A WHILE, AND DURING ROUTINE TRIPS AROUND TOWN, ANYTIME THE CAR IS IDLING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ADVISED ME THAT ROUGH IDLE AND OIL CONSUMPTION IS NORMAL WITH CROSSTREKS AND NOTHING SHOWS ON THE COMPUTER SCANNER. THEY REFUSE TO DO A MECHANICAL CHECK TO FURTHER DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11269132

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60MPH, WARM DAY (75) A/C WAS ON, STARTING TO ACCELERATE UP A SLIGHT INCLINE, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN. THE GAS PEDAL/ACCELERATION WAS NOT WORKING. THE CAR WENT LIMP AND ACTED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. WHILE TRYING TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY, THE ACCELERATION KICKED BACK IN AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. THE SECOND TIME I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AT 40MPH, SAME CONDITIONS OUTSIDE, AND GOING UP A SLIGHT HILL IN SAN FRANCISCO, THE POWER DIES/GOES LIMP, A FEW SECONDS LATER, POWER ON ACCELERATION COMES BACK. THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON.

NHTSA ODI 11266908