6.1

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
12,587 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek engine problems

engine problem

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2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek Owner Comments

problem #12

May 162024

XV Crosstrek

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Oil leaking into coolant system. Car has been through several repairs but the problem continues even after multiple repairs of possible source of leakage. Potential hazard or car catching on fire with leaking oil fluid.

- Honolulu, HI, USA

problem #11

Jun 112023

XV Crosstrek

  • miles
On Sunday, 11 June I was driving from Brigatine, NJ back to Alexandria, VA. Just east of Baltimore around 11:45am, after about 2.5 hours of driving, I tried to accelerate on I-95. The car did not respond and after several seconds I realized I was slowing. I pulled off to the shoulder and once stopped the engine shut down before putting into park. I only received a check engine light, battery light, and fluid light after the car shut down. I tried to restart, but it would not catch or just sputtered. I waited a minute, tried again and it started but then went out about 20 seconds later. At that point I called AAA for a tow. After the tow was arranged, I started the car for a short time and pulled farther off the highway, then shut it down again. About 45 minutes or so later, I started the car and ran it for several minutes at idle while waiting for the tow truck. The AAA truck showed up, and I took the tow because I did not want to break down in one of the Baltimore tunnels. On 12 June, the Subaru dealership could not confirm any faults and could not replicate. I have no idea what the issue was. I did stop twice during that 2.5 hours for about 5 minutes each time (bathroom breaks). At the time I had about an 1/8th of a tank of gas in the car with 110 miles in range showing on the computer (figured I would make it home and refill then). Temperatures were warm. The Subaru dealership did not charge me for anything and told me they often get cases they cannot replicate.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #10

Feb 092023

XV Crosstrek

  • miles
The Engine of the car stopped while on the road. The car is available for inspection upon request. Due to the engine while driving in the middle of the road. The safety of others was at risk The problem was not reproduced by the dealer or by a service center. Yes the manufacturer inspected and failed to reproduce the failure Yes, The error message was -??Check Hybrid System, Stop in a safe place, turn engine off, Switch Off, and Restart. Check Owners Manual-??

- Allentown, PA, USA

problem #9

May 192022

XV Crosstrek

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The car has the temp light come on intermittently and then it never came on again. I opened the hood and a hose from the radiator to the overflow tank was not connected. I brought the car to a Subaru dealer. The technician found oil in the radiator of the car. I was told this could be a head gasket and the engine may need to be replaced. The car has around 75,000 miles on it.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #8

Feb 122021

XV Crosstrek

  • miles
Head gasket failure, resulting in water and oil contamination. Taken to dealer for servicing on February 12, 2021, and still not fixed as of April 21, 2021.

- Redondo Beach, CA, USA

problem #7

Sep 012015

XV Crosstrek

  • 1,000 miles
Since I bought this 2015 crosstrek in 2015 there have been multiple times where I have pulled out and the vehicle pauses. Like there is no power or it is taking a breath. No matter the pressure on the accelerator it does not go. Then like a gasp it starts to pick up speed. Does not shut off but zero power. It happens regardless the weather, length of time car has been running. It has caused me a narrow miss before because I could not get into my lane. I was pulling into traffic from a slow speed most times. Once it happened while in traffic driving.

- Keyser, WV, USA

problem #6

Aug 102020

XV Crosstrek

  • 100,630 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving my 2015 Subaru crosstrek. I had been on the highway for an hour. I was going about 78mph. The car suddenly started getting loud and the tachometer was revving down. It went quickly from 3 to 0 and immediately shut down. When I realized it was revving down and getting louder I began to shift towards the lanes on the right to the break down lane. My car didn't make it. It was about 3 min from when I realized something was wrong. I got stuck in the lane right next to the passing lane with 2 other lanes on the right of me to get to the breakdown lane. My car had power, my hazards were on, my radio was on, my windows opened and the car wouldn't turn on. I got my car towed to my moms and it turned on at arrival about 14 min after it shut down on me. I was able to drive it home 14 min away and then drive it 35 min to a Subaru dealer. The dealer says its the battery but it doesnt make sense to me if the car ignition wouldn't go on but lights radio and windows worked and 15 min later the car turned on and drove like nothing happened.

- Lexington, MA, USA

problem #5

May 192019

XV Crosstrek

  • 32,900 miles
I decided to drive from phoenix, AZ to san diego, ca when about 200 miles in, my engine completely shut off while I was driving about 85mph down the highway. The entire trip my car had been fine, the gas light had just come on about a minute before, but my car told me I had 50 miles until I ran out of gas. I had absolutely no warning of the engine about to shut off except that around the same time the gas light came on, my ac quit working. I was trying to mess with the ac when I suddenly went from 85 to 30mph and had to pull off immediately because I realized my engine had shut off. Once I pulled over and the car was completely stopped, the check engine light came on. I could not get the car restarted so I called a tow company to tow me to the nearest town. While waiting on the tow truck, I sat in my car using the battery to charge my phone, so I know the battery was not dead. Once the tow truck driver arrived he tried to start my car again, but could not. About 24 hours later I had a family friend come tow the car back to phoenix, and he was able to start the car and drive it onto the tow ramp! I was still afraid to drive it, and we towed it directly to the dealership. The dealership was able to drive it the next day, drove it for about 50 miles and said they could find nothing wrong with it. I have no idea what happened, but I'm scared to drive my car because if the engine would have shut off on a busy interstate I could have died. I had only owned the car for 10 days before this happened, and I hadn't even put 500 miles on it. Currently the dealership in phoenix has it and is trying to figure out what happened.

- Mt. Pleasant, SC, USA

problem #4

Jan 052019

XV Crosstrek

  • miles
Takata recall for the past year I have been checking my motor oil and refilling as needed. Learning to be a car mechanic is one of my hobbies that I like to do. In doing so, I always check my car and make sure its up and running with no issues. I have constantly notice that there was some oil under the engine whether old or fresh. Then just recently I went to my local Subaru dealership to finally get to the bottom of it. As a result I learned that the cam box seal is leaking. I then did my research on it and found out that it's a common issue among other Subaru owners and that other car brand uses gaskets in which it lasts longer. In my view, other owners may not know how or when to check under their car for these kind of issues and this can lead to the engine not having enough oil to burn and breaking down or similar situations. It may not be a short term effect but if it can be prevented it should be.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #3

Mar 152017

XV Crosstrek

  • 1,000 miles
Every few months the engine drops to an idle state for at lease one second just after accelerator pedal is pressed. So when expecting power for urgent acceleration, there is initial momentary power, propelling the car onto a busy road, for example, then engine RPM drops to idle and car stops accelerating for a second or more before power starts to return. This usually will occur several times over the course of a few days and then clears up by itself for another few months before the hazard reoccurs. Returned to the dealership numerous times and they say if the mechanic can't repeat the problem, there is nothing Subaru can do. The car has exhibited this problem since new. At one point I found that it seemed that cell phone emi coupling into the car's wiring harness had made the problem worse. In that case the engine would drop to an idle for up to three seconds and would occur more frequently. To date no components have been replaced by Subaru. At this point I would like Subaru to buy back the car because of this cyclical safety hazard, where the engine unexpectedly yet infrequently drops to an idle state. I've got about 21 pages of email correspondence with Subaru regarding this problem and and they have yet to offer any plan of action.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #2

Jul 012016

XV Crosstrek

  • 8,300 miles
Engine shut off without warning while running. First time the vehicle was running and stopped at a traffic light when it completely shut off. No check engine light or other warning lights to indicate a problem. The vehicle then immediately restarted with no issue. A week later (after numerous problem free trips), the engine shut off again without warning while driving 35 to 40 mph down the road. Was able to coast to the side. Again it restarted without problem, but the engine did not sputter or give any other indication it was about to shut off. Again, no warning lights on the dash indicating a problem. Following both times the engine cut off without warning, the next time the car was shut off and then a restart was attempted, the keyless ignition would not work but after several attempts, the green light would appear in the push start button and the car would start. Car has been at the dealer for over 20 days. They have indicated the problem has happened multiple times to a mechanic but they cannot determine the cause.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #1

Jan 212016

XV Crosstrek

  • 7,215 miles
I was driving my car on I-405 North bount when the engine faltered. I kept accelerateing but the car lost speed and made a hi raving sound. I was really scared as the cars behind had to reduce speed fast to prevent rear ending me. I exited the 405 freeway on burbank - I contuned home to North hollywood at a very slow speed, under 10mph. With my hazard lights on. It was a frightening experience. The next day my husband took it to the dealer with the same difficulties.

- North Hollywood, CA, USA

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