2018 Subaru Crosstrek: engine stalls while driving

Filed Mar 11, 2026 · Engine · MA

Dangerous stall in traffic due to ignition coil failure. Ignition coils and spark plugs were replaced during the WRE21 recall campaign only 13k miles ago back in 2021. Stopped at red light awaiting to turn left when the vehicle started shaking violently. No check engine light came on though. When the light turned green, the vehicle was barely able to move forward then it completely stalled before pulling over to the curb. Since the tail of the car was sticking out into traffic a bit, it was a downright dangerous situation. Car had to be towed to dealership and took them 5 days to diagnose and fix the problem. Ignition coil and spark plug replacements costed $1500. Don't think the recall fixed the root problem and this could potentially happen again.

Filed Mar 9, 2025 · Engine · CA

I have a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek, I am the second owner, the first owner bought it in 2019, I am having acceleration problems, I have already taken it to two different mechanics, they say it is a problem with the computer, they have already checked and scanned it and they tell me that you have to reprogram the ECM for DTC P1603 / Engine idle drop or stall, when the car accelerates it makes a jerky or knocking noise when I go 15 miles or stop and move forward again the car locks, this only happens when the car is already warm and has been used for about 10 minutes

Filed Jan 12, 2023 · Engine · 50,000 miles · CT

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, he heard a grinding sound and the vehicle started to shutter and spin. The contact then stated that he had to shift gear into neutral to stop the spin and rolled down the exit ramp and stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that a hole was in the engine and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was denied service due to no service record was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that he was twelve days over warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

Filed Oct 17, 2022 · Acceleration, Electrical · 39,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. While driving on a ramp at slow speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ignition fuse needed to be replaced. The fuse was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no additional assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 39,000.

Filed Jun 17, 2021 · Engine, Fuel system · CA

UNKNOWN My Subaru has always had a little hesitation when accelerating. I brought this up to the dealer and they are telling me it is normal. However, in the last few months, it has gotten worse. Sometimes, when trying to accelerate into traffic, the car feels like it's going to stall or die, then it kicks in and I am able to accelerate. This is intermittent, so I never know when it's going to happen. This is a safety issue, since the hesitation could cause me to get hit.

Filed Mar 4, 2021 · Acceleration, Engine · 56,000 miles · PA

When crossing across traffic to get in the lane from right or left turns. There is slow and sluggish as it wants to stall or stay out in cross traffic to cause a collision!! It has happened since I purchased it from a non subaru dealer beginning of 2021.there should be a recall as this sluggish acceleration problem can cause an accident.

Filed May 21, 2020 · Electrical · 17,132 miles · NJ

In nov 2017, at 700 miles, I had a remote start installed at the dealership. In may 2018, my remote start would not start the car & when it would the car would stall. Even without the remote start my car wouldn't start or it would start and shut off. I couldn't get it to function for 3 days. In addition, I was having issues with my radio. The radio would freeze up or it would not turn off, there were times the radio would keep running for close to 15 minutes even though the car was shut off. I took my car to dealership in may 2018 at 4136 miles & they stated my terminal connections were loose, they completed a radio update & that when the remote start was installed they didn't believe it was fully connected to the battery. Shortly after, my GPS would lose connection a lot, my eye sight technology shuts off when I'm driving if it's foggy or rainy, my reverse auto brake has stopped my car even though there was nothing behind me, my car auto braked on the highway twice even though I was not near anyone & almost caused accidents, & my radio has frozen up, so I could not do anything but view a blue screen with white stars. I kept getting charged for starlink but it never worked, the icons wouldn't even light up on my screen for it. I brought my car in for numerous recalls in feb 2020, my car had 13,790 miles. On may 20, 2020, my car would not start; my key fobs & remote start wouldn't work. A jumper box couldn't start my car; I had to have someone jump the car. The car ran rough & the odometer shut off & the screen changed while driving. Today, the car is dead again. I can only get into my car with emergency key, the car & electronics will not turn on & lights were blinking on the dashboard. My car has 17,132 miles & this is the 2nd time I am completely without a car for days. There is something seriously wrong with the battery & electrical components of this car.

Filed Dec 31, 2019 · Engine · 16,000 miles · NC

The car engine has stalled 4 times since july when wife was accelerating onto a main street or through an intersection, turning from a stop. On one occasion, she fluttered the pedal and regained engine power. The other times she had to take the car out of gear and restart the engine with the ignition key. Loosing power in an intersection with moderate to heavy traffic has scared her and she refuses to the the car. Two of these incidents were prior to the car being serviced for the coil inspection and ECM reprogram recall on nov. 20, the other two were on dec.3, 2019. The auto was taken to the wilmington, nc subaru dealership for a thorough inspection on dec. 17, 2019, and they could not find the problem. The car was purchased used from a dealership in april. 2019. I, (the husband) drive the car 95% of the time and have not had the problem of engine stalling. The wife is 5'2" and is in her early 70s. She has been driving for 55 years and our previous car was a 1998 subaru outback of which she had no problems. The wife does drive with both feet, accelerating with the right foot and breaking with the left foot. Attempts to duplicate the problem, both with her driving and with me driving fail to cause a stall.

Filed Mar 2, 2019 · Transmission, Wheels · 3,150 miles · WA · crash

Vehicle was climbing a residential street with a gradual incline in snow approximately 3 inches of fresh powder with no ice underneath. Vehicle had only 3,150 miles on the odometer and the tires were stock all season yokohama with a good mud/tread rating. The vehicle was climbing the hill very well until at the crest a check engine light and awd light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The tires failed to clean the snow properly and I slid back into a guardrail for approximately 500 feet and there was cosmetic damage to the vehicle as well as the right wheel was bent. Dealership where I traded the vehicle into had 2 other customers trade their 2018 crosstreks due to poor awd system and very dangerous all season tires.

Filed Jan 18, 2019 · Engine, Transmission · 7,000 miles · CA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 subaru crosstrek. While driving at low speeds, the vehicle stalled and was rear ended. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The air bags did not deploy. There was no body damage to the contact's vehicle. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to irvine subaru (23663 rockfield blvd, lake forest, ca 92630, (949) 837-3500) where it was repaired per technical service bulletin number: 10144878 (equipment, power train, engine); however, the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact back to the dealer. The failure mileage was 7,000.

Filed Sep 21, 2018 · Engine · 70 miles · PA

There was a recall on my car for the engine stalling and hesitation. The recall did not resolve the problem. The car has been at the dealership two times. They cannot duplicate the condition. Subaru does not want to get involved to help my dealer repair the car. I am afraid to drive the car because when it does lose power its a major safety concern.

Filed Jun 25, 2018 · Engine · 200 miles · AZ

June 2, 2018. Purchased a new 2018 subaru crosstrek from my local subaru dealership and drove the car home. The next day (june 3, 2018), on my first trip out to run errands the car stalled after going from reverse to drive at slow speed in a parking lot. The next day (june 4, 2018), the car stalled again twice in rapid succession under similar conditions in another parking lot. The same day (june 4, 2018), I drove the car to my local subaru dealership for service. Subaru engineers evaluated a similar problem on other crosstreks and determined that the issue was a software problem. 21 days later I am still waiting for a remedy.