Subaru XV Crosstrek check engine light comes on

Filed Dec 23, 2025 · Engine · HI

While driving at normal operating speed, the vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of engine power with no prior warning. There were no dashboard alerts, warning lights, or check engine indicators before the failure occurred. The vehicle became immediately unsafe to operate and had to be pulled over in a main highway center lane divide. After inspection by a licensed mechanic, it was determined that the engine suffered catastrophic internal failure due to oil and engine coolant mixing. This resulted in complete engine failure and rendered the vehicle inoperable. The vehicle has been properly maintained with all routine oil changes and inspections completed on schedule. There was no indication of overheating or mechanical issues prior to the failure. The condition that caused the failure was not detectable through normal maintenance. The sudden loss of power without warning created a significant safety risk to the driver and surrounding traffic. Due to the nature of the failure, the engine requires full replacement, and both 12v and hybrid batteries were also damaged and require replacement. This incident raises concern regarding a potential latent defect related to the engine or cooling system, particularly given reports of similar issues in this model year.

Filed Oct 18, 2024 · Engine, Transmission · MA

The recall Type: Safety Service Campaign:WTY84 the federal safety agency Campaign: 18V772000 FB20 Valve Spring Replacement was reported completed by the manufacturer Subaru has no record of it being done. My car is now experiencing symptoms of this recall when I had no issues prior and want me to pay to look into the problem further. Now my vehicle has a check engine light for a recall that was potentially not done as I have no proof that it was completed.

Filed Jun 13, 2023 · Engine · VA

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.

Filed Aug 11, 2022 · Engine, Fuel system · NJ · fire

Engine burst into flames during normal highway driving. Vehicle was well-maintained with all scheduled maintenance performed during the life of the vehicle. CEL was lit approximately 1 week before fire but driveability was normal.

Filed Jun 23, 2022 · Acceleration, Brakes · WA

Whilst driving down Highway 101 near Sequim WA, I was on cruise control doing 55 MPH going up a steep hill which I have done numerous times before without issue. When all of a sudden the car suddenly slowed down, for me to hear honking from a Semi behind me who had to suddenly swerve to go around us to stop him from rear ending me (luckily that part of the road on the hill had a second lane for the truck to use, if not then me and my son would probably be seriously injured or dead.) I looked at the dashboard to find the engine warning light on, and the cruise control flashing, but the car was still running and drove fine with the accelerator pressed. Later on I found out this error code was P0024. When that issue happened, not only had the engine warning light illuminated, it caused not only the cruise control to disengage (without my input) but also for the vehicle stability control to stop working. Once again though the engine was still running file and in my opinion it disabling the cruise and stability control gravely endangered the occupants when it had no reason to disable them. Since then I have had other similar error codes such as P000D which have cause the same thing, but they happened on level ground so the car did not slow down so suddenly. I believe the issue is low or used engine oil, as when I got an oil change (within service life) the issues seems to have gone away; this has happened many times before. These PZEV vehicles not only in my opinion break EPA laws on emissions as they make the car burn through many quarts of oil in the service life, so how Subaru can claim PZEV when exchanging high RPS and a boat load of oil for some if any PZEV's I do not know. My car has two recalls, I have been urgently trying to get these fixed, but my two local dealerships (both 50 miles away) refuse to do the recalls as I filed a lemon complaint, and BBB complaint as one refused to honor a price match for thousands to me. I am a disabled Veteran and need car.

Filed Mar 4, 2022 · WA

The problem occurs during a yaw under all the following conditions: * Slippery surface (snow/ice/heavy rain) * highway speeds (>45mph) * CEL lit for P000A and/or P000C (camshaft position sensor slow response) When the car yaws in these conditions, Vehicle Dynamic Control applies the brakes on the inside of the yaw (rightward yaw = brakes on right side, leftward yaw = brakes on left side), worsening the yaw and causing the vehicle to pendulum back and forth. This occurred several times while both my wife and I were driving, and caused lane departures on interstate highways twice while I was driving. The unintended yaws at high speed were slight and very controllable. I had applied a gentle countersteer without changing pedal inputs when the VDC began inside braking. When the yaw swapped sides, VDC braked on the other side. I wound up fighting VDC via steering to keep the nose straight, twice starting at about 55mph and winding up in a different lane at 30. Subaru states that the trouble codes disable traction and stability control, and the traction control disabled light was lit. However, I confirmed that even with the codes and the TC lamp lit, if I induce a large yaw in a snowy parking lot at low speeds (< 30mph) VDC does engage and straightens the car correctly whether I countersteer or not. I have years of FWD rallycross (dirt) experience and I still race on pavement, so I'm pretty familiar VDC trying to straighten a yawing car when I forget to turn it off. As this is my wife's car and not mine, I didn't know how to disable TC and she didn't either. My wife described the problem as heavy swaying back and forth in slippery conditions, but not bad enough to put her out of her lane. She has almost no experience with controlling a sliding vehicle. The problem was likely worse for me because I was already countersteering when VDC engaged. Subaru has inspected the car and found no problems other than the codes. Subaru case 220121-38086.

Filed May 10, 2021 · Electrical, Transmission · FL

I purchased 2013 subaru crosstrek I am 2nd owner, I never see any problem for engine light check and end up control curise blinking and subaru will not provided any recall for transmission issue it's not safe to driving they said only will warranty under 100k that unfair this not safe car and so many common issue transmission on subaru. It's first make 2013 on crosstrek how it's expect under 100k miles... Should recall for transmission fix

Filed Apr 8, 2021 · Transmission · 90,000 miles · NJ

Hill descent, sway control, ABS lights came on at the same time on the way to work, I was coming of an exit. I had the codes checked and nothing was showing. Over a month later, the check engine and transmission temp lights came on my to work. I immediately turned around and parked my car. Trans temp light was blinking. A few days later I had it taken to a subaru dealership for service. I paid for a diagnostic. The result was a $1600 bill for a valve body kit, trans cover gasket, o-ring, trans body wiring harness.

Filed Nov 2, 2020 · Electrical · 121,000 miles · SC

On two occasions while traveling over 70 MPH on I-26 outside of columbia, sc the vehicle's electric system appeared to malfunction and vehicle died immediately. The clock, fuel economy readings, and radio shut off. The vehicle stalled and had to be maneuvered to the shoulder of the interstate with no acceleration capability or power steering. The vehicle was capable of being restarted. On the first occasion, I restarted the vehicle and there were no faults, errors or anything noted so I continued to drive, assuming it was a one time event. The second time, the same problem happened and then a check engine light appeared. Following the second time, check engine illuminated, as well as the traction control light, and the cruise control image was blinking. Prior to all of these problems, I was having may issues engaging the cruise control and tried multiple button sequences to make cruise control work. I was able to get vehicle to autoparts store where code read p0021. To get safely home, the autoparts store recommended that I do a reset by disconnecting battery and turning off all electronics. This worked and I have driven since without the same event. This could easily have been fatal and must be investigated.

Filed Jan 7, 2020 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 200 miles · CA

Check engine light, oil temp, ABS light, cruise control light, traction control light and ABS light turned on at 90,000 miles. Had vehicle serviced by 2 different mechanics and transmission codes still appear.