Most common 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek problems
Share of the 81 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Subaru XV Crosstrek complaints by model year
What 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek owners say
Electrical system all 20 →
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2014 Subaru Crosstrek on May 22, 2026. The sale was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was recorded at 77,441. The contact later purchased a CARFAX report which was reported at 214,767 in February 2026. The contact reported the information to the local authorities.
Ignition key keeps intermittently locking into ignition when trying to retrieve key. Putting vehicle in park, key will turn engine off, but then will not turn all the way to release the key. Key has a key fob, vehicle is placed on parking gear. Sometimes restarting vehicle can help, sometimes shifting gears and driving vehicle again can help. Sometimes turning steering wheel helps. Sometimes all you can do is wait a few to five minutes to be able to turn off vehicle and retrieve car. No warning lights. After my warranty expired was when I noticed the problem. Bought vehicle used less than a year ago. It can be a safety risk if I cannot retrieve my key and then anyone could jump in and steal it as their is no other way to lock the vehicle unless I automatically locky myself out.
Transmission & drivetrain
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. …
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. …
Engine & cooling
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.
I am reporting a complete engine failure on my 2014 Subaru Crosstrek at 140,000 miles due to a valve spring issue that appears to match Subaru's Recall WTY-84 (NHTSA Campaign 18V772000). I checked my VIN and it currently shows no open recalls, but I've reviewed Subaru's own documentation that lists 2013-2016 Crosstreks as affected by this defect. My vehicle clearly falls within that production range and has now suffered the exact failure described in that recall - a fractured valve spring causing a complete engine malfunction. I never received a recall notice, and when I contacted Subaru, they acknowledged the VIN wasn't included in the recall despite the year, make, model, and symptoms matching exactly. This raises concern that the recall scope is too narrow and is excluding other affected vehicles. …
2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | AWD | 29 / 32 / 30 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | CVT | AWD | 25 / 32 / 28 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | AWD | 23 / 29 / 25 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek a good car?
Based on 81 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2014 XV Crosstrek rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the XV Crosstrek at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek?
The electrical system — 20 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about wiring. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (13) and engine & cooling (11).
How many recalls does the 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
At what mileage do 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 50,000 miles; 49% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.