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Subaru engine recalls: sudden power loss, stalling and coolant leaks
Four engine recalls, and the repeated one is the aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve. Subaru recalled it in October 2019 for 2017-2018 Impreza and 2018 Crosstrek, then again in December 2019 for 2019 Crosstrek, Forester and Ascent: the valve can come apart and send pieces into the engine, causing a loss of power while driving. The other two are one-off assembly problems. On the 2022 Outback the engine wiring harness may be damaged, leaving a loose connection to the engine control unit and a possible stall. On the 2024 Forester, loose engine water pipe bolts can break the seal and leak coolant, a fire risk — though those vehicles were never delivered to dealers or owners.
Warning signs to watch for
- Sudden loss of engine power while driving
- Engine stalls, including in traffic
- Coolant leaking or disappearing on the 2024 Forester
- The PCV notices describe no reliable advance warning before the valve separates
Is it safe to keep driving?
None of these four recalls carries a stop-driving order or a park-outside warning. The 2017-2018 Impreza, 2018 Crosstrek and 2019 Crosstrek, Forester and Ascent PCV recalls and the 2022 Outback harness recall all note that Subaru has not told owners to park the vehicle, but each can cause a stall or a sudden loss of power in traffic, so book the repair rather than waiting for a symptom. The 2024 Forester coolant leak is a fire risk; those cars were never delivered, so have one checked before driving it.
What the free repair involves
Every repair is free. For the PCV valve, dealers inspect and replace it; if the valve has separated and the pieces cannot be found, Subaru replaces the engine or the short block. On the 2022 Outback, dealers replace the engine wiring harness and the ECU. On the 2024 Forester, Subaru's distributor facilities tighten the water pipe attachment bolts. No over-the-air updates.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 1 |
| high | 3 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-10-26 | Subaru Forester coolant leak can start engine fire | critical |
| 2022-07-01 | Subaru Outback wiring fault may cause engine stall | high |
| 2019-12-02 | Subaru Ascent, Crosstrek, Forester engine valve can break apart | high |
| 2019-10-17 | Subaru Impreza, Crosstrek valve breakup can kill engine power | high |
Common questions
What happens if the broken PCV valve pieces can't be found in my engine?
Subaru covers it. On 2017-2018 Impreza and 2018 Crosstrek the engine is replaced free of charge; on 2019 Crosstrek, Forester and Ascent the short block engine is replaced free of charge when the separated components cannot be located.
Does the 2024 Forester coolant recall affect a car I already bought?
The notice states the affected 2024 Foresters had not been delivered to dealers or sold to owners, so no owner notification letters were issued. If you believe you have one, have the water pipe bolts checked before driving it.
My 2022 Outback stalled once. Is that this recall?
It may be. The recall covers a damaged engine wiring harness that leaves a loose connection to the engine control unit and can stall the engine. Dealers replace both the harness and the ECU free of charge.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.