Subaru Crosstrek Engine Misfire Issues and Fixes

Having moderate experience with Subarus, I dealt with very similar symptoms on my 2014 Subaru Impreza last year. The symptoms you describe, rough running, jerking during acceleration, and check engine light, match what I experienced. Initially thought it was a simple spark plug issue, but after getting it diagnosed, it turned out to be a leak in the exhaust system near the manifold. The leak was causing incorrect readings from the oxygen sensor, which made the engine run rich and create misfires. The total repair cost was 265€, which included labor and parts. The shop pressure tested the exhaust system to pinpoint the exact location of the leak before making the repair. Before jumping to conclusions, it would help to know: How many miles/kilometers are on your XV? When was the last time you had basic maintenance done (spark plugs, air filter)? Does the rough running happen more when the engine is cold or warm? Are you noticing any unusual exhaust smell? These details would help determine if your issue is similar to what I experienced with my Impreza. Would definitely recommend getting that error code read first, most auto parts stores will do this for free.

Thank you for checking my problem. Just had my service done last week at 156373 KM. After reading your message, I started paying more attention to the behavior patterns. The rough idle is definitely worse when the engine is cold, and it seems to improve slightly after warming up. I suspect it could be related to the spark plugs since they were not changed during the service. The air filter was replaced though. No unusual exhaust smells that I can detect, but the jerking during acceleration is getting more noticeable. Getting the error code read tomorrow, which should help narrow down whether its related to the oxygen sensor or ignition system. Will update once I know more. If it turns out to be spark plugs, at least that would be a relatively straightforward fix compared to more complex fuel pump or exhaust system issues.

Thanks for those additional details. Since we share similar Subaru experiences, your description of cold-start rough idle immediately rings a bell. While my Impreza had that exhaust leak, I actually dealt with a separate ignition coil failure about 6 months prior that showed very similar symptoms to what youre describing. The worse performance during cold starts is often a telltale sign of ignition system issues. When I replaced my ignition coils, the rough idle and jerky acceleration cleared up completely. The engine misfire was most noticeable before the engine reached operating temperature, just like youre experiencing. Good call on getting the codes read. If it shows a misfire in a specific cylinder, youll want to swap that ignition coil with one from another cylinder to see if the misfire follows it. My repair ended up costing 180€ for the coil plus installation. One quick check you can do: listen for any clicking or ticking sounds from the engine during idle. A failing ignition coil can sometimes make these noises, which is what helped diagnose mine. Looking forward to hearing what the error codes reveal. Keep us posted.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses. I got the error codes read today, it showed P0303, indicating a misfire in cylinder 3. Following your advice, I had the shop swap the ignition coil from cylinder 3 with cylinder 1, and sure enough, the misfire code moved to cylinder 1. This confirmed it was definitely an ignition coil issue. Ended up replacing the ignition coil and also did the spark plugs while they were at it since they were original to the car. Total cost came to 220€ for parts and labor. The rough idle is completely gone now and the engine runs smooth during acceleration. The clicking sound you mentioned was exactly what I was hearing, cant believe I didnt notice it earlier. Really glad I checked here before assuming it was something more serious like a timing belt or fuel pump problem. For anyone else reading this with similar symptoms, getting the error codes read early saved me from a lot of guesswork. The cold-start issues and clicking sounds were the biggest clues pointing to the ignition coil failure.