Subaru Crosstrek Reliability
Quick answer
Across model years 2012–2026, owners filed 1,481 complaints about the Subaru Crosstrek with NHTSA, most often about windshield visibility and the electrical system, and NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns. We have no published sales figures for the Crosstrek to turn that into a per-1,000-sold rate, so these counts compare its model years with each other, not with other models. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024 as years to avoid and rates 2013 and 2022 as better years. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
By CarWhere Research · Last reviewed 2026-11-10 · Source: NHTSA
1,481
NHTSA owner complaints (2012–2026)
85
Complaints citing a crash
18
Recall campaigns
4
Years to avoid
Most-reported Subaru Crosstrek problems
NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2012–2026, by the component owners named, filed 2014–2026. A complaint can name more than one component. The last three columns count complaints that report a crash, a fire or an injury.
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crash | Fire | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility / wipers | 357 | 24% | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 256 | 17% | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| Engine | 214 | 14% | 14 | 11 | 3 |
| Powertrain / transmission | 173 | 12% | 12 | 1 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 81 | 5% | 27 | 1 | 6 |
| Steering | 78 | 5% | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Speed control / throttle | 66 | 4% | 23 | 0 | 6 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 54 | 4% | 10 | 1 | 5 |
Of all 1,481 complaints, 85 (6%) report a crash, 21 (1%) a fire and 36 (2%) an injury.
For 2020-and-newer models (433 complaints), the most-reported areas are windshield visibility (114), the electrical system (55), automatic emergency braking (45), the engine (40).
Subaru Crosstrek complaints by model year
Where problems concentrate. Year flags come from CarWhere's years-to-avoid analysis, which compares each Crosstrek model year with the model's other years. The full year-by-year verdicts are on the years-to-avoid page.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 | 0 | Engine | — |
| 2013 | 124 | 3 | Engine | Better year |
| 2014 | 107 | 1 | Electrical system | — |
| 2015 | 100 | 2 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2016 | 136 | 1 | Electrical system | — |
| 2017 | 98 | 1 | Visibility / wipers | — |
| 2018 | 195 | 5 | Visibility / wipers | Avoid |
| 2019 | 286 | 7 | Visibility / wipers | Avoid |
| 2020 | 71 | 0 | Visibility / wipers | — |
| 2021 | 116 | 2 | Visibility / wipers | Avoid |
| 2022 | 31 | 0 | Visibility / wipers | Better year |
| 2023 | 36 | 0 | Visibility / wipers | — |
| 2024(new) | 121 | 2 | Visibility / wipers | Avoid |
| 2025(new) | 47 | 0 | Visibility / wipers | — |
| 2026(new) | 11 | 1 | Electrical system | — |
Raw counts are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, and older years have had longer to collect complaints. Years marked "new" have had less than three years on the road. — = not flagged either way.
Subaru Crosstrek recalls
NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns across Subaru Crosstrek model years 2012–2026. The ones below cover the most model years (campaigns with a park advisory first). Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Model years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26V685000Oct 19, 2026 | 2026 | Suspension — front / control arm / lower ball joint | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek and Forester vehicles. The castle nut on the left-front lower control arm ball joint may be improperly fastened, which can lead to the ball joint separating from the…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 19V149000Feb 28, 2019 | 2013–2017 | Exterior lighting — brake lights / switch | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants… |
| 21V264000Apr 15, 2021 | 2018 and 2019 | Electrical system — software | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Subaru Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, causing a short circuit. |
| 21V263000Apr 15, 2021 | 2018 and 2019 | Suspension — rear | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Subaru Crosstrek, 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid, and 2019 Forester vehicles. The rear stabilizer bracket bolts may loosen and detach. |
| 19V743000Oct 18, 2019 | 2018 and 2019 | Electrical system — software | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, which could result in a short… |
Best and worst Crosstrek years
- Years to avoid: 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024.
- Better years: 2013 and 2022.
- 2024–2026: too new to judge fully; complaint counts are still building.
Subaru Crosstrek years to avoid: the verdict for every model year →
What to inspect on a used Subaru Crosstrek
Based on the components owners report most. None of these replaces an independent pre-purchase inspection.
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Driver aids: ask about false automatic-braking events and check for warning messages on the dash.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: check the VIN for open recalls; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any Subaru Crosstrek can be better or worse than the model's record. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
Subaru Crosstrek reliability FAQ
Is the Subaru Crosstrek reliable?
Across model years 2012–2026, owners filed 1,481 complaints about the Subaru Crosstrek with NHTSA, most often about windshield visibility and the electrical system, and NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns. We have no published sales figures for the Crosstrek to turn that into a per-1,000-sold rate, so these counts compare its model years with each other, not with other models. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024 as years to avoid and rates 2013 and 2022 as better years. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
What are the most common Subaru Crosstrek problems?
In NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2012–2026, the most-reported areas are windshield visibility (357), the electrical system (256), the engine (214) and the transmission (173). For 2020-and-newer models, the most-reported areas are windshield visibility, the electrical system and automatic emergency braking. One complaint can name more than one component, and complaints are unverified owner reports.
What years of the Subaru Crosstrek should you avoid?
CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024 as years to avoid and rates 2013 and 2022 as better years. Each model year is compared only with other Crosstrek years: complaints are adjusted for time on the road, and serious ones (engine, transmission, brakes, steering, fuel system, or a reported crash, fire or injury) count double, with a smaller adjustment for recall campaigns.
How long does a Subaru Crosstrek last?
In CarWhere's lifespan study, 0.6% of 17,141 used Crosstrek listings in the US had passed 200,000 miles and 4.7% had passed 150,000. Among those 10+ years old, 3% are past 200,000 miles. Maintenance history matters more than the model average for any one car.
How many recalls does the Subaru Crosstrek have?
NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns covering Subaru Crosstrek model years 2012–2026. The one covering the most model years is 26V685000 (suspension, 2026). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How do I check a specific used Subaru Crosstrek?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
How we measure Crosstrek reliability
- Complaints are every NHTSA owner complaint filed for the Subaru Crosstrek, model years 2012–2026, across all the body-style and trim names NHTSA files them under, de-duplicated by complaint number. They are unverified owner reports.
- Year flags compare each Crosstrek model year only with other Crosstrek years, so they say which years to prefer, not how the Crosstrek compares with other models.
- This is federal complaint and recall data, not a survey and not comparable to Consumer Reports or J.D. Power ratings. It does not estimate repair costs.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints and NHTSA recall campaigns (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-11-10; published U.S. sales figures; CarWhere years-to-avoid analysis.