Subaru Crosstrek Years to Avoid
Avoid: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024 · Best: 2013, 2022 — based on 1,109 NHTSA complaints across 14 model years (2012–2025), severity-weighted and adjusted for time on the road.
Based on CarWhere's analysis of 1,109 NHTSA complaints, the Subaru Crosstrek years to avoid are 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024 — the worst logged up to 3.8× the model's median severity-weighted complaint rate, driven by body failures. Updated November 2026.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of November 2026 · How we rate model years
Year-by-year verdict
| Model year | Complaints | Severe | Recalls | Verdict | Problems & recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 | 2 | 0 | N/A | — |
| 2013 | 25 | 18 | 1 | BEST | — |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 1 | N/A | — |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 1 | N/A | 2015 Crosstrek problems → |
| 2016 | 131 | 53 | 1 | CAUTION | 2016 Crosstrek problems → |
| 2017 | 97 | 33 | 1 | SOLID | 2017 Crosstrek problems → |
| 2018 | 194 | 54 | 5 | AVOID | 2018 Crosstrek problems → |
| 2019 | 279 | 75 | 7 | AVOID | 2019 Crosstrek problems → |
| 2020 | 68 | 21 | 0 | SOLID | 2020 Crosstrek problems → |
| 2021 | 108 | 36 | 1 | AVOID | 2021 Crosstrek problems → |
| 2022 | 28 | 8 | 0 | BEST | 2022 Crosstrek problems → |
| 2023 | 32 | 10 | 0 | SOLID | 2023 Crosstrek problems → |
| 2024 | 104 | 27 | 2 | AVOID | 2024 Crosstrek problems → |
| 2025 | 41 | 6 | 0 | SOLID | 2025 Crosstrek problems → |
"Severe" = complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury, or a safety-critical component. Verdicts compare each year against the rest of the Subaru Crosstrek. Full methodology.
Crosstrek problems by model year
Each year has its own page with the complaint components, NHTSA recall campaigns, service-bulletin count, a comparison with the year before and after, and what to check on a used one.
Common Subaru Crosstrek problems
Across the federal record, the most-reported problem areas on the Subaru Crosstrek are body, engine. The confirmed and owner-reported issues below include owner mileage and repair-cost ranges where available.
SiriusXM advertisements blocking infotainment during driving
· Subaru Crosstrek 2024–2025Corroborated by 13 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 17 body complaints across 2024–2025.
Engine valve spring fracture
· Subaru Crosstrek 2012–2013Corroborated by 6 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 13 engine complaints across 2012–2013.
Why these years stand out
2018 Subaru Crosstrek: 194 owner complaints on federal record, 54 of them severe, plus 5 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Subaru Crosstrek.
2019 Subaru Crosstrek: 279 owner complaints on federal record, 75 of them severe, plus 7 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Subaru Crosstrek.
2021 Subaru Crosstrek: 108 owner complaints on federal record, 36 of them severe, plus 1 recall campaign — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Subaru Crosstrek.
2024 Subaru Crosstrek: 104 owner complaints on federal record, 27 of them severe, plus 2 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Subaru Crosstrek.
Know what to pay for the right Subaru Crosstrek — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
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FAQ
What years of the Subaru Crosstrek should you avoid?
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall data, the Subaru Crosstrek years to avoid are 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by body issues. See the year-by-year table for the full picture.
What are the best years for the Subaru Crosstrek?
The 2013 and 2022 Subaru Crosstrek show the cleanest federal records among years with enough time on the road to judge — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates for the model.
How is the Subaru Crosstrek verdict calculated?
Each model year's NHTSA owner complaints are weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries, and safety-critical components count more), converted to a rate per year on the road, and compared against the rest of the Subaru Crosstrek's own history, then adjusted for recalls. Full method at /research/years-to-avoid/methodology.
How do I check a specific Subaru Crosstrek before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for that exact VIN plus a market price check from verified buyers.
Is the Subaru Crosstrek reliable?
The Subaru Crosstrek's reliability depends heavily on the model year. Across 1,109 NHTSA owner complaints, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024 rate "avoid", while 2013 and 2022 show the cleanest federal records — see the year-by-year verdicts above.
What are the most common problems with the Subaru Crosstrek?
The most-reported problem area for the Subaru Crosstrek is body, followed by engine. Confirmed failures include siriusxm advertisements blocking infotainment during driving, engine valve spring fracture. See the common-problems section above for owner-reported mileage and repair costs where available.
Sources & data notes
All figures are drawn from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Defects Investigation — owner-filed complaints and recall campaigns — covering the Subaru Crosstrek across every model year on record. Retrieved November 2026. Counts are raw federal filings and are not adjusted for the number of vehicles sold or registered; a verdict compares each model year against the rest of the Subaru Crosstrek, not against other vehicles. Full scoring at the methodology page.
Verify the flagged years in NHTSA's public database:
Verdicts are computed from federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, refreshed monthly. Read the full methodology.