2020 Subaru CROSSTREK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
68 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
5,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 68 complaints (44.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 14.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 7.4% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 7.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 5.9% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 30 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Power Train | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 3 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
Visibility/Wiper: 30; Electrical System: 10; Power Train: 9; Unknown Or Other: 9; Engine: 5; Visibility:Windshield: 3; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 28 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 28; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (28). 37 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2020: 15; 2021: 18; 2022: 12; 2023: 7; 2024: 3; 2025: 7; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11321959 · 2020-04-22 (April 22, 2020)
WE HAD A REMOTE START INSTALLED BY THE DEALERSHIP PRIOR TO ACCEPTING DELIVERY OF THE CAR. TWO DAYS LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO START. THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP (SPORT SUBARU SOUTH IN ORLANDO FL) SENT A TECHNICIAN TO REPAIR THE CAR, RATHER THAN TOWING IT TO A DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRING IT THERE. THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THE REMOTE START WAS DEFECTIVE AND REROUTED THE STARTING PROCEDURE. SINCE THEN, THE CAR MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE ON COLD STARTS. THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO HAVE THE REST OF THE REMOTE START COMPONENTS RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 203 miles reported. Look up ODI 11321959 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11415012 · 2021-05-03 (May 3, 2021)
MY CAR WOULDN'T START AFTER STOPPING TO VISIT A FRIEND. THE FRIEND WATCHED UNDER THE HOOD WHEN I PRESSED THE START BUTTON. HE SAW SPARKS FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD DRIVEN OVER 27 MILES THAT DAY BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS BECAUSE I MADE TOO MANY SHORT TRIPS. THEY OFFERED TO INSTALL A BATTERY CHARGER WHICH I DON'T FEEL SHOULD BE NECESSARY ON A BRAND NEW CAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11415012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11518940 · 2023-04-25 (April 25, 2023)
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated while shifting the vehicle into reverse, the vehicle launched forward without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 12,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11518940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11523649 · 2023-05-24 (May 24, 2023)
Transmission began making a whining noise at low speeds accelerating/ and backing up. Slight hesitation when accelerating. Transmission failed at 6k miles- confirmed by dealer and replaced. Now again at 34k miles same issue- transmission confirmed to be issue again by dealer. Subaru is in the process of sending a technician to dealer to inspect. No warning or messages displayed. Unacceptable quality/safety for a vehicle purchased new and all of the maintenance schedule followed.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11523649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11557526 · 2023-11-29 (November 29, 2023)
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while she was sitting in the parked vehicle on the side of the road, another vehicle driving at approximately 60-65 MPH rear-ended her vehicle. The contact's vehicle was pushed into the highway's first lane. The front driver's side seat belt failed to restrain the contact in her seat, causing her forehead to hit the steering wheel and the back of her head to roll between the A-Pillar of the front windshield and the front driver's side door. The contact attempted to depress the br…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11557526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11643745 · 2025-02-19 (February 19, 2025)
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated while pulling into a parking spot and depressing the brake pedal to come to a complete stop, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal a second time, the vehicle jerked, unintendedly accelerated, drove up the curb, and crashed into the metal plastic pole of Wawa. The pole was fractured. The air bags did not deploy. There was no injury sustained. There was no warning light illuminated. A police report was filed, but the contact did not have …
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11643745 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11434773 · 2021-09-28 (September 28, 2021)
Stalls sometimes when in intersection or when making a turn from dead stop ,then goes along fine. Seems like it is fuel or computer problem
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11434773 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11735976 · 2026-05-06 (May 6, 2026)
My 2020 Subaru Crosstrek experienced a sudden loss of motive power and stalled due to a blown ignition fuse. Diagnostic code P1604 (Startability Malfunction) was stored. Inspection by Wayne Subaru (Invoice #25340) confirmed the Cylinder 3 ignition coil had shorted and physically melted. This is the exact failure mode described in Subaru Safety Recall WRE-21 (NHTSA Campaign 21V825000), which currently only covers 2018–2019 models. My vehicle experienced a thermal event and a stall despite being a 2020 model. The dealer replaced only the melted c…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11735976 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11575695 · 2024-03-05 (March 5, 2024)
This vehicle is a plug-in-hybrid. It should not be able to move while plugged in. Problem is attempting to move the vehicle when the charge cable is still attached and the vehicle is on an incline. Subaru does not display a warning message - instead it displays "check engine" and an ambiguous symbol (a red steering wheel). Subaru disables the power to wheels that would have enabled the driver to close the gap to the charging station. Instead the vehicle rolls away from the charging station, breaking power plug at the vehicle port. Even placing…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11575695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11650867 · 2025-03-26 (March 26, 2025)
The 2019-2021 Crosstrek Hybrid has an issue with the fuel tank design. Subaru has finally released a TSB (Reference: 09-82-23R) that explains the issue in more detail and how the defective parts need to be replaced. In short, the fuel tank has a design flaw such that regular fuel corrodes the fuel tank and causes clogging in the vapor vent tubes. Subaru says it's related to fuel with high ethanol content, however I have been filling up with regular fuel and have still experienced the issue. I have personally owned two of these vehicles and expe…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11650867 at NHTSA ↗