Subaru CROSSTREK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,177 owner complaints analyzed
13 distinct recall campaigns
17,066 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 552 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 292 of 1,177 complaints (24.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 124 | 10.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 110 | 9.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 83 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 76 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 55 | 4.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 0.7% |
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 | 292 |
| Unknown Or Other | 270 |
| Electrical System | 190 |
| Engine | 145 |
| Power Train | 109 |
| Steering | 59 |
| Service Brakes | 48 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 48 |
Visibility/Wiper: 292; Unknown Or Other: 270; Electrical System: 190; Engine: 145; Power Train: 109; Steering: 59; Service Brakes: 48; Vehicle Speed Control: 48
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 336 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 119 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 65 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 336; 25,000 to 49,999: 119; 50,000 to 74,999: 65; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (336). 625 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 21 |
| 2018 | 60 |
| 2019 | 170 |
| 2020 | 210 |
| 2021 | 155 |
| 2022 | 106 |
| 2023 | 101 |
| 2024 | 105 |
| 2025 | 139 |
| 2026 | 101 |
2016: 9; 2017: 21; 2018: 60; 2019: 170; 2020: 210; 2021: 155; 2022: 106; 2023: 101; 2024: 105; 2025: 139; 2026: 101
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 124 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 110 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 83 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 10910864 · 2016-09-30 (September 30, 2016)
AFTER 73,000 MILES OF MOSTLY NON-PEAK HIGHWAY MILES THE BREAK LIGHT SWITCH FAILED. THIS CAUSED MY BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK UNTIL AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE. THE DASH HILL ASSIST, ABS, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY DURING DRIVING FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND THEN WERE CONSTANT WHEN IT FINALLY FAILED COMPLETELY.
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10910864 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11074526 · 2018-02-23 (February 23, 2018)
PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE AT WORK, GOING NO MORE THAN 5 MPH. VEHICLES LUNGED FORWARD AND HIT TREE. THE ENGINE SEEMED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN REVVED SUDDENLY. ALTHOUGH I HIT THE BRAKES, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP.
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11074526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10939108 · 2017-01-02 (January 2, 2017)
ECO-WIRING MADE OF MATERIALS THAT ATTRACT ANIMALS. A RODENT CHEWED THROUGH MY WIRING HARNESS. $800 WORTH OF DAMAGE THAT COULD BE PREVENTED. CAR IS INOPERABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 32,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10939108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11111350 · 2018-07-14 (July 14, 2018)
2013 SUBARU CROSSTREK(70K MILES) PASSENGER DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. WITHIN 3 MINUTES OF SMELLING SMOKE INSIDE DOOR PANEL WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WENT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY, TURNED ENGINE OFF, PUT OUT THE FLAMES, WAITED FOR THE SMOKE TO CLEAR AND THE PLASTIC TO COOL OFF. UPON RESTARTING VEHICLE SPARKS AND SMOKE VISIBLE SO TURNED VEHICLE OFF. CUT THE RED(+) WIRES, RESTARTED VEHICLE(NO SMOKE), DROVE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. OBVIOUSLY A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NONE OF THE FUSES POPPED. HAD A PASSENGER BEEN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT I'M S…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11111350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11000317 · 2017-06-20 (June 20, 2017)
THE CAR WOULD LOSE A QUART OF ANTI FREEZE EVERY 7500 MILES.I BROUGHT IT IN AT LEAST 8 TIMES TELLING THEM THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THEY PRESSURE TESTED THE VEHICLE AT LEAST 8 TIMES AND 2 SERVICE MANAGERS SAID I WAS NUTS THEY ARE BOTH FIRED. MY 20 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES FROM NEW YORK TO FLORIDA. I ASKED A SERVICE MANAGER WHEN THE CAR HAD APPROX, 55K TO GIVE THIS CAR TO A MECHANIC, SERVICE WRITER OR HIM SELF TO GO ON VACATION WITH A FREE CAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER DECLINED SAYING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND WOULD NOT LET ANYBODY TAKE THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 74 miles reported. Look up ODI 11000317 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11119716 · 2018-08-13 (August 13, 2018)
SOLENOID VALVE IN CVT CRACKED AFTER 6.5 YEARS OF USE (ROUGHLY 140K - 160K MILES). GOT IT FIXED, THEN 1 YEAR LATER (ANOTHER 40K - 20K MILES), IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BOTH TIMES I WAS ACCELERATING. THE FIRST TIME FROM A STOP, AND SECOND TIME I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 70 MPH.
Owner-reported narrative. 186,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11119716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11064115 · 2018-01-22 (January 22, 2018)
DURING THE MORNING AND SOMETIMES IN THE AFTERNOON AS I START THE VEHICLE THE STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO BE STEERED. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND I BROUGHT IT TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURES WARRANTY. LAST WEEK THE DEALERSHIP CALLED AND STATED IT WAS REPAIRED, I HAVE ALL THE RECORDS. AS MY PREGNANT WIFE AND I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE I STARTED THE CAR TO LEAVE AND THE STEERING LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN, AND I COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE. I AM NOW VERY AFRAID THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE…
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 11064115 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11161464 · 2018-12-14 (December 14, 2018)
I WAS DRIVING ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY GOING 55MPH. MY KNEE BUMPED THE STEERING COLUMN AND AT THAT MOMENT THE DASH WENT BLANK, I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER BEFORE THE STEERING LOCKED UP. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. AFTER AWHILE I DISCOVERED THE CAR WOULD RESTART AND DROVE THE REMAINING 20 MILES HOME WITH NO PROBLEM. IT WASN'T UNTIL I CALLED THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND LOOKED ONLINE THAT I REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I'M SHORT , 5'1' AND HAD THE STEERING COLUMN AT THE LOWEST POSITION AND T…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11161464 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11193710 · 2019-04-03 (April 3, 2019)
SUBARU HAS ISSUED TWO RECALLS FOR THE SUBARU CROSSTREK 2013: BREAK LIGHTS AND ENGINE STALLS DUE TOMORROW VALVE CRACK. THESE ARE BOTH SAFETY RECALLS. I CONTACTED TWO SUBARU DEALERS FOR THE RECALL, AND IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE THEY'VE SAID THEY COULD TAKE MAY CAR. I CALLED TWICE MORE, AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME ANOTHER MONTH.
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11193710 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11184811 · 2019-03-07 (March 7, 2019)
CALLED EL PASO, TX SUBARU DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE FIX OF SAFETY RECALL WTY-84. FIRST TIME ON 1/14/19 AND 1/16/19. TOLD BOTH TIMES SOMEONE WOULD GET BACK WITH ME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. CALLED TODAY, 3/7/19 AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A LIST, APPROXIMATELY 15 PEOPLE AHEAD OF ME ON THIS LIST, FOR THE SAFETY RECALL AND THAT I AM NOT ON THAT LIST AND IT COULD TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 2 WEEKS TO GET MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE REPAIR AND THAT WASN'T A GUARANTEE. I HAVE NOT TAKEN MY VEHICLE ON ANY LONG DISTANCE TRIPS IN FEAR THAT THE ENGINE MAY STA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11184811 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11436584 · 2021-10-13 (October 13, 2021)
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that after refueling with the fuel tank at 3/4 tank full, the fuel gauge failed to provide the correct fuel level. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the fuel sending tank, but the failure continued to occur. The contact indicated that the failure had caused fuel leakage and spillage while adding fuel to the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11436584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11386362 · 2021-01-04 (January 4, 2021)
VEHICLE TURNED OFF/STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON 2 OCCASIONS, 2 MONTHS APART. NEEDED TO BE TOWED. SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. BOTH TIMES, DEALER STATED NO ISSUES WERE FOUND. FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT MAY BE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WHICH WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. SECOND TIME THEY SAID IT MIGHT BE THE FUEL PUMP OVERHEATING BUT SAID PUMP LOOKED FINE. I DO NOT TRUST THE CAR AND WILL NOT DRIVE IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11386362 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 0 |
2012: 0; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 5; 2019: 7; 2020: 0; 2021: 1; 2022: 0; 2023: 0; 2024: 2; 2025: 0; 2026: 0