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Subaru XV CROSSTREK problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

261 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

52,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 to 2017 model years. Data snapshot: . 152 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 62 of 261 complaints (23.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior3914.9%
Transmission and shifting3513.4%
Electrical and battery issues3011.5%
Steering behavior2810.7%
Engine operation186.9%
Fuel system concerns10.4%

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.

Engine
62
Unknown Or Other
54
Power Train
53
Electrical System
49
Service Brakes
23
Steering
19
Air Bags
17
Vehicle Speed Control
14
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine62
Unknown Or Other54
Power Train53
Electrical System49
Service Brakes23
Steering19
Air Bags17
Vehicle Speed Control14

Engine: 62; Unknown Or Other: 54; Power Train: 53; Electrical System: 49; Service Brakes: 23; Steering: 19; Air Bags: 17; Vehicle Speed Control: 14

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
48
25,000 to 49,999
26
50,000 to 74,999
29
75,000 to 99,999
22
100,000 to 149,999
25
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00048
25,000 to 49,99926
50,000 to 74,99929
75,000 to 99,99922
100,000 to 149,99925
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 48; 25,000 to 49,999: 26; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 25; 150,000 and above: 2

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (48). 109 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.

2014
9
2015
21
2016
14
2017
11
2018
18
2019
49
2020
34
2021
36
2022
18
2023
14
2024
16
2025
12
2026
9
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20149
201521
201614
201711
201818
201949
202034
202136
202218
202314
202416
202512
20269

2014: 9; 2015: 21; 2016: 14; 2017: 11; 2018: 18; 2019: 49; 2020: 34; 2021: 36; 2022: 18; 2023: 14; 2024: 16; 2025: 12; 2026: 9

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 35 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 30 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 10560378 · 2014-01-17 (January 17, 2014)

THE VEHICLE HAS A CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN THE ENGINE RPM'S REACH AROUND 1400 RPM THE VEHICLE QUITS SLOWING DOWN AND CONTINUES FORWARD AT WHAT EVER SPEED IT IS AT. THE CAR MAY NOT BE ACCELERATING BUT IT FEELS LIKE IT IS BECAUSE IT QUITS SLOWING DOWN. IF I TOUCH THE BRAKE A BIT THE ENGINE AGAIN SLOWS DOWN UNTIL IT REACHES THE IDLE RPM OF ABOUT 750. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD TO QUICKLY HIT THE BRAKES …

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560378 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10659578 · 2015-01-21 (January 21, 2015)

2013 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK. CUSTOMER SAYS VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS ISSUES AND CAN'T GET THEM FIXED BECAUSE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LACKED POWER, THE STEERING PULLED SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT, THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY AND IT OFTEN FELT AS THOUGH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ON, THE BRAKES VIBRATED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10659578 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11091305 · 2018-05-02 (May 2, 2018)

WHEN I START MY CAR OR RANDOMLY WHILE I AM DRIVING THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR MY AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM, TRACTION CONTROL, AND HILL ASSIST TURN ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, MY GEAR SHIFTER LOCKS UP AND WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKES THE REAR LIGHTS DON'T ILLUMINATE WHILE THESE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ACTIVE. I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATE RANDOMLY, WHETHER I'M STATIONARY OR IN MOTIONS, REGARDLESS OF SETTING.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11091305 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11039788 · 2017-10-25 (October 25, 2017)

THE HORN DOES NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALIGNED STRAIGHT WITH THE WHEELS AND THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOVING HOWEVER WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THE HORN WILL FUNCTION. "SUBARU HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL IN AUSTRALIA FOR PROBLEMS RELATED TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT COULD LEAD TO A SHORT CIRCUIT, WHICH WOULD DISABLE CONTROL OF THE WIPERS, HEADLIGHTS, HORN, DRIVER'S AIRBAG AND FEATURES ACTUATED THROUGH THE MULTI-FUNCTION STEERING WHEEL, SUCH AS CRUISE CONTROL, AUDIO SYSTEM AND MOBILE PHO…

Owner-reported narrative. 141,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11039788 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11187402 · 2019-03-17 (March 17, 2019)

THIS CAR HAS HAD ISSUES SINCE THE 1ST WEEK, RECALLS, BROKEN PARTS, WARNING LIGHTS ON AND BAD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THERE ARE 2 CURRENT RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, 1 OF WHICH SUBARU DOESN'T HAVE A FIX FOR. I TRIED TO BE NICE, BUT THEY SAID IT WILL TAKE 2-3 MONTHS TO FIX THE VALVE SPRINGS BECAUSE THEY ARE BEHIND. THEY OFFERED A ENTERPRISE RENTAL CAR WHICH IS KIND, BUT THE DRIVER OF THIS CAR IS 21 AND CAN'T USE THE RENTAL. THEY SAID THAT IS MY PROBLEM. LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT, I BOUGHT A CAR IN GOOD FAITH, PAID THE BANK AND GOT THE CAR SERVICED AS SU…

Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11187402 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10558457 · 2014-01-04 (January 4, 2014)

AFTER PARKING THE CAR IN -18 DEGREE AIR TEMPERATURE, FOR ONLY 20 MINUTES, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED THE DEALER FROM WHERE I BOUGHT THE NEW CAR 2 MONTHS EARLIER, TO ASK FOR AN APPOINTMENT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT CHARLIE'S MOTOR MALL IN AUGUSTA, MAINE SAID THAT THEY HAD THREE INCIDENCES OF THIS HAPPENING THE DAY BEFORE AND THAT IS WEATHER RELATED. SHE TOLD ME THAT ALL THEY DO IS PARK THE CAR INSIDE, LET IT WARM UP, THEN RETURN IT TO THE OWNER. I FIND THAT "SOLUTION" UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN AS THE STEERI…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,070 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558457 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10558479 · 2014-01-04 (January 4, 2014)

MY WIFE AND I USED TO LOVE THIS CAR BUT......WHILE DRIVING MY RELATIVELY NEW 2013 CROSSTREK 11,000 MILES FROM WISCONSIN TO DETROIT TO ATTEND THE WINTER HOCKEY CLASSIC HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH GHOSTWALKING. (THIS IS MY 4TH SUBARU AND MY 36TH WINTER DRIVING SEASON SO NOT AN INEXPERIENCE PROBLEM.) IT WAS SNOWING BUT THE ROADS WERE CLEAR OF THICK SNOW BUT HAD A THIN GREASY SHEEN. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP A STRAIGHT LINE AND THE REAR END FELT LIKE IT WANTED TO SPIN OUT (THE OLD REAR WHEEL DRIVE FEEL) ESPECIALLY IF THE WIND BLEW. MOST CARS WERE PAS…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558479 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11141717 · 2018-10-21 (October 21, 2018)

65000 MILES JUST OVER THE WARRANTY I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH 2 AXELS AND 2 CV JOINTS AND $4000 LATER I AM TOLD WE HAVE TO NOW REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT STALLED OUT SLIPPED WHILE I WAS TRYING TO TURN ONTO A BUSY ROAD WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AT 46000 MILES FOR 17200 IN JULY 2017. I DIDN'T THINK THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS EXISTED IN LOW MILEAGE CARS. I'VE OWNED A VOLVO I DROVE FOR 164,000 MILES NEVER HAD TO REPLACE AN AXEL OR TRANSMISSION, MY HONDA CR-V I DROVE FOR OVER 100,000 MILES WITH NO ISSUES AT ALL. I WANTED …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11141717 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11180298 · 2019-02-15 (February 15, 2019)

SUBARU SENT OUT A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE RECALL # WTY-84 IN THE LETTER THEY STATE THAT THE ENGINE MAY STALL WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSING AN INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH. WHEN I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THE FIRST APPOINTMENT THEY HAVE TO RESOLVE THIS WAS ON FEB 12, 2020. FINDING THIS COMPLETELY UNSATISFACTORY FOR A COMPANY TO EXPECT ITS CUSTOMERS TO DRIVE A CAR THEY ARE TELLING US IS A DEATH TRAP. I CALLED MAIL OFFICE SUBARU TO ASK WHAT THE SITUATION WAS. THEY CLAIMED THAT ANOTHER DEALER IN MY AREA WAS ABLE TO SCHEDULE FOR THIS MAR…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11180298 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11232199 · 2019-07-16 (July 16, 2019)

I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON HIGHLAND AVENUE, JUST AFTER 7 AM, THURSDAY, JULY 11, WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION, THE RPMS WENT LOW, AND THE VEHICLE DIED. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATIONS OF A PROBLEM BEFORE THE EVENT. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED BETWEEN 35TH AND 31ST STREET DURING THE BUSY RUSH HOUR PERIOD. UNABLE TO RESTART. TOW INTO THE DEALER. FUEL PUMP FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CAUSE. THIS WAS ALARMING FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT BECAUSE WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STOPPED OPERATING, LEAVING ME STUCK IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC HAVING TO SIG…

Owner-reported narrative. 63,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 11232199 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

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.

2013
2
2014
0
2015
1
2016
0
2017
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20132
20140
20151
20160
20170

2013: 2; 2014: 0; 2015: 1; 2016: 0; 2017: 0

Year-by-year records

Subaru XV CROSSTREK model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
2013962Not available
2014810-2
2015781+1
201630-1
2017300