2016 Subaru CROSSTREK: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
131 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
38,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 78 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 36 of 131 complaints (27.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 15.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 12.2% |
| Steering behavior | 15 | 11.5% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 9.9% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 5.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 36 |
| Unknown Or Other | 34 |
| Power Train | 18 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Steering | 13 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
Electrical System: 36; Unknown Or Other: 34; Power Train: 18; Engine: 13; Steering: 13; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Service Brakes: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 31 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 31; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 53 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 | 7 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 32 |
| 2020 | 25 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 5 |
2016: 7; 2017: 4; 2018: 13; 2019: 32; 2020: 25; 2021: 16; 2022: 7; 2023: 12; 2024: 10; 2025: 5
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 15 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10861492 · 2016-04-26 (April 26, 2016)
THE LAG TIME ON THE CVT GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IS BEYOND ANNOYING IT IS DANGEROUS. IT TAKES 1-2 SECONDS FOR THE CAR TO MOVE AND BECAUSE OF THIS LAPSE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE CAR WILL LURCH. FOR EXAMPLE, IF BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND TRAFFIC WARRANTS THAT YOU PULL BACK INTO THE SPACE IT CAN LEAD TO A POTENTIAL OUT OF CONTROL SITUATION.
Owner-reported narrative. 384 miles reported. Look up ODI 10861492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10864730 · 2016-05-13 (May 13, 2016)
THE DURATION OF TIME THAT IT TAKES TO GO FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IS UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS. EVERY MORNING I DRIVE MY CHILD TO DAYCARE AND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE I FEARED THAT WE WOULD GET REAR-ENDED (WHICH WOULD INJURE MY CHILD) DUE TO THE SLOW RESPONSE TIME GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. EVERY MORNING I HAVE TO BE 100% SURE TO TIME MY REVERSAL WHEN BACKING OUT AND MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO CARS ANYWHERE NEAR ME SO I DON'T GET CRASHED INTO. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE THERE ARE ANY DEATHS OR INJURIES FROM THIS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10864730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10883782 · 2016-07-09 (July 9, 2016)
PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY MY STARING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN SO I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT STILL WOULDN'T TURN SO I PUTTED IN PARK AND TURN IT OFF THEN I STARTED IT BACK UP AND IT WORKED. I JUST BOUGHT IT NOT EVEN FIVE DAYS AGO IF SUBARU KNEW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CARS THEY SHOULDN'T SOLD IT TO ANYBODY I AM VERY UPSET WITH THE SUBARU COMPANY DAY APOLLO SUBARU IN MOON TOWNSHIP
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10883782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10885711 · 2016-07-18 (July 18, 2016)
TOXIC SMELL IN THE CAR. I NOTICED IT WHEN THE SALESMAN WAS GOING OVER HOW TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AND HE SAID HE NOTICED IT, ALSO. I FIGURED IT WAS BRAND NEW AND IT WOULD GET BETTER, BUT IT DID NOT AND I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 6 TIMES. THEY HAVE TRIED MANY THINGS TO GET RID OF THE SMELL. NOTHING WORKS. NOW THEY SAY NOTHING IS MECHANICALLY WRONG, SO I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT MAKES ME SICK. THIS IS NOT NEW CAR SMELL, I WISH IT WERE. I HAVE BEEN IN AT LEAST 6 OTHER NEW SUBARU'S, AND NONE OF THEM SMELL LIKE THIS ONE DOES. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 52 miles reported. Look up ODI 10885711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10894419 · 2016-08-09 (August 9, 2016)
WAS STANDING IN THE LINE OF OTHER CARS ON THE STOP SIGN FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, BRAKE PEDAL LOST IT'S HEIGHT AND DEPRESSED BY ITSELF, CAUSING MY FOOT TO SLIP FROM BRAKE TO DRIVE PEDAL AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSED A DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND A CAR IN FRONT OF MINE. I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE WERE NO PEDESTRIANS AT THE TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10894419 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10898634 · 2016-08-25 (August 25, 2016)
TWICE NOW MY CAR HAS GONE LIMP ON THE FREEWAY. IT DOESN'T SHUT DOWN BUT THE ACCELERATOR STOPS WORKING AND I HAVE TO COAST OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART IT. WHEN I DO RESTART IT IT'S FINE. BOTH TIMES THE ENGINE DOESN'T EVEN REV WHEN I PRESS THE GAS; IT'S JUST UNRESPONSIVE. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING EITHER. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN WHEN I WAS GOING AROUND 70 MPH AND THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN HOT; PROBABLY 88-90 DEGREES.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10898634 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10926181 · 2016-11-15 (November 15, 2016)
WHILE DRIVING MY 2016 SUBARU ON A HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN, THE SUN ROOF UNEXPECTEDLY EXPLODED OUTWARD. THERE WASN'T ANY SIGN OF BEING HIT BY DEBRIS TO CAUSE THE GLASS TO SHATTER. BROKEN GLASS FLEW ALL OVER. I TOOK PHOTOS OF THE GLASS ROOF THAT CLEARLY SHOWS THE SHATTERED ROOF BROKE UPWARD.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,001 miles reported. Look up ODI 10926181 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10946936 · 2017-01-23 (January 23, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU CROSSTREK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED AS THE DEFROSTER WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED RECENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. ...UPDATED 03/13/17 *BF *CN
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10946936 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V149000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 2019-02-28 (February 28, 2019)
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 may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.
Consequence: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
NHTSA campaign record ↗