2017 Subaru CROSSTREK: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
94 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
27,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 60 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 94 complaints (35.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 13.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 8.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 7.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.3% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 4.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 33 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 22 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Steering | 5 |
| Wheels | 4 |
Unknown Or Other: 33; Visibility/Wiper: 22; Electrical System: 17; Power Train: 12; Engine: 10; Service Brakes: 5; Steering: 5; Wheels: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 27 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 27; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 34 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 23 |
| 2020 | 33 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
2017: 3; 2018: 4; 2019: 23; 2020: 33; 2021: 13; 2022: 7; 2023: 5; 2024: 3; 2025: 3
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 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 11003252 · 2017-07-06 (July 6, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2017 SUBARU CROSSTREK. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS RESTING HIS RIGHT ARM ON THE LEATHER SHIFTER, HE SUSTAINED BURNS. THE PASSENGER AND HIS WIFE ALSO RECEIVED BURNS ON THE BOTTOM LEFT AND RIGHT FOREARMS OF THE LEATHER SEATING SURFACES. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR HIS INJURIES; HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CHEMICAL REACTIVE SECOND DEGREE BURNS. THE CAR RENTAL VENDOR WAS MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE LOCAL DEALER (MARK MILLER SUBARU MIDTOWN LOCATED ON 3535 STA…
Owner-reported narrative. 396 miles reported. Look up ODI 11003252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11033990 · 2017-10-17 (October 17, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU CROSSTREK. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VEERED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE WHEELS TO WOBBLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT IF THE FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11033990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11057395 · 2017-12-29 (December 29, 2017)
DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY AND THEN A SUDDEN BOOM! SOUNDED LIKE A BRICK HIT THE ROOF OF THE CAR. FRIGHTEN A BIT BUT MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND THE NOTICED THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED. DROVE SOME SLOWLY AND LOOKED AT IT MORE WHEN I GOT HOME. I NOTICED THAT THE GLASS LOOKS LIKE IT BLEW UP LIKE A VOLCANO. IT BLEW OUTWARD. SO I STARTED SEARCHING IF THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS WITH MANY MANUFACTURERS.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11057395 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11104004 · 2018-06-26 (June 26, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU CROSSTREK. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AND APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION SUBARU SCOTTSDALE (15678 N NORTHSIGHT BLVD, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11.
Owner-reported narrative. 11 miles reported. Look up ODI 11104004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11121955 · 2018-08-23 (August 23, 2018)
MY 13 MONTH OLD CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR "NO APPARENT REASON".
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11121955 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11124459 · 2018-09-05 (September 5, 2018)
WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREET WITH FAIRLY HIGH TRAFFIC. VERY HEAVY RAIN AND HUMIDITY. I TURNED ON DEFOGGER AND THE WINDSHIELD GOT INCREASINGLY MORE FOGGED UP. THE DEFOGGER DID NOT CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD TO DRIVE AT 20 MPG TO AVOID A COLLISION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE DEFOGGER. THE CAR IS TWO WEEKS OLD.
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11124459 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11151493 · 2018-11-14 (November 14, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU CROSSTREK. INTERMITTENTLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE IGNITION WAS IN THE OFF POSITION AND THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WAS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PALM SPRINGS SUBARU (LOCATED AT 67925 E PALM CANYON DR, CATHEDRAL CITY, CA 92234, [phone removed]) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11151493 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11171013 · 2019-01-20 (January 20, 2019)
SNOW AND RAIN GETTING ONTO ENGINE WITH HOOD COMPLETELY SHUT. WE HAD THE ENGINE COMPLETELY COVERED WITH SNOW EVERY TIME WE DRIVE IT. NEVER HAD A VEHICLE LET THE WEATHER GET INTO THE ENGINE WITH THE HOOD SEALED.
Owner-reported narrative. 430,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11171013 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 ↗