Subaru Crosstrek problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 881 owner complaints and 13 safety recalls for the Subaru Crosstrek. That averages 21.7 complaints per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical (index 0.52 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Subcompact SUVs segment it ranks #2 of 6 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 24.6.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Across eight model years from 2018 to 2025, the Subaru Crosstrek has logged 881 owner complaints and 13 safety recalls, averaging 21.7 complaints per year which is fewer than typical at an index of 0.52. While the 2024 model year shows the highest rate with 42.2 complaints per year and 2019 and 2024 models run at least 50% above average, years 2020, 2022, and 2023 sit well below the model's own average. The most common problem area is Body & structure accounting for 35.9% of complaints, where issues are 3.9 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles, with recurring terms including "windshield", "crack", "eyesight", "rock" and "small". Owners report 26 injuries and 0 deaths across all model years, though the complaint pace is rising with 145 filed in the last 12 months versus 100 previously.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 38% below the 2018 and 2019 models (55 early complaints per model year versus 103).
The 2024 model year has the highest rate (42.2 complaints per year) and the 2022 model year the lowest (6.4). Model years 2019 and 2024 run at least 50% above the model's own average — the ones to research most carefully. Model years 2020, 2022 and 2023 sit well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Body & structure (35.9% of complaints), followed by Interior & equipment (14.9%) and Electrical (12.4%). Body & structure complaints are 3.9 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “windshield”, “crack”, “eyesight”, “rock” and “small”. 54 complaints (6.1%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 26 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 145 complaints versus 100 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising. The 2024 model year generated the most recent reports (44). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 21 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 13 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2019 (5). 1 NHTSA defect investigation has covered this model; the latest is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Mazda CX-30; Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos and Honda HR-V have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 194 | 22.4 | 0.53 | 54 | 0.61 | 10 | 5 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2019 Years to research carefully | 284 | 37.0 | 0.88 | 152 | 1.88 | 16 | 7 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2020 | 68 | 10.2 | 0.24 | 33 | 0.58 | 7 | 0 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2021 | 115 | 20.3 | 0.48 | 52 | 0.85 | 21 | 2 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2022 Fewest complaints | 30 | 6.4 | 0.15 | 13 | 0.18 | 3 | 0 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2023 | 34 | 9.3 | 0.22 | 18 | 0.22 | 11 | 0 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2024 Years to research carefully | 113 | 42.2 | 1.0 | 93 | 1.32 | 44 | 2 | Interior & equipment | View › |
| 2025 | 43 | 25.7 | 0.61 | — | — | 33 | 0 | Body & structure | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 145 · Previous 12 months: 100 Rising
Problem areas
Interior & equipment ›
131 · 14.9% · 1.66 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- windshield45
- siriusxm12
- advertisements8
- infotainment18
Transmission / powertrain ›
45 · 5.1% · 0.44 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- cvt8
- transmission19
- oil temp4
- differential6
Driver-assist systems
35 · 4.0% · 0.69 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- eyesight16
- braking14
- lane13
- automatic8
Other
30 · 3.4% · 1.88 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- seat13
- rocking3
- acceleration7
- police filed4
Steering
29 · 3.3% · 0.51 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- wheel19
- steering21
- assist13
- lane15
Wheels, tires & suspension
20 · 2.3% · 0.91 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tire10
- yokohama4
- line geolandar3
- size6
Brakes
19 · 2.2% · 0.36 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- brake12
- respond5
- braking7
- pedal6
Lighting
18 · 2.0% · 1.31 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- headlights11
- night7
- lighting5
- dark5
Airbags & seat belts
16 · 1.8% · 0.48 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- deploy7
- seat9
- passenger8
- airbags5
Fuel system
9 · 1.0% · 0.24 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- power4
- fuel3
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- windshield317
- crack210
- eyesight56
- rock72
- small75
- chip46
- inches47
- bottom48
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 21 months
What owners report
The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH with his wife inside the vehicle, the contact experienced a medical emergency and blacked out, causing the vehicle to accelerate to approximately 70 MPH.
Purchased vehicle 8/27/2025 within 1 day and 1 month of 2 separate class action lawsuits. Purchased from CarMax Wilmington. Car produced electrical shock to my hand first time I attempted to pair the vehicle.
Often the brakes are squishy. They require me to push almost all the way down on the brake pedal to engage. This has happened several times of the last year.
At 26,453 miles, the check engins lights all came on and the vehicle wouldn't run. It was determined that the intake valves had excessive carbon build-up on them. The issue was repaired by the dealer.
At 45,261 miles, the check engine lights came on and the vehicle would barely start and run. It was towed to a dealer and was again diagnosed with carbon build-up on the intake valves. This is the second occurrence in just over a year.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Subcompact SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mazda CX-30 | 243 | 10.3 | 0.25 | Improving | Rising | 7 | Engine |
| 2 | Subaru Crosstrek | 881 | 21.7 | 0.52 | Improving | Rising | 13 | Body & structure |
| 3 | Toyota Corolla Cross | 288 | 21.7 | 0.52 | Worsening | Steady | 7 | Engine |
| 4 | Hyundai Kona | 928 | 22.4 | 0.53 | Worsening | Steady | 12 | Engine |
| 5 | Kia Seltos | 534 | 22.9 | 0.54 | Improving | Steady | 4 | Engine |
| 6 | Honda HR-V | 1,452 | 42.7 | 1.01 | Worsening | Steady | 12 | Body & structure |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 13
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (5) · 2019 (7) · 2020 (0) · 2021 (2) · 2022 (0) · 2023 (0) · 2024 (2) · 2025 (0)
Investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
Frequently asked questions
Which Subaru Crosstrek model year has the most complaints?
The 2024 model year has the highest rate (42.2 complaints per year) and the 2022 model year the lowest (6.4).
Is the Subaru Crosstrek getting better or worse?
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 38% below the 2018 and 2019 models (55 early complaints per model year versus 103). In the last 12 months owners filed 145 complaints versus 100 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising.
What are the most common Subaru Crosstrek problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Body & structure (35.9% of complaints), followed by Interior & equipment (14.9%) and Electrical (12.4%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “windshield”, “crack”, “eyesight”, “rock” and “small”.
How does the Subaru Crosstrek compare with other Subcompact SUVs?
Within the Subcompact SUVs segment it ranks #2 of 6 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 24.6. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Mazda CX-30; Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos and Honda HR-V have more.
Does the Subaru Crosstrek have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 13 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2019 (5). 1 NHTSA defect investigation has covered this model; the latest is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).