Subaru Crosstrek problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 903 owner complaints and 13 safety recalls for the Subaru Crosstrek. That averages 20.1 complaints per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical (index 0.50 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Subcompact SUVs segment it ranks #3 of 6 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 22.7.
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
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 40% below the 2018 and 2019 models (55 early complaints per model year versus 103).
The 2024 model year has the highest rate (43.0 complaints per year) and the 2022 model year the lowest (6.5). Model years 2019 and 2024 run at least 50% above this model's average of 20.1 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. Model years 2020, 2022 and 2023 run at least 40% below this model's average of 20.1 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Body & structure (35.1% of complaints), followed by Unspecified or other (15.1%) and Electrical (12.4%). Body & structure complaints are 3.9 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 59 complaints (6.5%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 28 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 157 complaints versus 101 in the previous 12 months — up 55%. The 2024 model year generated the most recent reports (49). 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 investigation has covered this model; the latest is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (defect petition, opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Mazda CX-30 and Kia Seltos, but fewer than Hyundai Kona, Toyota Corolla Cross and Honda HR-V.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 195 | 22.2 | 0.55 | 11 | 5 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2019 ▲50%+ | 285 | 36.6 | 0.91 | 15 | 7 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2020 | 69 | 10.2 | 0.25 | 7 | 0 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2021 | 116 | 20.0 | 0.5 | 22 | 2 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2022 Fewest complaints | 31 | 6.5 | 0.16 | 4 | 0 | Unspecified or other | View › |
| 2023 | 34 | 9.0 | 0.22 | 9 | 0 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2024 ▲50%+ | 120 | 43.0 | 1.07 | 49 | 2 | Unspecified or other | View › |
| 2025 Too new to rank | 44 | 24.6 | 0.61 | 31 | 0 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 9 | 9.0 | 0.22 | 9 | 0 | Driver-assist systems | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 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: 157 · Previous 12 months: 101 Rising
Problem areas
Body & structure ›
317 · 35.1% · 3.86 vs. all vehicles · Falling
Unspecified or other ›
136 · 15.1% · 1.68 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Electrical ›
112 · 12.4% · 0.79 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Engine ›
106 · 11.7% · 0.53 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Transmission / powertrain ›
45 · 5.0% · 0.43 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
37 · 4.1% · 0.72 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
30 · 3.3% · 1.8 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
29 · 3.2% · 0.5 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Brakes
25 · 2.8% · 0.46 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
22 · 2.4% · 0.97 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
18 · 2.0% · 1.28 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Airbags & seat belts
17 · 1.9% · 0.5 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system
9 · 1.0% · 0.23 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 21 months
What owners report
2019 Subaru crosstrek brakes failed unintended acceleration crash into handicap metal post.
My daughter was driving her car and another car pulled right in front of her from behind a wall. The damage to my daughter’s car is all at the front and the automatic braking mechanism did not work, in addition, non of the airbags deployed which caused my…
The front door check strap / door detent mechanism (both front doors). The vehicle is in my possession and available for inspection upon request. VIN and service records available. The front doors do not hold reliably in their intermediate detent positions.
Car was driving at highway speed when I noticed that the car was shifting. Started driving up the hill and then a loud clanking noise started. Pulled over and put the car in park only then did the oil pressure light come on.
Wheel studs, continually Shearer off because of mismatched threads between bolt and nuts common problem among a lot of of Subaru
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 | 254 | 9.4 | 0.23 | Improving | Rising | 7 | Engine |
| 2 | Kia Seltos | 559 | 20.1 | 0.5 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 4 | Engine |
| 3 | Subaru Crosstrek | 903 | 20.1 | 0.5 | Improving | Rising | 13 | Body & structure |
| 4 | Hyundai Kona | 966 | 21.1 | 0.52 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 14 | Engine |
| 5 | Toyota Corolla Cross | 295 | 21.6 | 0.53 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 7 | Engine |
| 6 | Honda HR-V | 1,490 | 39.4 | 0.98 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 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) · 2026 (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…