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
Complaints filed between 2019-02-07 and 2026-08-15. Median delay from incident to filing: 11 days.
Analysis
The previous model year (2018) drew 22.4 complaints per year, fewer than this one. The following model year (2020) drew 10.2 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2019 model collected 152 complaints, 88% higher than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Body & structure (44.0% of complaints), followed by Electrical (14.4%) and Interior & equipment (13.0%). Body & structure complaints are 4.8 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Within Body & structure reports, owners most often mention “windshield”, “crack”, “rock”, “small” and “chips”. 9 reports (3.2%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 5 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 19 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the first year (32% of incidents). In the last 12 months 16 new complaints were filed, versus 16 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.
NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls for this model year. 76% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses. 1 NHTSA defect investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
Safety recalls (7)
SUSPENSION:REAR Campaign 21V263000 · 2021-04-15
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Subaru Crosstrek, 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid, and 2019 Forester vehicles. The rear stabilizer bracket bolts may loosen and detach.
Risk: Missing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will retorque and replace any missing bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-21.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE Campaign 21V264000 · 2021-04-15
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Subaru Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, causing a short circuit.
Risk: A short circuit in the ignition coils may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECM software, replace the ignition coils and, if necessary, the front exhaust pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 1, 2021. Owners can contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-21. Note: This recall includes all vehicles previously repaired under Recall 19V743.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER Campaign 20V189000 · 2020-03-31
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek vehicles with rear seat belt assemblies with a dual-mode locking mechanism. The seat belt webbing sensor locking mechanism may not lock as intended.
Risk: In the event of a crash involving multiple impacts, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. The began April 15, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRC-20.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV) Campaign 19V856000 · 2019-12-02
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving.
Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the short block engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUW-08.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE Campaign 19V743000 · 2019-10-18
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, which could result in a short circuit and blown fuse.
Risk: If a short circuit occurs while driving, the vehicle may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECM software and inspect and replace the ignition coil, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, on vehicles with confirmed ignition coil damage and a certain stored diagnostic trouble code (DTC), Subaru will replace the front exhaust pipe, free of charge. The recall began December 4, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUQ-02.
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR Campaign 19V404000 · 2019-05-30
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The driver's side rear-door window glass may be improperly tempered. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 205, "Glazing Materials."
Risk: Improperly tempered glass can shatter into large pieces, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side rear-door window glass, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUG-92.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM Campaign 19V065000 · 2019-02-06
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Forester and Crosstrek vehicles. A connector inside the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) unit may short circuit resulting in a loss of electric power steering assistance.
Risk: Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: None of the affected vehicles have been sold yet. Subaru has notified dealers and they will inspect the steering gearbox, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUC-88.
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Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek?
284 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek, or about 37.0 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek?
The most common category is Body & structure, accounting for 44.0% of complaints.
Does the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 7 safety recall(s) for this model year. 1 NHTSA defect investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
Is the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek still generating complaints?
In the last 12 months 16 new complaints were filed, versus 16 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.
How does the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 284 owner complaints about the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek, or 37.0 per year on the road — a typical number of complaints for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.88, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 76 model-year 2019 vehicles we track, it ranks #46 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Subaru models its rate is 6% lower; against other Subcompact SUVs it is 51% higher.