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2016 Subaru Crosstrek

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Crosstrek years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek are substantially higher than the model-year median of 43.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

78 reports with mileage · 53 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

37 reports
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15,000 miles · Aug 12, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Crash

MY BATTERY KEEP DRAINING ALL THE TIME SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAVE CHANGED 3 OF THEM. TWO OF THE BATTERY WERE STILL OKAY BUT I STILL CHANGED THEM. ALSO, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD KEEP ON AND OFF WITHOUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED THE BRAKE SWITCH RECALL AND I ALSO MENTIO…

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MY BATTERY KEEP DRAINING ALL THE TIME SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAVE CHANGED 3 OF THEM. TWO OF THE BATTERY WERE STILL OKAY BUT I STILL CHANGED THEM. ALSO, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD KEEP ON AND OFF WITHOUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED THE BRAKE SWITCH RECALL AND I ALSO MENTION THE PROBLEM TO THEM BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. FEW DAYS LATER, I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON AND OFF ON THE DASHBOARD. THEY DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND SAID THE CAR NEED TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY TRANSMISSION WHICH I DOUBT THAT MY CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I ALSO HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THE SUBARU HAVE THAT SAME ISSUE. I PERSONALLY USED TO OWN THE SUBARU BRZ AND THAT CAR ALSO HAS THE PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY AND THE DEALER JUST REPLACED IT FOR ME.

NHTSA ODI #11348904

40,000 miles · May 21, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

WHILE PUTTING MY VEHICLE IN PARK THE KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. IT TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS OF GOING BACK AND FORTH TO GET THE KEY TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH "FAILURE TO PARK POSITION, AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE MICRO SWITCH PLATE" WITH A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $8…

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WHILE PUTTING MY VEHICLE IN PARK THE KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. IT TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS OF GOING BACK AND FORTH TO GET THE KEY TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH "FAILURE TO PARK POSITION, AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE MICRO SWITCH PLATE" WITH A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $800.00 DOLLARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11325372

38,000 miles · Apr 23, 2020
Electrical System

THE KET GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT IN PARK. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI #11322019

67,000 miles · Jan 6, 2020
Electrical System

MY CAR JUST HAS HAD BACKUP CAMERA ISSUE SINCE A MONTH AGO. I CALLED THE LOCAL SUBARU SERVICE BUT THEY WOULD CHARGE ME FOR A DIAGNOSIS WHICH I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA TO PAY IT. I LEARNED THAT SUBARU RECALLS OTHER SUBARU MODELS (NON CROSSTREK) FOR ITS BACKUP CAMERA ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MY BACKUP CAMERA TO BE FIXED WHICH THAT…

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MY CAR JUST HAS HAD BACKUP CAMERA ISSUE SINCE A MONTH AGO. I CALLED THE LOCAL SUBARU SERVICE BUT THEY WOULD CHARGE ME FOR A DIAGNOSIS WHICH I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA TO PAY IT. I LEARNED THAT SUBARU RECALLS OTHER SUBARU MODELS (NON CROSSTREK) FOR ITS BACKUP CAMERA ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MY BACKUP CAMERA TO BE FIXED WHICH THAT IS A SAFETY CONCERN.*DT VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. CONSUMER STATED CROSSTREK WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*JB

NHTSA ODI #11297483

65,000 miles · Dec 12, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes

THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER AND GETTING CLOSE TO THE POINT OF STALLING BUT NEVER STALLED. IT WOULD PERIODICALLY NOT SWITCH GEARS AS WELL. SEEMS LIKE IT COULD HAVE BEEN A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. APPARENTLY I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL PUT OUT EARLIER FOR THIS ISSUE. SO I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET…

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THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER AND GETTING CLOSE TO THE POINT OF STALLING BUT NEVER STALLED. IT WOULD PERIODICALLY NOT SWITCH GEARS AS WELL. SEEMS LIKE IT COULD HAVE BEEN A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. APPARENTLY I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL PUT OUT EARLIER FOR THIS ISSUE. SO I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET.

NHTSA ODI #11288735

4 miles · Nov 12, 2019
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AROUND CURVES AT ABOUT 15-20 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL KIND OF LOCKED, AND COULD NOT GO BACK STRAIGHT. HAD TO STOP, TURN THE CAR OFF IN ORDER TO THE STEERING WHEEL FEEL NORMAL. IT DID IT A COUPLE OF TIMES, ALSO WHILE PARKING IT MADE LIKE A CLICKING NOISE BY THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL. HAD IT FIX, SUBARU REP…

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WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AROUND CURVES AT ABOUT 15-20 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL KIND OF LOCKED, AND COULD NOT GO BACK STRAIGHT. HAD TO STOP, TURN THE CAR OFF IN ORDER TO THE STEERING WHEEL FEEL NORMAL. IT DID IT A COUPLE OF TIMES, ALSO WHILE PARKING IT MADE LIKE A CLICKING NOISE BY THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL. HAD IT FIX, SUBARU REPLACE RELIEF VALVE, ELECTRIC OIL PUMP. EVEN THOUGH SUBARU IS AT FAULT, I HAD TO PAY ALMOST $600 TO HAVE THIS FIX BECAUSE MY CAR HAD A CONDITION THAT WAS NOT COVERED BY THEIR WARRANTY. IT ISN'T FAIR. I BOUGHT THIS SUBARU BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIABILITY. IT SHOULDN'T HAVE DEFECTS. THIS SITUATION EXPOSED MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE AND MINE. I HOPE NOBODY ELSE GOES THROUGH THIS RISKY SITUATION. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #11279518

35,000 miles · Oct 16, 2019
Electrical System

THE KEY MECHANISM FAILS TO LET YOU REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE SWITCH. IT FAILS TO RETURN TO THE FULL OFF POSITION TO ALLOW THE KEY REMOVAL. I HAVE TO TURN KEY OFF & ON ANYWHERE FROM TWICE TO 20 TIMES TO GET THE KEY TO RETURN ALL THE WAY TO THE OFF POSITION TO ALLOW THE KEY REMOVAL. SOMETIMES, I START AND STOP TO ASSIST THE OPERAT…

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THE KEY MECHANISM FAILS TO LET YOU REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE SWITCH. IT FAILS TO RETURN TO THE FULL OFF POSITION TO ALLOW THE KEY REMOVAL. I HAVE TO TURN KEY OFF & ON ANYWHERE FROM TWICE TO 20 TIMES TO GET THE KEY TO RETURN ALL THE WAY TO THE OFF POSITION TO ALLOW THE KEY REMOVAL. SOMETIMES, I START AND STOP TO ASSIST THE OPERATION BUT STILL CAN TAKE UP TO 10 TIMES FOR THE KEY POSITION TO FULLY RETURN TO THE OFF POSITION TO ALLOW FOR THE KEY REMOVAL

NHTSA ODI #11268948

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2019
Electrical SystemSteering

EXPERIENCING SAME ISSUES AS MANY OTHERS. KEY WILL NOT PULL OUT UNLESS TURNED BACK ON AND CHANGE GEARS; THEN WHEN TURNED BACK OFF KEY WILL PULL OUT. STARTED HAPPENING IN 2019. AGAIN, SAME AS OTHER PEOPLE, HEAR CLICKING WHEN TURNING LEFT. TAKING TO DEALERSHIP TOMORROW BUT SEEMS LIKE IT WILL BE THE AXLE FROM WHAT OTHERS ARE EXP…

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EXPERIENCING SAME ISSUES AS MANY OTHERS. KEY WILL NOT PULL OUT UNLESS TURNED BACK ON AND CHANGE GEARS; THEN WHEN TURNED BACK OFF KEY WILL PULL OUT. STARTED HAPPENING IN 2019. AGAIN, SAME AS OTHER PEOPLE, HEAR CLICKING WHEN TURNING LEFT. TAKING TO DEALERSHIP TOMORROW BUT SEEMS LIKE IT WILL BE THE AXLE FROM WHAT OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING.

NHTSA ODI #11257462

40,000 miles · Aug 9, 2019
Electrical SystemPower Train

NOT ABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK PUT IT BACK IN PARK IN PARK AND SOMETIMES REPEAT THEN ABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY THE SERVICE ADVISOR NEE EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AS THEY JUST DID THE REPAIRS TO ANOTHER VEHICLE T…

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NOT ABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK PUT IT BACK IN PARK IN PARK AND SOMETIMES REPEAT THEN ABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY THE SERVICE ADVISOR NEE EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AS THEY JUST DID THE REPAIRS TO ANOTHER VEHICLE THE PART IS TRANSMISSION PLATE GUIDE ASSEMBLY LOCATED IN THE SHIFT CONSOLE THAT COST $50 AND $350 FOR LABOR WITH A TOTAL OF $400. MY VEHICLE IS NOW AT 40,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11242918

41,000 miles · Aug 8, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

MY KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION ON THE ACC POSITION, SO I CAN NOT LEAVE MY CAR WITH THE KEY IN IT BECAUSE THE BATTERY IS STILL ON. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN PARK. I TURN THE KEY COUNTER CLOCKWISE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY, THE KEY WILL NOT GO FURTHER THAN THE ACC POSITION, AND NO, IT IS NOT THAT I'M NOT PUS…

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MY KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION ON THE ACC POSITION, SO I CAN NOT LEAVE MY CAR WITH THE KEY IN IT BECAUSE THE BATTERY IS STILL ON. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN PARK. I TURN THE KEY COUNTER CLOCKWISE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY, THE KEY WILL NOT GO FURTHER THAN THE ACC POSITION, AND NO, IT IS NOT THAT I'M NOT PUSHING IT IN ENOUGH OR THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. I AM ESSENTIALLY STUCK IN MY CAR OR AT RISK OF IT BEING STOLEN. IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY (AT LEAST ONCE A DAY) BUT NOT EVERY SINGLE TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. IT HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE, AND FOR FEAR OF DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION OR ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FURTHER I TRY NOT TO DRIVE IT. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE ACROSS FIVE OTHER SUBARU MODELS OVER FIVE YEARS (2013-2018; LEGACY, OUTBACK, IMPREZA, CROSSTREK, FORESTER, WRX - UNTIL RECENTLY THEIR ENTIRE LINEUP!) AND ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN LAST YEAR (ATTACHED). IT IS AFFECTING SO MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS, YET THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. THE SERVICE BULLETIN ANNOUNCED A DESIGN CHANGE TO THE CVT SELECT LEVER DUE TO PARK-RANGE SWITCH INTERNAL COMPONENTS. THEY CLAIM IT IS "ISOLATED" BUT A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET PROVES THIS IS NOT THE CASE.

NHTSA ODI #11242452

Official recalls

1

19V149000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.