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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
Compare all Crosstrek years →

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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30,000 miles · Jul 7, 2019
Electrical System

TRANSMISSION IN PARK. KEY IS IN IGNITION AND TURNED OFF. HOWEVER THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN. REQUIRES SEVERAL ON OFF ATTEMPTS TO SHUT ENGINE OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11229923

43,000 miles · Dec 19, 2018
Electrical System

KEY IS STICKING IN IGNITION. WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A KNOWN FIX FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS BUT IT WILL COST OVER $400 TO FIX. THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW WITH A KNOWN SERVICE BULLETIN THAT MAKES A CHANGE TO A PIECE OF PLASTIC IN THE SHIFTER.

NHTSA ODI #11162595

27,500 miles · Nov 13, 2018
Electrical System

2016 SUBARU CROSSTREK, 27,500 MILES. UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ONLY WAY TO REMOVE KEY IS TO PUT THE CAR IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND THEN BACK TO PARK. HAS OCCURRED 1/2 DOZEN TIMES, MOST RECENTLY TODAY 11/13/2018. I AM CONCERNED THAT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT AT SO…

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2016 SUBARU CROSSTREK, 27,500 MILES. UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ONLY WAY TO REMOVE KEY IS TO PUT THE CAR IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND THEN BACK TO PARK. HAS OCCURRED 1/2 DOZEN TIMES, MOST RECENTLY TODAY 11/13/2018. I AM CONCERNED THAT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. OBVIOUSLY, I CANNOT LEAVE THE CAR UNLOCKED WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION! SWITCHING GEARS IS NOT ALWAYS AN INSTANT FIX AND CAN TAKE AWHILE GOING BETWEEN DRIVE/REVERSE/NEUTRAL BEFORE RETURNING TO PARK AND THE KEY RELEASES FROM THE IGNITION. HAVE A CALL INTO THE DEALER REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND SERVICE BULLETIN TSB-16-112-18R

NHTSA ODI #11151237

60,000 miles · Oct 11, 2018
Electrical System

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION. INTERMITTENTLY, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN ALL THE WAY TO THE OFF POSITION TO ALLOW REMOVAL. TURNING THE KEY TO THE "ON" POSITION THEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR AND BACK INTO PARK SOMETIMES ALLOWS THE KEY TO THEN TURN OFF AND BE REMOVED. THE CAR IS STATIONARY AND IN PARK. THE CAR DOESN'T SEEM TO RECOGNIZE T…

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KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION. INTERMITTENTLY, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN ALL THE WAY TO THE OFF POSITION TO ALLOW REMOVAL. TURNING THE KEY TO THE "ON" POSITION THEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR AND BACK INTO PARK SOMETIMES ALLOWS THE KEY TO THEN TURN OFF AND BE REMOVED. THE CAR IS STATIONARY AND IN PARK. THE CAR DOESN'T SEEM TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS IN PARK.

NHTSA ODI #11139699

13,000 miles · Sep 29, 2018
Electrical System

HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES OF NOT BEING ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. RECENTLY WENT TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND TOLD THEM OF PROBLEM BUT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY COMPLAINTS. NOW I SEE THERE IS A MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NUMBER 16-112-18R. SO APPARENTLY THIS INFORMATIO…

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HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES OF NOT BEING ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. RECENTLY WENT TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND TOLD THEM OF PROBLEM BUT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY COMPLAINTS. NOW I SEE THERE IS A MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NUMBER 16-112-18R. SO APPARENTLY THIS INFORMATION ISN'T BEING EMPHASIZED TO THE DEALERS. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND TO DATE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE SHIFTER LEVER SEVERAL TIMES AND GET KEY RELEASED BUT I'M SURE SOMEDAY I WON'T BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY AT ALL. THIS STARTED HAPPENING SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND CONTINUES. IF I RETURN LATE IN THE EVENING AND CAN'T SHUT OFF MY CAR WHAT WILL I DO?

NHTSA ODI #11132288

24,000 miles · Dec 12, 2017
Electrical SystemCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU CROSSTREK. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU CROSSTREK. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ODI #11054283

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2017
Electrical System

TWICE NOW AFTER LETTING MY CAR SIT PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR 3 TO 5 DAYS MY BATTERY HAS DRAINED TO THE POINT THAT MY CAR WILL NOT START AND I WOULD NEED TO JUMP START MY CAR EACH TIME. BOTH TIMES I JUMP STARTED MY CAR I WOULD VERIFY THAT I DIDN'T MAKE AN HONEST MISTAKE OF LEAVING ANYTHING ON LIKE A DOME LIGHT ETC. AND I HAVE NOT…

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TWICE NOW AFTER LETTING MY CAR SIT PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR 3 TO 5 DAYS MY BATTERY HAS DRAINED TO THE POINT THAT MY CAR WILL NOT START AND I WOULD NEED TO JUMP START MY CAR EACH TIME. BOTH TIMES I JUMP STARTED MY CAR I WOULD VERIFY THAT I DIDN'T MAKE AN HONEST MISTAKE OF LEAVING ANYTHING ON LIKE A DOME LIGHT ETC. AND I HAVE NOT LEFT ANYTHING ON. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT I HAVE THE LIMITED VERSION WITH KEYLESS ENTRY/START THE WHOLE EYESIGHT SYSTEM WITH AN ADDED OEM REMOTE START SYSTEM INSTALLED WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #10967063

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.