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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

Power Train complaints

18 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2025
Power TrainSteeringUnknown Or Other

The CVT valve body was diagnosed as defective by the Subaru Dealership service department. The car was taken to the dcealership when the A/T OIL EMP, HILL ASSIST, ABS and TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITY CONTROL lights came up. The valve body is still available for inspection. The car was taken to the dealership for a Brake Light Swi…

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The CVT valve body was diagnosed as defective by the Subaru Dealership service department. The car was taken to the dcealership when the A/T OIL EMP, HILL ASSIST, ABS and TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITY CONTROL lights came up. The valve body is still available for inspection. The car was taken to the dealership for a Brake Light Switch recall that has the same simptoms.

NHTSA ODI #11657595

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2023
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

My car has stopped working while driving 70 mph on the interstate in so separate occasions. Both times it has been driving fine, with fuel in the tank, and all of the sudden it shuts off and completely loses power. All of the warning lights on the dash light up and the only thing to do is to coast to the shoulder of the highway.…

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My car has stopped working while driving 70 mph on the interstate in so separate occasions. Both times it has been driving fine, with fuel in the tank, and all of the sudden it shuts off and completely loses power. All of the warning lights on the dash light up and the only thing to do is to coast to the shoulder of the highway. Couldn’t start the car back up (cranked, no start). Battery is fine. Fuel level is fine. First time it happened it had to be towed. Towed to mechanic who ran diagnostics on it the next day but nothing threw a code. It started fine the next day. I’ve had certified Subaru mechanics tear this thing apart trying to figure out what causes the issue but they can’t find anything wrong. I’m scared this is going to happen again and will put me in a dangerous situation in the middle of a highway or on the side of the road. This is definitely an issue putting myself and others at risk. It seems similar to other issues Subaru crosstreks have had in close model years to mine (20 where recalls have been issued for fuel pump malfunctions etc. Please look into this, this could cause a terrible wreck and needs to be resolved ASAP.

NHTSA ODI #11510909

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2021
Electrical SystemPower Train

Ignition Key stuck in the ignition cannot be removed from ignition after parking. This problem never occurred in previous 5 years of ownership. It happens nearly every time the car is driven, and has been reported widely on the internet by Subaru owners. In many cases, owners have not been able to remove the keys at all, and hav…

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Ignition Key stuck in the ignition cannot be removed from ignition after parking. This problem never occurred in previous 5 years of ownership. It happens nearly every time the car is driven, and has been reported widely on the internet by Subaru owners. In many cases, owners have not been able to remove the keys at all, and have had to call for assistance. On the advice of a repair tech, we replaced our battery, which, at 5 years old, was probably due to be replaced. This has not solved the problem.

NHTSA ODI #11440054

60,000 miles · Sep 11, 2020
Power Train

2016 SUBARU CROSSTREK, KEY BECOMES STUCK IN IGNITION. MUST MOVE SHIFT LEVER OUT OF AND INTO P(ARK) POSITION SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE KEY CAN BE TURNED TO THE PROPER POSITION TO REMOVE IT. COMMONLY HAPPENS WHEN PARKING VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11354440

53,000 miles · Jul 20, 2020
Power Train

I PUT MY CAR INTO PARK AND I TRY TO TURN MY CAR OFF THE KEY TURNS HALF WAY AND STOPS. I CAN'T GET THE KEY OUT. I TRY AGAIN BY TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES THAT WORKS. SOMETIMES PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE AND AND THEN PARK AGAIN WORKS. IT IS BECOMING A PROBLEM MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. IT CAN TAKE UP TO 3 MINUTES OF FIDGETING T…

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I PUT MY CAR INTO PARK AND I TRY TO TURN MY CAR OFF THE KEY TURNS HALF WAY AND STOPS. I CAN'T GET THE KEY OUT. I TRY AGAIN BY TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES THAT WORKS. SOMETIMES PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE AND AND THEN PARK AGAIN WORKS. IT IS BECOMING A PROBLEM MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. IT CAN TAKE UP TO 3 MINUTES OF FIDGETING TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION.

NHTSA ODI #11340391

43,000 miles · Mar 4, 2020
Power TrainCrash

SUBARU CROSSTREK 2016 CAR HAS HAD POWER TRAIN FAILURE 3 TIMES. THE LATEST CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION INTO MY CAR ON 2/28/2020. VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 35 MPH ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE REMAINED ON AND POWER STEERING ALSO WORKED. CAR WAS IN DRIVE BUT NO POWER TO THE WHEELS. REAR ENDED BY A HONDA SUV WHILE DRIFTI…

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SUBARU CROSSTREK 2016 CAR HAS HAD POWER TRAIN FAILURE 3 TIMES. THE LATEST CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION INTO MY CAR ON 2/28/2020. VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 35 MPH ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE REMAINED ON AND POWER STEERING ALSO WORKED. CAR WAS IN DRIVE BUT NO POWER TO THE WHEELS. REAR ENDED BY A HONDA SUV WHILE DRIFTING TO SIDE OF ROAD. LUCKILY NO INJURIES...ABOUT $1500 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO HONDA SUV. NO REAL DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF MY CAR. HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE BUT NO TROUBLE CODES OR DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION. VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY. SEEMS TO BE A MYSTERY PROBLEM AND THE DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION AT PRESENT. TRYING TO GET A RESPONSE FROM SUBARU. SYMPTOMS ARE THE SAME FOR ALL THREE FAILURES. POLICE REPORT NUMBER AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

NHTSA ODI #11316123

47,500 miles · Feb 10, 2020
Power Train

THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT. THE FIRST, I DID NOT REPORT, BUT WAS IDENTICAL IN OCCURRENCE. WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE OF A MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY @ APPROX. 70MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION AND POWER, AS IF TO BE IN NEUTRAL. THE GEAR SHIFT WAS NOT JARRED, MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE BRAKE, THIS WAS NOT OPERATOR…

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THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT. THE FIRST, I DID NOT REPORT, BUT WAS IDENTICAL IN OCCURRENCE. WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE OF A MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY @ APPROX. 70MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION AND POWER, AS IF TO BE IN NEUTRAL. THE GEAR SHIFT WAS NOT JARRED, MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE BRAKE, THIS WAS NOT OPERATOR ERROR. THE CAR SLOWLY LOST SPEED AS PRESSING ACCELERATOR ONLY REVVED THE ENGINE WITH NO RESULTS. I IMMEDIATELY PRESSED THE HAZARDS AND MY INDICATOR TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THANKFULLY ARRIVING THERE SAFELY ALTHOUGH OTHER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY WERE REQUIRED TO REACT. UPON GETTING TO THE SHOULDER, I SHUT OFF THE CAR, AND TURNED IT BACK ON. ACCELERATOR WORKS AS IT SHOULD AND I WAS LUCKILY LEAVING THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT EXIT. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS AGO. I REPORTED IT TO MY DEALER WHO WAS REPAIRING A BRAKE LIGHT RECALL, THE SERVICE MANAGER LAUGHED IT OFF AS OPERATOR ERROR. I ASSURE YOU IT WAS NOT. IN HINDSIGHT, THIS COULD BE A FAR MORE TRAGIC SCENARIO HAVING YOUR CAR LOSING POWER WITHOUT NOTICE ON A HIGHWAY. ALL POWER STEERING AND INDICATORS ON THE DASH WERE UNAFFECTED, ONLY THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ODI #11308135

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

20,000 miles · Oct 17, 2019
Power Train

CANNOT TURN OFF CAR AND REMOVE KEY AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK. PROBLEM IN INTERMITTENT. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11269232

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

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.