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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

Power Train complaints

18 reports
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40,000 miles · Jul 8, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY. AFTER BACKING INTO STREET THE VEHICLE CANE TO A COMPLETE STOP THEN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN QUICKLY ACCELERATED AT A VERY FAST SPEED. THIS WAS ON A BUSY ROAD AND THE VEHICLE APPR…

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VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY. AFTER BACKING INTO STREET THE VEHICLE CANE TO A COMPLETE STOP THEN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN QUICKLY ACCELERATED AT A VERY FAST SPEED. THIS WAS ON A BUSY ROAD AND THE VEHICLE APPROACHING MY REAR HAD TO SLAM ON ITS BRAKES TO AVOID A COLLISION. LATER IN THE SAME EVENING IN A PARKING LOT THE SAME GEAR CHANGE PROBLEM HAPPED AGAIN. AFTER GOING FROM REVERSE THEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO THE DRIVE POSITION. THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED THEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A NEAR STALL. AFTER A LONG DELAY THE VEHICLE JOLTED FORWARD. A PERSON WALKING THROUGH THE LOT NOTICED MY HESITATION AND THOUGHT I WAS LETTING THEM CROSS IN FRONT OF ME. MY VEHICLE CAME WITHIN A COUPLE FEET OF ALMOST STRIKING THE PEDESTRIAN.

NHTSA ODI #11229972

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2019
Power Train

2016 SUBARU CROSS TREK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING IN MANUAL MODE. *LD *JS

NHTSA ODI #11220113

18,000 miles · Jun 2, 2019
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING DANGEROUSLY WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI #11217332

43,000 miles · Dec 19, 2018
Power Train

TODAY WE HAD THE THIRD WHEEL BEARING REPLACED ON THIS CAR. AT 43K MILES THE RIGHT REAR BEARING HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND THE LEFT REAR BEARING ONCE.

NHTSA ODI #11162593

40,000 miles · Oct 22, 2018
Power Train

THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING IS FAILING FOR THE THIRD [3RD] TIME AT 40K MILES. BEARING FAILURE APPEAR TO BE INCREASING IN FREQUENCY.

NHTSA ODI #11141799

38,000 miles · Nov 3, 2017
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 110 MILES. I SLOWED DOWN TO PAY A TOLL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS VEHICLE HAS STALLED DURING INTERSTATE HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME WAS AROUND 17,000 MILES AND THIS TIME 38,000 MILES. IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 HOURS …

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 110 MILES. I SLOWED DOWN TO PAY A TOLL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS VEHICLE HAS STALLED DURING INTERSTATE HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME WAS AROUND 17,000 MILES AND THIS TIME 38,000 MILES. IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 HOURS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #11043004

Mileage unknown · May 13, 2016
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

THE DURATION OF TIME THAT IT TAKES TO GO FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IS UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS. EVERY MORNING I DRIVE MY CHILD TO DAYCARE AND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE I FEARED THAT WE WOULD GET REAR-ENDED (WHICH WOULD INJURE MY CHILD) DUE TO THE SLOW RESPONSE TIME GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. EVERY MORNING I HAVE …

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THE DURATION OF TIME THAT IT TAKES TO GO FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IS UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS. EVERY MORNING I DRIVE MY CHILD TO DAYCARE AND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE I FEARED THAT WE WOULD GET REAR-ENDED (WHICH WOULD INJURE MY CHILD) DUE TO THE SLOW RESPONSE TIME GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. EVERY MORNING I HAVE TO BE 100% SURE TO TIME MY REVERSAL WHEN BACKING OUT AND MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO CARS ANYWHERE NEAR ME SO I DON'T GET CRASHED INTO. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE THERE ARE ANY DEATHS OR INJURIES FROM THIS. ALSO, THIS IS A MINOR INCONVENIENCE BUT THE MOONROOF/SUNROOF DOESN'T OPEN 100% ALL THE WAY WHEN I CLICK THE AUTO OPEN BUTTON/FEATURE...IT OPENS AND THEN STOPS ABOUT 1 INCH BEFORE BEING FULLY OPEN. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU PRESS THE AUTO OPEN BUTTON TO OPEN THE MOONROOF, IT WILL STOP AT 90-95% OPEN THEN YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY PRESS IT AGAIN TO GET IT FULLY OPEN ANOTHER INCH TO 100%. WHEN I TOOK MY CROSSTREK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM REPROGRAM MY TELEMATICS FOR THE TELEMATICS/COMPUTER REPROGRAMMING RECALL I HAD THEM TAKE A LOOK AT THE MOONROOF AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS "WORKING AS DESIGNED". WHY WOULD A MOONROOF NOT FULLY OPEN 100% BY DESIGN? IT CAN'T BE A SAFETY ISSUE, SO THIS JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AND LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS BEING COMPLACENT AND LAZY AND DIDN'T FEEL LIKE HAVING TO ADJUST IT OR SIMPLY DIDN'T KNOW HOW.

NHTSA ODI #10864730

384 miles · Apr 26, 2016
Power Train

THE LAG TIME ON THE CVT GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IS BEYOND ANNOYING IT IS DANGEROUS. IT TAKES 1-2 SECONDS FOR THE CAR TO MOVE AND BECAUSE OF THIS LAPSE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE CAR WILL LURCH. FOR EXAMPLE, IF BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND TRAFFIC WARRANTS THAT YOU PULL BACK INTO THE SPACE IT CAN LEAD TO A POTENT…

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THE LAG TIME ON THE CVT GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IS BEYOND ANNOYING IT IS DANGEROUS. IT TAKES 1-2 SECONDS FOR THE CAR TO MOVE AND BECAUSE OF THIS LAPSE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE CAR WILL LURCH. FOR EXAMPLE, IF BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND TRAFFIC WARRANTS THAT YOU PULL BACK INTO THE SPACE IT CAN LEAD TO A POTENTIAL OUT OF CONTROL SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI #10861492

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.