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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

34 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2018
Unknown Or Other

THE RADIO WITH SIRIUSXM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. APPARENTLY, SIRIUS UPDATED IS SOFTWARE, HOWEVER; THE SUBARU RADIOS ARE NOW NOT IN SYNC WITH SIRIUS. MY SITUATION IS NOT AN ISOLATED SITUATION. SPECIFICALLY, THE "LIST" DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE. IT COULD BE DANGEROUS TO MANUALLY CHANGE CHANNELS WITH THE KNOB, AS THERE ARE OVER 300 …

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THE RADIO WITH SIRIUSXM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. APPARENTLY, SIRIUS UPDATED IS SOFTWARE, HOWEVER; THE SUBARU RADIOS ARE NOW NOT IN SYNC WITH SIRIUS. MY SITUATION IS NOT AN ISOLATED SITUATION. SPECIFICALLY, THE "LIST" DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE. IT COULD BE DANGEROUS TO MANUALLY CHANGE CHANNELS WITH THE KNOB, AS THERE ARE OVER 300 CHANNELS

NHTSA ODI #11143901

12,000 miles · Aug 25, 2016
Unknown Or Other

TWICE NOW MY CAR HAS GONE LIMP ON THE FREEWAY. IT DOESN'T SHUT DOWN BUT THE ACCELERATOR STOPS WORKING AND I HAVE TO COAST OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART IT. WHEN I DO RESTART IT IT'S FINE. BOTH TIMES THE ENGINE DOESN'T EVEN REV WHEN I PRESS THE GAS; IT'S JUST UNRESPONSIVE. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING EITHER. IT'S ALW…

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TWICE NOW MY CAR HAS GONE LIMP ON THE FREEWAY. IT DOESN'T SHUT DOWN BUT THE ACCELERATOR STOPS WORKING AND I HAVE TO COAST OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART IT. WHEN I DO RESTART IT IT'S FINE. BOTH TIMES THE ENGINE DOESN'T EVEN REV WHEN I PRESS THE GAS; IT'S JUST UNRESPONSIVE. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING EITHER. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN WHEN I WAS GOING AROUND 70 MPH AND THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN HOT; PROBABLY 88-90 DEGREES.

NHTSA ODI #10898634

52 miles · Jul 18, 2016
Unknown Or Other

TOXIC SMELL IN THE CAR. I NOTICED IT WHEN THE SALESMAN WAS GOING OVER HOW TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AND HE SAID HE NOTICED IT, ALSO. I FIGURED IT WAS BRAND NEW AND IT WOULD GET BETTER, BUT IT DID NOT AND I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 6 TIMES. THEY HAVE TRIED MANY THINGS TO GET RID OF THE SMELL. NOTHING WORKS. NOW THE…

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TOXIC SMELL IN THE CAR. I NOTICED IT WHEN THE SALESMAN WAS GOING OVER HOW TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AND HE SAID HE NOTICED IT, ALSO. I FIGURED IT WAS BRAND NEW AND IT WOULD GET BETTER, BUT IT DID NOT AND I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 6 TIMES. THEY HAVE TRIED MANY THINGS TO GET RID OF THE SMELL. NOTHING WORKS. NOW THEY SAY NOTHING IS MECHANICALLY WRONG, SO I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT MAKES ME SICK. THIS IS NOT NEW CAR SMELL, I WISH IT WERE. I HAVE BEEN IN AT LEAST 6 OTHER NEW SUBARU'S, AND NONE OF THEM SMELL LIKE THIS ONE DOES. THE SMELL IS NOT GETTING ANY BETTER OR FADING. IT MAKES ME LIGHTHEADED, GIVES ME HEADACHES, SORE THROATS, BLURRY VISION, POST NASAL DRIP, AND IF IN IT LONG ENOUGH, NAUSEA. MY HUSBAND ALSO HAS THESE ISSUES AND WILL NOT RIDE IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10885711

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

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.