IllustrationTOTAL POWER STEERING FAILURE AT 40,076 MILES. DEAL READ CODE C2532. DEALER REPLACED FULL STEERING SYSTEM; RACK, CONNECTORS. STILL DID NOT WORK. REPLACED 80 AMP FUSE ON POSITIVE TERMINAL. NOTE THAT STEERING FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS OFF. MAJOR CONCERN IF IT HAD HAPPENED DURING OPERATION.
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
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
220–25K
3125–50K
1450–75K
575–100K
4100–150K
2150K+
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
What owners actually said
131 reportsPUT CAR IN PARK, SHUT THE IGNITION OFF, AND I AM UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON, MOVE THE SHIFTER FROM PARK TO DRIVE POSITION, THEN PUT BACK IN PARK AND BY DOING THIS I AM SOMETIMES ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY.
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.
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.
WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE KEY IS ALWAYS STUCK EVEN IF THE SHIFTER IS ON PARK MODE, HAD TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND PUSH THE SHIFTER WITH FORCE TO RELEASE THE KEY.
CAR INTERMITTENTLY LOSES THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN SPEED AT A RANGE OF SPEEDS FROM 30MPH TO 75MPH+ IN MY EXPERIENCE. NO RESPONSE WHEN PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL AND ENGINE DOESN'T RESPOND WHATSOEVER TO GAS PEDAL INPUT. IT'S AS IF I HAVE REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS AND I'M ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO COAST. THIS LASTS FOR A F…
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CAR INTERMITTENTLY LOSES THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN SPEED AT A RANGE OF SPEEDS FROM 30MPH TO 75MPH+ IN MY EXPERIENCE. NO RESPONSE WHEN PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL AND ENGINE DOESN'T RESPOND WHATSOEVER TO GAS PEDAL INPUT. IT'S AS IF I HAVE REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS AND I'M ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO COAST. THIS LASTS FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL NORMAL FUNCTION RESUMES. THIS MOSTLY OCCURS AT ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE, BUT SUBARU WILL DO NOTHING UNLESS THEY'RE ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE THEMSELVES. IT'S BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP ONCE ALREADY. THE ISSUE IS INTERMITTENT AND ONLY HAPPENS EVERY FEW DAYS, SO IT'S HARD TO MAKE IT HAPPEN WHEN YOU WANT IT TO. I HAVE A BAD VIDEO RECORDING OF HALFWAY THROUGH IT HAPPENING, BUT I'M ATTEMPTING TO GET A BETTER RECORDING.
2016 SUBARU CROSS TREK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING IN MANUAL MODE. *LD *JS
TRACKING NUMBER 11217079:THIS IS TO ADD PHOTOS SHOWING THAT SEAT HEIGHT ADJUST LEVER AFTER WEAR PROTRUDES FROM SEAT BASE CASTING, AND CATCHES PANTS CUFF ON EXITING CAUSING TRIPPING.
THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AFTER PLACING THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF. THE CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS IN PARK SO IT WON'T RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. WE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE BREAK LIGHT SWITCH RECALL AND IT STARTED HAPPENING THE NEXT WEEK.
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING DANGEROUSLY WHILE DRIVING
Official recalls
119V149000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.