KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND THE CAR NEEDS TO BE RESTARTED, PUT IN REVERSE/DRIVE, AND THEN EITHER MOVED OR STEP FIRMLY ON THE BREAK AND BACK IN PARK. SOMETIMES IT TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. HAVING THIS ISSUE FOR A COUPLE MONTHS. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME, BUT OFTEN.
2017 Subaru Crosstrek
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2017 Subaru Crosstrek do not stand out strongly from 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
60 reports with mileage · 34 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.
- Visibility/wiper. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. 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.
Electrical System complaints
17 reportsCHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT BLINKS. CANNOT USE CRUISE CONTROL. ITS A 2017 CROSSTREK. TOOK IT TO DEALER TWICE. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS CATALYTIC CONVERTOR OR O2 SENSORS WHICH WERE FIXED BUT LIGHTS REMAIN ON
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THE KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAR IS TUNED OFF AND IN PARK. CONSTANTLY NEED TO RESTART THE CAR AND PLAY AROUND WITH THE SHIFTER. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A MONTH. CAR IS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD AND HAS 40K MILES ON IT. GANLEY SUBARU OF BEDFORD HAS SAID ANY REPAIR WOULD NEED T…
Read full complaint
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THE KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAR IS TUNED OFF AND IN PARK. CONSTANTLY NEED TO RESTART THE CAR AND PLAY AROUND WITH THE SHIFTER. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A MONTH. CAR IS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD AND HAS 40K MILES ON IT. GANLEY SUBARU OF BEDFORD HAS SAID ANY REPAIR WOULD NEED TO BE PAID FOR OUT OF POCKET.
MY KEY STARTED TO GET STUCK, I NEED TO START MY CAR, PUT IT IN DRIVE BACK IN PARK REPEATEDLY UNTIL IT COMES OUT. 30,000 MILES ON A CAR AND I CAN’T JUST HAVE IT FIXED WHEN THERE IS A TSB ON A KNOW ISSUE. TO DO THIS CYCLE OF ON AND OFF 1-9 TIMES ON A 2 YR OLD VEHICLE IS RIDICULOUS,THIS HAPPENS 50% OF THE TIME I TRY TO SHUT …
Read full complaint
MY KEY STARTED TO GET STUCK, I NEED TO START MY CAR, PUT IT IN DRIVE BACK IN PARK REPEATEDLY UNTIL IT COMES OUT. 30,000 MILES ON A CAR AND I CAN’T JUST HAVE IT FIXED WHEN THERE IS A TSB ON A KNOW ISSUE. TO DO THIS CYCLE OF ON AND OFF 1-9 TIMES ON A 2 YR OLD VEHICLE IS RIDICULOUS,THIS HAPPENS 50% OF THE TIME I TRY TO SHUT MY CAR OFF AND GETTING WORSE, PLEASE DO A RECALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU CROSSTRAK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE DRIVER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF A SECOND VEHICLE. DURING THE INCIDENT THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE FEATURE( 'EYESIGHT') MALFUNCTIONED AND D…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU CROSSTRAK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE DRIVER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF A SECOND VEHICLE. DURING THE INCIDENT THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE FEATURE( 'EYESIGHT') MALFUNCTIONED AND DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AWAY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT YET NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
MY KEY STARTED TO GET STUCK ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I NEED TO START MY CAR, PUT IT IN DRIVE BACK IN PARK REPEATEDLY UNTIL IT COMES OUT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY NEED TO REPLICATE THE SITUATION. 18000 MILES ON A CAR AND I CAN'T JUST HAVE IT FIXED WHEN THERE IS A TSB ON A KNOW ISSUE. I DO T HAVE TIME WHEN GOING …
Read full complaint
MY KEY STARTED TO GET STUCK ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I NEED TO START MY CAR, PUT IT IN DRIVE BACK IN PARK REPEATEDLY UNTIL IT COMES OUT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY NEED TO REPLICATE THE SITUATION. 18000 MILES ON A CAR AND I CAN'T JUST HAVE IT FIXED WHEN THERE IS A TSB ON A KNOW ISSUE. I DO T HAVE TIME WHEN GOING TO WORK TO DO THIS CYCLE OF ON AND OFF 1-9 TIMES ON A 2 YR OLD VEHICLE, PLEASE DO A RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU CROSSTREK. INTERMITTENTLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE IGNITION WAS IN THE OFF POSITION AND THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WAS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PALM SPRINGS SUBARU (LOCATED AT 67925 E PALM CANYON DR, CATHEDRAL CITY, CA 92234, (760) 318-4700) TO…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU CROSSTREK. INTERMITTENTLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE IGNITION WAS IN THE OFF POSITION AND THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WAS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PALM SPRINGS SUBARU (LOCATED AT 67925 E PALM CANYON DR, CATHEDRAL CITY, CA 92234, (760) 318-4700) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
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.
Illustration