NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
96 reportsMileage unknown · Oct 21, 2018
Power Train
65000 MILES JUST OVER THE WARRANTY I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH 2 AXELS AND 2 CV JOINTS AND $4000 LATER I AM TOLD WE HAVE TO NOW REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT STALLED OUT SLIPPED WHILE I WAS TRYING TO TURN ONTO A BUSY ROAD WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AT 46000 MILES FOR 17200 IN JULY 2017. I DIDN'T THINK T…
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65000 MILES JUST OVER THE WARRANTY I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH 2 AXELS AND 2 CV JOINTS AND $4000 LATER I AM TOLD WE HAVE TO NOW REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT STALLED OUT SLIPPED WHILE I WAS TRYING TO TURN ONTO A BUSY ROAD WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AT 46000 MILES FOR 17200 IN JULY 2017. I DIDN'T THINK THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS EXISTED IN LOW MILEAGE CARS. I'VE OWNED A VOLVO I DROVE FOR 164,000 MILES NEVER HAD TO REPLACE AN AXEL OR TRANSMISSION, MY HONDA CR-V I DROVE FOR OVER 100,000 MILES WITH NO ISSUES AT ALL. I WANTED A SUBARU BECAUSE I HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT THEM I THOUGHT I DID MY RESEARCH DIDN'T THINK I'D BE PAYING LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO FIX IT WHILE I WAS STILL PAYING A CAR PAYMENT ON THE THING. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED AND SCARED FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN BUT WHO HAS ANOTHER $3000 TO THROW INTO A CAR THAT I ALREADY PUT $4000 INTO NOT TO MENTION THE $10,000 I STILL OWE ON IT. THOUGHT I WAS MAKING AN INVESTMENT INSTEAD I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR AND DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT AND SEVERELY DISAPPOINTED. I CONTACTED SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE BECAUSE I READ IN FOR A MAGAZINE THAT THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE CONTINUOUS VARIABLE TRANSMISSIONS IN MY MAKE AND MODEL HOWEVER I CANT FIND IT STATED ON ANY SUBARU WEBSITE OR WHEN I SEARCH THE VIN NUMBER. HTTPS://WWW.FORBES.COM/SITES/JENSEN/2017/07/07/FACING-COMPLAINTS-SUBARU-OFFERS-EXTENDED-WARRANTIES-ON-1-5-MILLION-VEHICLES/#9C54F0E79DC8
NHTSA ODI #11141717
145,000 miles · Oct 7, 2018
Engine
THE OIL LEVEL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILUMINATED. I STOPPED AND ADDED OIL. THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WHICH IS CAUSING ME TO ADD A QUART OF OIL ONCE PER WEEK. THE DEALER HAS A FIX BUT ONLY FOR VEHICLES UNDER WARRANTY AND SINCE MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, I'LL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. FROM ONLINE SEARCHES, THIS IS AN ISSUE AFFEC…
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THE OIL LEVEL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILUMINATED. I STOPPED AND ADDED OIL. THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WHICH IS CAUSING ME TO ADD A QUART OF OIL ONCE PER WEEK. THE DEALER HAS A FIX BUT ONLY FOR VEHICLES UNDER WARRANTY AND SINCE MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, I'LL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. FROM ONLINE SEARCHES, THIS IS AN ISSUE AFFECTING MANY CARS. THE COST, FOR ME, WILL BE IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
NHTSA ODI #11138856
65,000 miles · Jul 3, 2018
Power TrainWheels
MY 2013 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN SEPTEMBER 2013. WITHIN 65K MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE CV JOINT ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS (ISSUE WAS INDICATED BY A CLICKING SOUND FROM THE WHEEL WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT). AGAIN, AT AROUND 120K MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THEM BOTH, AND NOW, A THIRD TIME AT 182K MILES. AFTER DOIN…
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MY 2013 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN SEPTEMBER 2013. WITHIN 65K MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE CV JOINT ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS (ISSUE WAS INDICATED BY A CLICKING SOUND FROM THE WHEEL WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT). AGAIN, AT AROUND 120K MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THEM BOTH, AND NOW, A THIRD TIME AT 182K MILES. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ON THE XV CROSSTREK THAT IS NOT RELATED TO DRIVING CONDITIONS, ROAD CONDITIONS, OR DUE TO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE PART OR VEHICLE. EACH OF THE TIMES THE CV JOINT WAS REPLACED THE BOOT WAS INTACT, WHICH INDICATES THAT IT IS A FAULTY PART OR ASSEMBLY RATHER THAN DAMAGE OCCURRING TO THE WHEEL. EACH OF THESE REPAIRS COSTS APPROXIMATELY $500 AT THE DEALERSHIP (PER WHEEL) AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SHOULD REQUIRE SUBARU OF AMERICA TO VOLUNTARILY RECALL OR REPAIR THIS PART FREE OF CHARGE. ADDITIONALLY, IF THIS PART FAILS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, SEVERE TRANSMISSION DAMAGE WILL RESULT AND AN ACCIDENT IS LIKELY. MY EXPERIENCE WITH MY FIRST SUBARU HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT EXPENSIVE, AND BURDENSOME REPAIRS TO A CAR WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE "LOWEST COST OF OWNERSHIP" AS THEY ADVERTISE TO CONSUMERS.
NHTSA ODI #11105320
Mileage unknown · May 2, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingPower Train
WHEN I START MY CAR OR RANDOMLY WHILE I AM DRIVING THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR MY AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM, TRACTION CONTROL, AND HILL ASSIST TURN ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, MY GEAR SHIFTER LOCKS UP AND WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKES THE REAR LIGHTS DON'T ILLUMINATE WHILE THESE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ACTIVE. I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE WA…
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WHEN I START MY CAR OR RANDOMLY WHILE I AM DRIVING THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR MY AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM, TRACTION CONTROL, AND HILL ASSIST TURN ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, MY GEAR SHIFTER LOCKS UP AND WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKES THE REAR LIGHTS DON'T ILLUMINATE WHILE THESE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ACTIVE. I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATE RANDOMLY, WHETHER I'M STATIONARY OR IN MOTIONS, REGARDLESS OF SETTING.
NHTSA ODI #11091305
20,000 miles · Mar 26, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. I HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC CODE READER WHICH SENT THE DETAILS TO MY PHONE DTC P1449 EVAP SYSTEM CLOG DETECTED (AIR FILTER). I CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO SAID IT WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE HOME...WHILE DRIVING HOME IN THE RAIN I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WE…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. I HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC CODE READER WHICH SENT THE DETAILS TO MY PHONE DTC P1449 EVAP SYSTEM CLOG DETECTED (AIR FILTER). I CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO SAID IT WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE HOME...WHILE DRIVING HOME IN THE RAIN I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WENT OFF THE ROAD. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. WHEN I GOT HOME, MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A FAULTY PURGE VALVE WHICH WOULD NORMALLY BE A SIMPLE FIX BUT THE ISSUE WAS WELL KNOWN WITH THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOW A SUPERSEDED PART. THE COST WOULD QUADRUPLE BECAUSE THE CHECK ASSEMBLY WAS COMPLETELY REDESIGNED AND SEVERAL PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IF THIS WAS SUCH A KNOWN ISSUE, WHICH REQUIRED A REDESIGN OF THE SYSTEM, WHY ISNT IT ON RECALL!!! ESPECIALLY, IF THE COMPUTER TAKES AWAY THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY FEATURES LIKE TRACTION CONTROL. COME ON SUBARU. I EXPECT BETTER QUALITY AND SERVICE! NHTSA PLEASE ESCALATE THESE MATTERS.
NHTSA ODI #11081337
36,000 miles · Feb 9, 2018
Power Train
CV JOINT & FRONT AXEL I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT AXELS TWICE NOW IN MY CROSSTREK. ONCE AT 36K MILES AND AGAIN AT 59K. BOTH TIMES I DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE WHEN I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE ON SHARP TURNS. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AT THE DEALERSHIP ON BOTH OCCASIONS AS WELL. THE CROSSTREK ONLINE FORUMS HAVE LISTED MA…
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CV JOINT & FRONT AXEL I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT AXELS TWICE NOW IN MY CROSSTREK. ONCE AT 36K MILES AND AGAIN AT 59K. BOTH TIMES I DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE WHEN I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE ON SHARP TURNS. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AT THE DEALERSHIP ON BOTH OCCASIONS AS WELL. THE CROSSTREK ONLINE FORUMS HAVE LISTED MANY STORIES LIKE MINE, WITH PEOPLE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE OF NEEDING TO REPLACE THEIR AXELS PREMATURELY. THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN OF AN AXEL IS NORMALLY CLOSER TO 100K+ MILES. I DO NOT OFF ROAD, I DRIVE CITY STREETS AT THE SPEED LIMIT. I SEE NO OTHER REASON FOR THIS ISSUE OTHER THAN POOR DESIGN/DEFECT.
NHTSA ODI #11071994
141,000 miles · Oct 25, 2017
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other
THE HORN DOES NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALIGNED STRAIGHT WITH THE WHEELS AND THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOVING HOWEVER WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THE HORN WILL FUNCTION. "SUBARU HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL IN AUSTRALIA FOR PROBLEMS RELATED TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT COUL…
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THE HORN DOES NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALIGNED STRAIGHT WITH THE WHEELS AND THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOVING HOWEVER WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THE HORN WILL FUNCTION. "SUBARU HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL IN AUSTRALIA FOR PROBLEMS RELATED TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT COULD LEAD TO A SHORT CIRCUIT, WHICH WOULD DISABLE CONTROL OF THE WIPERS, HEADLIGHTS, HORN, DRIVER'S AIRBAG AND FEATURES ACTUATED THROUGH THE MULTI-FUNCTION STEERING WHEEL, SUCH AS CRUISE CONTROL, AUDIO SYSTEM AND MOBILE PHONE CONNECTIVITY". MODELS AFFECTED IN THIS RECALL INCLUDED IMPREZA AND CROSSTREK XV YEARS 2012-2014, AND FORESTER MODELS BUILT IN 2013 AND 2014. NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED IN THE U.S RELATED TO THE STEERING AND/OR CONTROLS (APART FROM THE TAKATA RECALLS) *TR
NHTSA ODI #11039788
106,454 miles · Aug 1, 2016
Electrical SystemVisibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE MOTOR SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAN FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATER BLOWER CONTROL POWER PLUG SHORTED AND …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE MOTOR SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAN FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATER BLOWER CONTROL POWER PLUG SHORTED AND MELTED THE CONNECTOR. AS A RESULT, THE HEATER BLOWER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,454.
NHTSA ODI #10892114
58,223 miles · Mar 31, 2016
Power Train
I BOUGHT MY 2013 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK IN NOV 2012 AS A RESULT OF REVIEWING SUBARU'S HIGH SAFETY RATING AND READING THEIR SYMMETRICAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM. I STILL ENJOY THE CAR VERY MUCH AND HAVE DRIVEN ABOUT 86,640 MILES. I SERVICED MY CAR AT MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER TO STAY ON TOP OF THE MANUFACTURER' RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE S…
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I BOUGHT MY 2013 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK IN NOV 2012 AS A RESULT OF REVIEWING SUBARU'S HIGH SAFETY RATING AND READING THEIR SYMMETRICAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM. I STILL ENJOY THE CAR VERY MUCH AND HAVE DRIVEN ABOUT 86,640 MILES. I SERVICED MY CAR AT MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER TO STAY ON TOP OF THE MANUFACTURER' RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT 2 PROBLEMS I ENCOUNTERED.IN THE LAST 9 MONTHS. AT 58,223 MILES (JUNE 2015) I TOOK MY CAR TO INTO THE DEALER FOR ITS ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. I EXPLAINED I'VE BEEN HEARING A CLICKING NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEN TURNING LEFT. AFTER THEIR INSPECTION OF THE PROBLEM, THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE LEFT FRONT AXLE HAS A TORN BOOT. FORTUNATELY, MY WARRANTY COVERED THE REPLACEMENT AXLE. IN MAR 2016 (AT APPROXIMATELY 86K MILES ON THE ODOMETER) I HEARD A SIMILAR CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THIS TIME IT WAS MY RIGHT AXLE THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A WORN OUT JOINT AT THE WHEEL END OF MY RIGHT AXLE. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH A BROKEN AXLE AND ESPECIALLY 2 BROKEN AXLES. I USED TO DRIVE A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER 2 WHEEL DRIVE AND DROVE IT ABOUT 310K MILES. I PASSED IT TO MY SON SINCE IT STILL RUNS WELL AND NEVER BROKE AN AXLE. I DECIDED TO REVIEW MY SERVICE RECORD BACK IN JUNE 2014 AGAIN FOR THE LEFT BROKEN AXLE AND IT STATES "VERIFIED CONCERN FOUND NOISE COMING FROM LEFT FRONT AXLE NO BOOTS TORN. PRIOR TO THIS, I TEXTED MY SERVICE PERSON AND ASKED WHAT BOOT WAS TORN, NOT KNOWING MY SERVICE RECORDS SAYS NO BOOTS WERE TORN. I WAS TOLD HE WOULD CHECK AND GET BACK TO ME. MEANWHILE, I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT BOTH AXLES BROKE ON A NEW CAR AND NOW LEARNED THAT OTHER DRIVERS EXPERIENCED SIMIILAR AXLE REPLACEMENTS. THE 2ND ISSUE IS THAT THE REAR END OF THE CAR ABRUPTLY KICKS TO THE RIGHT WHEN DRIVING OVER ICE ABOVE 45MPH.
NHTSA ODI #10852611
23,000 miles · Feb 13, 2016
Unknown Or Other
I PARK OUTSIDE (NO GARAGE OR CARPORT) AND TEMPS HAVE BEEN VERY COLD. TODAY, I LEFT HOME AND ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. THIS WAS THE SAME TIME THE CAR INTERIOR HAD FULLY WARMED. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON A BUSY INTERSTATE CONNECTOR. HAD I BEEN AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE DANGEROUS…
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I PARK OUTSIDE (NO GARAGE OR CARPORT) AND TEMPS HAVE BEEN VERY COLD. TODAY, I LEFT HOME AND ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. THIS WAS THE SAME TIME THE CAR INTERIOR HAD FULLY WARMED. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON A BUSY INTERSTATE CONNECTOR. HAD I BEEN AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE DANGEROUS. FORTUNATELY I HAD THE INTERIOR SUNROOF COVER CLOSED. THE REMAINING GLASS CURVES UP, NOT DOWN (AS ONE MIGHT EXPECT FROM AN IMPACT). THERE WAS NO IMPACT WITH ANYTHING--JUST DRIVING ALONG AND THEN THE EXPLOSION.
NHTSA ODI #10825968