NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
81 reports93,000 miles · Dec 4, 2018
Electrical System
HORN DOES NOT WORK. MANY TIMES I'VE HAD TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC ABOUT TO HIT ME BECAUSE MY HORN DOESN'T WORK. A FEW TIMES I HAVE ALMOST RUN INTO OTHERS TRYING TO AVOID A COLLISION THAT WOULD ARGUABLY BE MUCH WORSE THAN LETTING SOMEONE HIT ME. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND WHAT OTHERS HAVE FOUND IS THAT IT'S THE CLOCK S…
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HORN DOES NOT WORK. MANY TIMES I'VE HAD TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC ABOUT TO HIT ME BECAUSE MY HORN DOESN'T WORK. A FEW TIMES I HAVE ALMOST RUN INTO OTHERS TRYING TO AVOID A COLLISION THAT WOULD ARGUABLY BE MUCH WORSE THAN LETTING SOMEONE HIT ME. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND WHAT OTHERS HAVE FOUND IS THAT IT'S THE CLOCK SPRING OR WIRING THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED/REPAIRED. I'M ASSUMING THE HORN STOPPED WORKING WHEN I TURNED MY WHEEL. OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE TOO, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'VE FILED ANYTHING FORMALLY.
NHTSA ODI #11155965
10 miles · Nov 5, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility/wiper
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS OCCASIONALLY FAIL TO WORK AT NIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH IS ON. THE CAR HAS RUNNING LIGHTS THAT FUNCTION AT ALL TIMES. ON THE ONE HAND, THE COMBINATION ALLOWS OTHER DRIVERS TO SEE US. ON THE OTHER HAND, IT MAKES IT BARELY POSSIBLE FOR US TO SEE …
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THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS OCCASIONALLY FAIL TO WORK AT NIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH IS ON. THE CAR HAS RUNNING LIGHTS THAT FUNCTION AT ALL TIMES. ON THE ONE HAND, THE COMBINATION ALLOWS OTHER DRIVERS TO SEE US. ON THE OTHER HAND, IT MAKES IT BARELY POSSIBLE FOR US TO SEE LANE MARKS AND PEDESTRIANS.
NHTSA ODI #11145287
69,000 miles · Jun 11, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering
POWER STEERING ISSUES. LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASHBOARD AND POWER STEERING PROBLEMS OCCUR. IT'S ONLY 4 YEARS OLD (NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD) TAKEN WELL CARE OF, AND THERE ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONICAL PART OF THE POWER STEERING SAYING THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WHEN DRIVING IT LOCKS UP MAKING TURNS REALLY HARD WHEN TURNING TH…
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POWER STEERING ISSUES. LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASHBOARD AND POWER STEERING PROBLEMS OCCUR. IT'S ONLY 4 YEARS OLD (NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD) TAKEN WELL CARE OF, AND THERE ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONICAL PART OF THE POWER STEERING SAYING THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WHEN DRIVING IT LOCKS UP MAKING TURNS REALLY HARD WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. THEN OUR CAR SHUT OFF LIKE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD FOR HALF A DAY AND WE TRIED ONE LAST TIME TO START IT BEFORE JUMPING AND IT STARTED UP AND WORKED. SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS WIRED WRONG.
NHTSA ODI #11101135
80,001 miles · Jan 16, 2018
Electrical SystemVisibilityFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE HEATING SYSTEM BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING SYSTEM CONTROL UNIT WERE MELTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR CO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE HEATING SYSTEM BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING SYSTEM CONTROL UNIT WERE MELTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,001.
NHTSA ODI #11063084
32,000 miles · Dec 28, 2017
Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other
THE CAR CANNOT MOVE DUE TO IT IS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE BRAKE LIGHT DOESNT COME ON --BELIEVE IT IS THE BRAKE SWITCH SOMETIME DOESN'T WORK DEALER WONT ADMIT PROBLEM
NHTSA ODI #11057238
57,000 miles · Nov 21, 2017
Power Train
AT 57,000 MILES, THE CAR DEVELOPED A POPPING AND RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM THE POWERTRAIN AND FRONT END. THE DEALER DIAGNOSTIC REVEALED THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE EITHER REPLACED OR REMANUFACTURED. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF THE CAR FOR OVER 2 WEEKS AND COUNTING. SUBARU IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSIO…
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AT 57,000 MILES, THE CAR DEVELOPED A POPPING AND RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM THE POWERTRAIN AND FRONT END. THE DEALER DIAGNOSTIC REVEALED THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE EITHER REPLACED OR REMANUFACTURED. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF THE CAR FOR OVER 2 WEEKS AND COUNTING. SUBARU IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE WHICH RESULTED IN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES, HOWEVER THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING WOULD PUT PEOPLE AT GREAT RISK.
NHTSA ODI #11047901
79,000 miles · Apr 9, 2017
Electrical System
FIRST NOTICED MY HORN WAS NOT WORKING, THEN MY IPHONE WAS NO LONGER SINQUED TO THE CAR. WHEN I USED THE SWITCHES ON THE STEERING WHEEL WITBTBE RADIO, THEN THE NAVIGSTION SCREEN STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFFF, THEN WWNT NLAVK. BUR NEXT DAY THE NAVIGATION SCREEN CAME BACK ON BUT STILL NO HORN AND NOT ANLE TO SINQUE IPHONE. I MADE A…
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FIRST NOTICED MY HORN WAS NOT WORKING, THEN MY IPHONE WAS NO LONGER SINQUED TO THE CAR. WHEN I USED THE SWITCHES ON THE STEERING WHEEL WITBTBE RADIO, THEN THE NAVIGSTION SCREEN STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFFF, THEN WWNT NLAVK. BUR NEXT DAY THE NAVIGATION SCREEN CAME BACK ON BUT STILL NO HORN AND NOT ANLE TO SINQUE IPHONE. I MADE APPOINTMENT WITH MCCURLEY SUBARU IN PASVO, WA AND AFTER CHECKING IT OUT THE DESLER TOLD ME THE WIRING CONNECTOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, BEHIND THE AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD COST MORR THAN $400 TO REPLACE. THE DEALER LET ME DRIVE MY DUBARU BACK TO PENDLETON A D I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE NEW WIRING CONNECTOR INSTALLED MONDAY, 4/10/17. OVER THE WEEKEND I FOUND REPORTS ON CAR ADVICE SITE STATING THE 2012-2014 XV CROSSTREK MODELS LIKE MINE WERE RECALLEDTO FIX THIS WIRING CONNECTOR PROBLEM. APOARENTLY THERE IS A METAL PLATE NEAR THE WIRING CONNECTOR THAT GETS HOT AND MELTD SOME OF THE WIRING. THE SYMPTOMS LISTED ARE EXACTLY LIKE MINE. HOWEVER, SUBARU NEVER NOTIFIED ME OF THE RECALL, NOR DID MCCURLEY SUBARU DEALER WHEN THEY QUOTED ME A $400 PLUS TO FIX OR REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE WIRING CONNECTOR. ON ANOTHER ISSUE, MY SUBARU HAS BEEN BURNING MORE THAN A QUART OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. WHEN I HAD MCCURLEY DI COMSUMPTION REQUEST THEY SAID IN 1,000 MILES IT WAS USING A FOURTH OF A QUART, NOT ENOUGH TO REPLACE ENGINE SHORT BLOCK, AFTER THEY DID CONSUMPTION TEST IT IS USING LESS OIL, SO ZI WONDER IF THEY PUT STP OR SIMILAR PRODUCT IN MY OUT SO MY CAR BURNS LESD OOL UNTIL IT PASSES 100,000 MILES. FRUSTRATING TO HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY FIRST SUBARU.
NHTSA ODI #10971472
22,000 miles · Mar 3, 2017
Electrical System
THREE TIMES I HAVE SAFELY STOPPED MY CAR TO TAKE A PHONE CALL. I PUT THE GEAR IN PARK AND LEFT THE KEY IN ACC/ACCESSORY POSITION. EACH TIME THE ACC/ACCESSORY POSITION HAS TOTALLY DRAINED THE BATTERY IN 5-10 MINUTES. SUBARU DEALER SERVICE HAS INFORMED ME THAT ALL MODELS FROM 2014 HAVE A "WEAK" UNDERPERFORMING BATTERY AND THEY RE…
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THREE TIMES I HAVE SAFELY STOPPED MY CAR TO TAKE A PHONE CALL. I PUT THE GEAR IN PARK AND LEFT THE KEY IN ACC/ACCESSORY POSITION. EACH TIME THE ACC/ACCESSORY POSITION HAS TOTALLY DRAINED THE BATTERY IN 5-10 MINUTES. SUBARU DEALER SERVICE HAS INFORMED ME THAT ALL MODELS FROM 2014 HAVE A "WEAK" UNDERPERFORMING BATTERY AND THEY REPLACE THE DAMAGED BY DEPLETION BATTERY WITH THE SAME BATTERY. SUBARU HAS NEVER WARNED ANYONE OR ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL IT IS DISHONEST AND DANGEROUS TO HAVE THIS IN THE MANUAL "THE SECOND POSITION IS THE ACC/ACCESSORY POSITION, WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO USE YOUR RADIO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND OTHER ACCESSORIES WHILE THE ENGINE IS OFF." WHEN IN FACT YOU CAN NEVER SAFELY USE THE ACC POSITION. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY -- I WAS ON CITY STREETS. WHAT ABOUT SOMEONE ON THE HIGHWAY STOPPING TO USE THEIR PHONE. OR EVEN TO REST? ANOTHER FACT: SUBARU NEVER REVEALED WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO ME. THE THIRD AAA DRIVER TO COME TO JUMP MY CAR TOLD ME WHAT WAS GOING ON. I THEN CONFRONTED SUBARU DEALER SERVICE AND THEY ADMITTED THIS WAS THE TRUTH. SUBARU NEEDS TO INFORM / WARN ALL THE 2014 OWNERS THAT THERE IS NO WORKING ACC POSITION IN ALL THESE CARS.
NHTSA ODI #10958557
34,000 miles · Oct 3, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRAGGED OFF THE ROAD BY A TOW TRUCK AND TOWED TO A TIRE S…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRAGGED OFF THE ROAD BY A TOW TRUCK AND TOWED TO A TIRE SHOP NEARBY THEN TO THE DEALER. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL OIL LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED FOR A DIFFERENT ONE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT, AN HOUR AND A HALF BEFORE THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE ATF WARNING INDICATOR THAT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. UPDATED 03/29/17 LJ *TR
NHTSA ODI #10911334
3,842 miles · Sep 6, 2015
SeatsInjury
THE DRIVER HEADREST. I AM A 72 YEAR OLD DRIVER WHO IS 5'. I JUST PURCHASED THIS USED CAR ON 9/4/15, HAVE GONE MAYBE 20 MILES SO FAR, AND MY NECK IS KILLING ME. THE HEADREST JUST DOSEN'T HIT THE BACK OF MY HEAD OR TOP OF MY HEAD AT ANY POINT THAT IS COMFORTABLE AND NOW, SO SOON, MY NECK HURTS! I FEEL LESS IN CONTROL OF THIS CAR …
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THE DRIVER HEADREST. I AM A 72 YEAR OLD DRIVER WHO IS 5'. I JUST PURCHASED THIS USED CAR ON 9/4/15, HAVE GONE MAYBE 20 MILES SO FAR, AND MY NECK IS KILLING ME. THE HEADREST JUST DOSEN'T HIT THE BACK OF MY HEAD OR TOP OF MY HEAD AT ANY POINT THAT IS COMFORTABLE AND NOW, SO SOON, MY NECK HURTS! I FEEL LESS IN CONTROL OF THIS CAR BECAUSE I AM ALREADY ADAPTING BY LEANING FORWARD SLIGHTLY SO THAT THIS THING IS NOT BUMPING MY NECK/HEAD. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL AT THIS POINT, I CAN'T TILT HEADREST BACK, ONLY UP AND DOWN....AND NO HEIGHT ACCOMMODATES ME.
NHTSA ODI #10761862