12 recalls covering model years 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
A weld on a switch that tells the car which gear you are in was not done well enough, so water can seep inside and break it. When that switch fails, your reversing lights may not come on and the backup camera screen may go blank. That makes it easy to miss someone or something behind you while backing up. A dealer will replace the switch free of charge.
A driveshaft is the spinning bar that carries power from the engine out to a front wheel. On these vehicles, part of that shaft can crack and break. If it breaks while you are driving, the vehicle can lose power to the wheels. If it breaks while the vehicle is parked and the parking brake is not set, the vehicle can roll away on its own. The dealer inspects both front driveshafts and replaces either one if needed, free of charge.
On certain 2024 Subaru Crosstrek and Impreza vehicles, there is not enough space behind the dashboard. A bundle of wires can rub against a metal bracket that supports the steering column. Over time the rubbing wears through the wire covering and causes a short circuit. That short can make the vehicle lose drive power. A dealer inspects the wiring, adds a clamp to hold it away from the bracket, and tapes or replaces damaged wiring.
On these cars, the engine computer may keep sending power to an ignition coil even after you shut the engine off. That can cause an electrical short in the coils, and a short can make the engine stall. An engine that quits while you are driving — especially in traffic or at speed — makes a crash more likely. Your dealer will update the engine computer software, replace the ignition coils, and replace the front exhaust pipe if it is needed, all free.
The bolts that hold the rear stabilizer bar brackets in place can work loose and fall out. The stabilizer bar is part of the rear suspension, and it helps keep the car steady in turns. If the bolts go missing, the bracket can shift out of position and the car may not handle the way you expect. Subaru dealers will check the bolts, tighten them to the correct setting, and install any that are missing.
Some 2019 Crosstrek vehicles have rear seat belts with a locking mechanism that senses the belt webbing pulling out. On these cars, that lock may not grab the way it should. In a crash where the car is hit more than once, the belt may not hold the person in place properly, so a rear-seat passenger could be injured more badly. Subaru dealers will replace the rear seat belt assemblies entirely.
A small aluminum valve that vents pressure out of the engine can come apart. The broken pieces can fall into the engine itself, and the engine can lose power while you are driving — possibly in traffic or on the highway. A dealer will inspect the valve and replace it. If the valve has already broken and the missing pieces cannot be located, Subaru will replace the lower part of the engine at no cost.
On certain Impreza and Crosstrek cars, the engine computer can keep sending power to the ignition coil even after you shut the engine off. That extra power can cause a short circuit and blow a fuse. If the short happens while you are driving, the engine can shut off unexpectedly. Subaru dealers will update the engine computer software and check the ignition coil, replacing it if it is damaged. Some cars with a damaged coil and a specific stored fault code also get a new front exhaust pipe.
A small aluminum valve that lets pressure escape from the engine can come apart. The broken pieces can then be pulled into the engine, and the engine can lose power while you are driving. A dealer will look at the valve and replace it if needed. If the valve has already broken and the missing pieces cannot be located, Subaru will replace the entire engine. Everything, including an engine replacement, is free. Repairs have been available since December 2019.
The window glass in the driver's side rear door of some 2019 Crosstreks may not have been heat-treated correctly. Properly treated safety glass crumbles into small, blunt pieces if it breaks. Glass that was not treated right can instead break into large, sharp chunks that could cut someone in or near the vehicle. Because of this, the glass does not meet the federal standard for automotive glazing. Dealers will replace that one window at no charge.
A connector inside the electric power steering unit can short out. When that happens, the power assist that makes the steering wheel easy to turn stops working, and the wheel becomes much harder to turn, especially at low speeds like parking or taking a corner. None of these vehicles had been sold when the recall started, so dealers were told to inspect the steering gearbox and replace it if needed before delivery.
Some of these cars left the factory with the wrong bracket for holding the floor mat in place. With the wrong bracket, the mat can slide out of position and get in the way of the gas pedal or the brake pedal. A mat caught under a pedal can keep you from slowing or stopping when you need to, which can cause a crash. Dealers will inspect the bracket and replace it if needed at no cost.
Complaints owners have filed with NHTSA about the Subaru Crosstrek. These are unverified reports; better-selling years collect more.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 194 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| 2019 | 284 | 6 | 3 | 5 |
| 2021 | 115 | 8 | 2 | 6 |
| 2024 | 115 | 8 | 2 | 3 |
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: