2016 Subaru Crosstrek problems and recalls

Owners have filed 132 complaints on the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek, and NHTSA has issued 1 recall. The most cited component is the Electrical System (37 complaints).

132
Complaints
1
Recalls
4
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
1
Injuries
44.4
Severity index

Severity index 44.4 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 44.4p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 111 of 142 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 22% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 37 complaints (28.0%)37 28%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 34 complaints (25.8%)34 26%Power TrainPower Train: 18 complaints (13.6%)18 14%EngineEngine: 14 complaints (10.6%)14 11%SteeringSteering: 13 complaints (9.8%)13 10%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 8 complaints (6.1%)8 6%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 6 complaints (4.5%)6 5%StructureStructure: 5 complaints (3.8%)5 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3728.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3425.8%
POWER TRAIN1813.6%
ENGINE1410.6%
STEERING139.8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM86.1%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL64.5%
STRUCTURE53.8%

Complaints filed per year

016322016: 72017: 42018: 132019: 322020: 252021: 162022: 72023: 122024: 102025: 52026: 1 (partial year)161718193220212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20167
20174
201813
201932
202025
202116
20227
202312
202410
20255
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.6x those in 2020 to 2022 (27 against 48).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V14900028/02/2019EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCHSubaru 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 malf

Other Subaru Crosstrek model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 10 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-10-02. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.