2016 Subaru Crosstrek: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 131 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 1 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
131
Complaints
1
Recalls
4
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
1
Injuries
32.1
Severity index
Severity index 32.1 - Low. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 140 2016 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek ranks 114 of 140 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 19% of its model-year peers. See the full 2016 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 37 | 28.2% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 34 | 26.0% |
| POWER TRAIN | 18 | 13.7% |
| STEERING | 13 | 9.9% |
| ENGINE | 13 | 9.9% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 8 | 6.1% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 6 | 4.6% |
| STRUCTURE | 5 | 3.8% |
The single most-reported system is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, cited in 37 of 131 complaints (28.2%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 32 |
| 2020 | 25 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 5 |
Complaint volume is declining, consistent with a defect that was addressed by recall or that affected early builds.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V149000 | 28/02/2019 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH | 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 malf |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.