2021 Subaru Crosstrek problems and recalls

Owners have filed 114 complaints on the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, and NHTSA has issued 1 recall. The most cited component is the Visibility/Wiper (29 complaints).

114
Complaints
1
Recalls
8
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
6
Injuries
71.5
Severity index

Severity index 71.5 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 71.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 24 of 92 by severity index among 2021 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 74% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2021 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 29 complaints (25.4%)29 25%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 24 complaints (21.1%)24 21%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 16 complaints (14.0%)16 14%EngineEngine: 16 complaints (14.0%)16 14%Power TrainPower Train: 14 complaints (12.3%)14 12%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 14 complaints (12.3%)14 12%Lane DepartureLane Departure: 5 complaints (4.4%)5 4%Service BrakesService Brakes: 4 complaints (3.5%)4 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
VISIBILITY/WIPER2925.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2421.1%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1614.0%
ENGINE1614.0%
POWER TRAIN1412.3%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1412.3%
LANE DEPARTURE54.4%
SERVICE BRAKES43.5%

Complaints filed per year

012252020: 22021: 252022: 252023: 202024: 152025: 102026: 17 (partial year)2021252223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20202
202125
202225
202320
202415
202510
2026 (year to date)17
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (45 against 52).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
23V75500009/11/2023POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCHSubaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.

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 2026-08-27. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.