24/7 Wall St. Insights We used data from CarComplaints, Consumer Reports, and Vehicle History. The Subaru Crosstrek, a subcompact SUV, has been a staple of the company’s lineup since its release in 2012. Also, 2 Dividend Legends To Hold Forever Subaru owners will gladly tell you why they own one. Known for their safety, reliability, and value, many Subaru owners hold on to their vehicles after they have gone well past the 200,000-mile mark. There are even clubs for general owners and specific models, allowing like-minded individuals to gather and participate in community events together. As a brand, Subaru has consistently made a name for itself and continues to do so. Even the best of the best have products that, at times, fail to meet the standards set for them. This is the case for some of the model years of the Subaru Crosstrek, a subcompact SUV that has been a staple of the company’s lineup since its release in 2012. The successor to the Outback Sport, the Crosstrek has had some good and not-so-good years since its release. Using data from CarComplaints, Consumer Reports, and Vehicle History, we will look at the years you should not consider when making a Crosstrek purchase. This post was updated on September 17, 2025 to clarify risk for the 2013 model (including battery issues), complaints for the 2016 model, and recalls in 2021. Why Is This Important? Like Toyota and Honda, Subaru is a brand that makes strong claims about reliability and quality. Subaru has a much smaller market share than Honda/Toyota, but it has a strong, loyal following. Subaru’s commercials even indicate that 90 percent of its vehicles are still on the road after ten years. Avoid: 2013 The 2013 Subaru Crosstrek had a major concern around engine stalling that could lead to asphyxiation. Marketed initially at the Subaru XV Crosstrek in 2013, this is one year Subaru would rather forget. With 119 NHTSA (National Highway Transportation & Safety Administration) complaints, this is one of the highest complaints Crosstrek received. At the top of the issue pile were complaints about engine and transmission issues, including stalling and excessive oil consumption. This is a solid reason to keep 2013 in mind when looking at Crosstrek years to avoid. Avoid: 2014 With 91 NHTSA complaints in 2014, there is a definite hope that Subarb made some improvements with the XV Crosstrek in 2014. The 2013 engine issues, which posed a significant health risk, seem to have disappeared, at least for now. This is definitely a positive for the 2014 Crosstrek. However, this doesn’t mean that 2014 wasn’t home to several other issues that will keep you from buying the 2014 Crosstrek. Among the glaring issues that members reported, the primary focus was on electrical problems. Many NHTSA complaints revolved around Crosstrek batteries dying well before they should. Worse, customers report that changing the battery to a brand new one didn’t help the issue. In other words, there was a clear battery drain issue with the 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek, and no recall was ever issued to address the problem. Ultimately, this will be a year to avoid, as battery drain is an issue that cannot be ignored. Avoid: 2016 The 2016 Subaru Crosstrek dropped the “XV” in the name but still had issues with keyhole ignitions. With the 2016 model year, Subaru officially dropped the “XV” part of the Crosstrek name. Seeing several issues is unsurprising for a first-generation vehicle known simply as the Subaru Crosstrek. With 131 NHTSA complaints in 2016, this year was on the higher side as far as overall vehicle troubles go. At the top of the trouble pile were a number of electronic and mechanical failures. Several Crosstrek owners complained that the lights on their vehicles would suddenly start dimming or the power steering would fail. Any instance of power steering failing, especially while driving, poses a serious risk to the driver and passengers. Adding to the list of issues were customer complaints about being unable to get their keys out of the keyhole after turning off the engine. Beyond customer complaints, Consumer Reports had some less-than-kind things to say, especially about road noise and lack of cargo space. Consumer Reports even went as far as to say customers should look to the Impreza Sport Hatchback over the 2016 Crosstrek. Avoid: 2017 The 2017 Subaru Crosstrek had many random windshield cracks, upsetting customers. Kicking things off in 2017, Consumer Reports continued to be unkind toward the Subaru Crosstrek. Once again, the emphasis was heavily on the Crosstrek’s less-than-impressive ride. The Consumer Reports review reiterated some complaints from 2016 around road noise and cargo space. All things being equal, the 2017 Subaru Crosstrek is one of the better years on this list but still left a negative impression overall, and there is still that pesky recommendation to look at different vehicles in the Subaru lineup. With 119 NHTSA complaints, this year’s emphasis was heavily on electrical issues. One major complaint carried over from 2017 was not being able to get the key out of the ignition. There were a few reports tied to transmission and parking brake. One final issue with the 2017 Crosstrek was random windshield cracks coming out of nowhere. Customers would return to their vehicle after a time and discover a damaged windshield. Avoid: 2018 The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek still suffered from multiple complaints of windshield cracking. The second worst year for Subaru with the Crosstrek was 2018, with 205 total NHTSA complaints. This would be a welcome number for some vehicles, but for Subaru’s promise of reliability, this number of complaints is out of the ordinary. Random windshield cracks continued to be a customer highlight, but certainly not the only issue. When you factor in engine stalling and electrical system malfunctions, the 2018 Crosstrek model year is one to avoid. One notable concern for 2018 is the appearance of five separate recalls, which have yet to be seen in previous Crosstrek models. Several of these issues pertain to electrical concerns and short-circuiting in the ignition, which poses a major problem and safety concern for Crosstrek owners. Electrical issues aside, engine concerns were also a factor in declaring 2018 the worst year for the Subaru Crosstrek. While safety scores in 2018 were fantastic, it’s hard to ignore the vehicle’s shortcomings and recommend the 2018 Crosstrek. Avoid: 2019 The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek saw a return of the dreaded battery-draining issue. In 2019, many carryover issues still plagued the Subaru Crosstrek. At the top of the list is the still present windshield crack, which Subaru has seemingly been unable to fix. With 301 total NHTSA complaints, 2019 has the highest number of complaints. As such, this made 2019 the worst year for the Subaru Crosstrek. The windshield cracking issue was the number one complaint this, with 113 of the total NHTSA complaints related solely to this issue. Unfortunately, windshield cracking wasn’t the only issue plaguing the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. Electrical system concerns were also prominent, with the dreaded battery drain issue returning to the forefront of Crosstrek owner complaints. On top of this, you have many topics related to the ignition starter failing, random clicking noises, and generally loud engine noises. Last, Consumer Reports indicates that lower back support is subpar. Of all Subaru Crosstrek years since its 2012 release, this is the most important model year to avoid. Avoid: 2021 In 2021, the Subaru Crosstrek still had issues with windshield cracks happening under 1,000 miles. With only 78 NHTSA complaints in 2021, it’s clear that Subaru had turned a corner since 2019. Despite this improvement, 2021 had multiple recalls, including for fuel pump failure. Even with Subaru attempting to improve the drivetrain in 2021, it wasn’t something that escaped customer problems. Starter problems were still present. Don’t look now, but the dreaded battery drain was a problem Subaru could still not resolve even in 2021. Wait, there’s more. In 2021, windshield cracking was still present, much to the chagrin of Subaru Crosstrek owners. Unfortunately, such a widespread customer issue had yet to be resolved in 2021. Enough customers complained about this issue happening under 1,000 miles, making this a new car problem that doesn’t bode well for Crosstrek’s reputation. The excellent safety scores in 2021 are not enough to make this a year to recommend. 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